Where the Memories Lie

 

 

‘But when Chris finished with her I think she got more desperate. She couldn’t afford to get her own place with the wages she earned in the shop so she was probably trying it on with Tom because he would be able to support her. Give her the family security she must’ve longed for. She just wanted to get away from Rose and Jack but couldn’t afford to do it on her own. And when it looked like she couldn’t get Chris to help her, maybe she turned to Tom.

 

And maybe she was threatening to expose their affair and Tom got angry with her.’

 

‘Oh, God.’ The colour suddenly drained from his face.

 

‘What?’

 

He scrubbed a hand over his smooth cheeks. ‘She tried it on with me once.’

 

‘What? When? Why didn’t you say anything?’ My eyes widened.

 

130

 

Where the Memories Lie

 

‘Because I wasn’t interested and it didn’t seem important at the time. Chris had finished with her but he was obviously still in love with her, and I wasn’t about to upset him or you over it by mentioning what had happened. It was best left untold. Like I said, she was a troublemaker. She probably did it to try and split us up because she was jealous.’

 

‘My best friend trying it on with my boyfriend’s not important?

 

Of course it is.’ I slammed my glass down on the island. ‘What happened?’

 

‘It was nothing. I was at the Kings’ Arms one night with Lucas and Chris. We were having a game of darts or snooker, or something. An old school mate came in just before last orders. Do you remember Colin Montgomery?’

 

I thought back. Colin always used to smell of lemons for some reason.

 

I nodded.

 

‘Anyway, I got chatting to him, and Lucas and Chris left before me. At chucking out time, I said goodbye to Colin, who was heading in the other direction, and walked home. As I was going past the bus stop, I saw Katie there, sitting down. The last thing I wanted was to get into a conversation with her, but I knew the last bus had already gone at that time, and I didn’t want to see her waiting there on her own. Didn’t even really understand why she was waiting there, anyway. I mean, where was she going at just after 11 p.m.?

 

‘Anyway, I stopped and we had a bit of small talk, then before I knew it she stood up and made a play for me.’

 

I tilted my head. ‘What do you mean, “a play”?’

 

‘She actually walked up to me and put her arms round my neck and tried to kiss me. I took a step back and unwound them, holding her at arm’s length. I just laughed and made a joke of it at first. She stunk of alcohol, too. But she tried again. Tried to pull me towards 131

 

Sibel Hodge

 

her, and she said something about us going in the woods for a fuck, and that you’d never find out.’

 

A stabbing pain squeezed at my throat like something sharp stuck inside. ‘Go on.’

 

‘Well.’ He shrugged casually. ‘I just laughed. I told her she was pissed and she should go home. Then she got angry, called me fucking queer or something, and I just walked off and left her there.’

 

He drained the dregs of beer. ‘And that was that. I turned her down and forgot about it.’ He threw his bottle in the bin underneath the sink with a loud crash and opened another. ‘Do you want a top-up?’

 

He glanced at my now-empty glass.

 

‘Yes. I think I need it.’ I forced the igniting anger back down.

 

He sloshed more pale golden liquid into my glass and put the bottle back in the fridge before sitting down next to me.

 

‘When was that?’

 

He shrugged. ‘I can’t remember exactly. I don’t know how long it was after Chris had dumped her.’ Before I could think any more about what a betrayal Katie’s actions were, he said, ‘Do you seriously think she then tried it on with Dad and they had an affair?’

 

‘It seems the most likely thing.’

 

‘That bitch.’