‘I just wanted to let you know we were leaving.’ He smiled nervously. ‘Poppy’s still in the lounge. We’ll be back around eleven.’
‘I’ll come right down and fetch her. Enjoy,’ Jade said brightly, as he headed for the stairs. ‘Don’t drink too much.’
‘I won’t. I’m driving.’ Mark waved a hand as he went on down.
‘All the more for Melissa then,’ Jade called after him. The whole bottle would be good.
* * *
Poppy fell asleep in record time, Bedtime Peppa tucked cosily up with her and Hercules lying protectively at her feet. Jade scowled at the dog and then tiptoed out. Then back in again to feed the goldfish. Sprinkling the requisite pinch of food into the bowl, she bent down to peer at the fish, eyes wide and making a guppy mouth as she did. The water was getting dirty again, she noticed. Sighing, she tipped another more generous dollop of food in. Knock yourself out, Nemo. What kind of a life was it, swimming around in circles in shitty water anyway? Cruel, Jade thought. She gave him another sprinkle for good measure, and then, turning to poke out her tongue at Hercules, eased the door quietly shut behind her and crept out.
Peeping into the nursery, she noticed a little hand flailing in the cot and realised it was time for Evie’s feed. ‘Coming, sweetheart,’ she assured her, and then, humming, she went back to her room to collect her Boots bag before carrying on down to the kitchen, where she picked up the sealed container of milk Melissa had left in the fridge and tipped it down the sink. It was a good job she’d started weaning Evie as soon as she’d moved in – she congratulated herself on her foresight as she prepared the formula. With her careless mother stuffed full of drugs, breast milk would obviously harm the poor little mite.
Milk in the microwave, she slipped back upstairs and lifted Evie out of her cot. She was now wide-eyed and alert, looking forward to her bath, followed by a warm, cosy feed and a soft lullaby.
‘She’d probably let you slip through her hands and drown you in the bath, wouldn’t she, Angel, hmm? Or stuff you in the kiln and fire you. Silly Melissa.’ In sweet singsong tones, she addressed Evie by her proper name, which suited her far better. She laid her carefully on the changing mat to undress her.
‘You’re a gorgeous little girl, aren’t you?’ Pulling her little sausage arms and legs gently from her pink stripy sleepsuit, she saucered her eyes and smiled down at her, laughing as Evie smiled back. Then she blew on her tummy, causing Evie to chuckle delightedly.
‘Mummy’s perfect little Angel, aren’t you?’ she said, standing up and hoisting the naked little baby high in the air. ‘Don’t you worry, sweet girl, Mummy won’t let naughty Melissa hurt you. Daddy would be heartbroken, wouldn’t he, hmm?’
Holding her as high as she could, which Evie just loved, Jade twirled her around and around. ‘Piss off,’ she hissed over her shoulder, as Hercules growled at her from the landing.
Twenty-Eight
MELISSA
‘She’s absolutely amazing. I have no idea how I managed without her,’ Melissa said, regaling Emily and Adam with tales of their perfect babysitter. ‘She’s fantastic with the kids, isn’t she, Mark?’
‘Er, yes. You already said so, though, Mel.’ Mark looked worriedly from her to her wine glass.
Mel ignored him. She’d only had a couple of glasses. And someone had to fill the awkward gaps in the conversation, since Mark didn’t seem to have much to say for himself, unsurprisingly. ‘She literally fell into our laps,’ she gushed on, talking to their friends, rather than to him. ‘I mean, it was just dreadful, her house catching fire like that, but the timing couldn’t have been better from our point of view. Mark likes her too, don’t you, Mark? Then again, he’s quite partial to blondes. Thus…’ Plucking up a strand of hair, Mel indicated her own transformed locks.
‘It’s different,’ Emily said, glancing between Mel and Mark. ‘I still think I prefer your own colour, though. In fact, I was saying to Adam I wished—’
‘Can’t afford to let things shlide, see, we women.’ Mel waggled her wine glass in Emily’s direction. ‘I mean, having a baby’s the most natural thing in the world, isn’t it? We should just pop ’em out…’ Poking a finger in her mouth, she attempted to pop her cheek. It didn’t quite pop, but they’d get the drift. ‘And then bounce back to our beautiful, slim selves. Course, we’d have to be beautiful to start with. And slim.’ Mel furrowed her brow, pondering her pre-baby body forlornly.
‘Good job you’re both of the above then.’ Adam paid her a compliment, bless him, in the absence of one from her husband, whom she was obviously embarrassing, judging by the uncomfortable look on his face. Mel didn’t much care. She was so bloody angry. How dare he sit there in judgement of her.
‘But it has to be effortless,’ she went on determinedly, knocking back the contents of her glass and planting it on the table. ‘Lisa’s effortless, isn’t she, Mark? Like an adorable, natural little pixie.’
Mark glanced down at that, drawing in a long breath – quite clearly embarrassed.
‘I can’t believe she can hold her own as a police officer. Ooh, pardon me, I mean a detective sergeant.’ Mel flapped her hand, pseudo-apologetically. ‘Probably holds everyone else’s, as well,’ she added bitchily. Then, chuckling at her wit, whilst biting back a sudden urge to burst into tears, she reached for the wine bottle.
‘It’s all gone, Mel,’ Mark pointed out gently, glancing warily at Emily as he did so.
‘Oh well, we’ll just order another then.’ Mel waved the bottle by way of attracting the waiter’s attention.
‘The time’s getting on, Mel,’ Mark started. ‘Maybe we should—’
‘We’ll have another Pinot Grigio, please,’ said Mel, smiling sweetly and fluttering her eyelashes at the waiter as he came across to their table.
The waiter nodded politely and, apparently oblivious to her subtle flirtations, reached to relieve her of the empty bottle. Ah well, his loss. He was probably gay. Far too good-looking not to be. Mel looked him over, giving Emily a conspiratorial wink. ‘Adam’ – she turned to him – ‘another red?’
Adam glanced at Mark and then back to her. ‘No. Thanks, Mel, I’ve had more than enough,’ he said, with a gracious smile.
‘But you’re not driving,’ Mel reminded him. ‘You came in a taxi. What was the point of that, for goodness’ sake, if you didn’t intend to have a drink? Go on, go wild. You only live once.’
Adam reached up a hand and scratched behind his ear. A habit he was prone to when he was agitated, Emily had once confided. He looked a bit agitated. Mel squinted at him. Probably because of Mark sitting there looking so bloody po-faced.
What had he got to be miserable about? It was she who was supposed to be miserable, wasn’t it? Was she spoiling everyone’s evening? No. Shooting Mark a scornful look, Mel reached to grab his still three-quarters-full glass. ‘Here then. You might as well finish Mark’s,’ she said, pouring the remainder of the red wine into Adam’s glass. ‘He’s obviously not going to.’
‘Doesn’t look like I am either,’ Adam pointed out, pulling back out of splashing distance as most of the contents of the glass spilled onto the pristine white tablecloth.
‘Whoops, sorry!’ Mel closed one eye and smiled wanly. ‘Never mind. I’ll order you a single glass instead.’
‘Mel…’ Mark caught hold of her arm as she waved the glass in the air. ‘He doesn’t want one.’