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‘What thehell…’ Rob studies the necklace, his face reddening. He glares at Jack. ‘Belle, darling, there’s been some kind of mix-up. This is the jewellery your mum and I got for you.’ Rob shoots me a look, encouraging me to support him.
‘You’re mistaken, Rob,’ Jack says calmly. ‘I got them especially for Belle. Nothing but the best for my fiancée.’ He slips an arm around Belle’s shoulder.
‘No, you’re lying and—’
‘Dad, stop. Jack proposed in France and promised me he’d get me something special when we got back. I never expected all this.’ Belle grins, staring at her left hand, the little diamond twinkling. ‘Can’t you just be pleased for me?’
‘And don’t forget your other surprise, darling,’ Jack says to her, though I sense it’s mainly for our benefit. ‘It’s arriving on Monday.’
‘What would that be, exactly?’ Rob asks sharply. He glances at me, and I see in his eyes he knows that Jack stole the jewellery.
‘Wouldn’t be a surprise if I told you, would it?’ he says, winking at Rob. ‘Any chance of a cuppa?’
‘We’ve got plans first thing in the morning, just so you know,’ Rob says, still seething. Belle puts the kettle on while I get cups, fishing teabags out of the cupboard.
‘You OK, Mum?’ she whispers to me quietly, grabbing my hand as I fumble with the container lid. ‘You’re shaking.’
‘Yes, yes, I’m fine, love. Just…just a bit tired, you know.’
‘Such as?’ I hear Jack shoot back at Rob.
‘All my friends loved the party,’ Belle says as we stand beside the kettle, the sound of it getting louder, drowning out whatever Rob is saying to Jack. I flick it off before it’s boiling properly.
‘Family plans,’ Rob says. ‘We’ll all be leaving early.’
‘I can’t wait to show my friends this,’ Belle says to me, flashing her ring again and touching her necklace. ‘Jack must have spent a fortune.’
I want to tell my daughter so badly that no, he didn’t spend a single penny on her, that he stole the gifts her dad and I had bought for her, presenting them as his own. But I can’t. I have no idea why Rob has suddenly decided to play along with me, but I’m grateful that he has.
‘They are beautiful indeed,’ I say, touching the little diamond on the ring, remembering how Rob and I traipsed around the jewellery quarter for hours in the rain, hunting for the perfect gift that was still within our budget. ‘They suit you so well.’ I blink back tears, pouring hot water into several mugs. All I want to do is hide upstairs, curl up under my duvet and pray this nightmare goes away. But I daren’t leavehimalone with Rob.
‘Thanks,’ Rob says, taking the mug from me. Belle gives Jack his drink.
‘I know it must be a bit of a shock,’ Jack says, pulling out a bar stool and sitting down. ‘Us being engaged.’ Belle slides onto the one next to him.
My little girls have sat on the same stools over the years, spooning up bowls of cornflakes for breakfast, scoffing down an early supper before heading out to Brownies or countless other clubs they’ve attended. They’ve sat there and coloured in pictures, watched me cook, and had hundreds of conversations – giggling, crying, sharing their hopes and fears. And nowhe’ssitting there, leaning his elbows on the worktop, looking as though he lives here.
‘That’s an understatement,’ Rob replies. He’s leaning against the sink, the tension between him and Jack crackling. ‘I’m not going to tell you that I approve, because I don’t.’
‘Dad…’ Belle chips in.
‘Belle is barely more than a child. She has another year of school left and plans to go to university. So no, Jack, I’m not best pleased. She’s far too young to be engaged or even think about getting married, especially to someone old enough to be her father.’
‘That’s rich, coming from someone who’snother father,’ Jack retaliates with a smirk.
Rob steps forward, squaring up, his fists clenched by his sides. His face is red with rage.
‘Stop it, you two.Please,’ Belle says, raising a hand. ‘I’m not a kid any more, Dad. I didn’t tell you about Jack before now because I knew you’d react exactly like this.’ She drops her head dramatically.
‘I think we should just finish our tea and then all get a good night’s sleep,’ I say, even though I have no intention of sleeping. I will be listening out for floorboards creaking and door handles turning, waiting for it to be morning. I don’t trust that man in my house.
CHAPTER TWELVE
HANNAH – NOW
‘C-Tech called a few minutes ago,’ Amy says as I arrive at the office, catching me on my way past her desk. I’m at work an hour later than usual and already feel thrown off-kilter, still rattled by Saturday night.
‘And?’ I stop beside her.
