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“That young woman, Ainslee? She came in for Tom when you had arrived after that awful awards night? Was at Sunday dinner?”
Blonde, willowy, brilliant perfect teeth in a dazzling smile. “Of course I remember her. She’s back with him, isn’t she?”
“What? No! It’s all over with Tom. Turns out she’s an ‘acre chaser’. Was after his money. Thought she would try to angle in on Tom and get married. Can you imagine?”
“W-what?” I inhaled slowly to calm my racing pulse.
“They weren’t even together officially. She was his friend with benefits from uni, and it all went pear-shaped. Stalker-shaped in a way.”
“And Tom doesn’t have feelings for her?”
Amanda looked up sharply. “Not that I know. Why?”
“When I first met her, Ainslee said they were in love, and Tom didn’t correct her.”
“Ainslee did, didn’t she?” Amanda frowned and then shrugged. “Tom sounded very relieved when Pete told him about Ainslee and her plan to get him to marry her. Can you imagine? Maybe she was going to try and get pregnant and force Tom to marry?”
“That sounds like a plotline of a bad Regency romance I didn’t finish last year.”
Amanda snorted and began placing receipts on piles with a renewed fervour. “Anyway, it was pretty clear Tom doesn’t have feelings for her. He mentioned you, actually.”
“What?” I said too loudly. “Why?”
Amanda raised an eyebrow. “Calm down. I saw Tom briefly after he got home from the fire. He was worried about you after the pub last night.”
“I’d had too much to drink on an empty stomach. Made a fool of myself. I’m sure the Ballydoon gossip network has heard all about my attempts to pash half of the pub by now. And Doug offered casual sex if I was keen.”
Amanda burst out laughing. “Oh god, so that’s why you’re not having your wine.”
“Sorry.” I pushed it away. “Thought I’d be okay but it’s still too soon. Even if it was beer and bourbon last night. That, and dealing with Brayden tonight. Nothing like finding someone stealing from you to leave a sour taste in your mouth.”
“A good thing you caught him. And I’m sorry about that.”
“On second thoughts, this is too good a vintage to waste on blaming Brayden.” I held up my glass. “Hair of the dog. Cheers.”
Amanda clinked her glass, and we both enjoyed a small sip before returning to the paperwork.
“Rosie.” Amanda pursed her lips, rapidly filing invoices on different piles. “Why didn’t you call me to go to the pub with you?”
“I … you were with Stuart,” I replied lamely.
“I would have come, and Stuart wouldn’t have minded.” Amanda paused her filing. “I’m always there for you. Whatever you need.”
I needed to tell her about Tom, about four years ago, about today. I needed to come clean and tell my best friend everything.
“Amanda, I—”
Something heavy landed on the floor outside the office with a dull thud, making us both jump.
“What the—” Amanda began but never got a chance to finish her question.
“Rosalba! Pronto! It is your father! Anthea! Rosalba! Maria!”
I leapt to my feet and ran out of the office and into the hallway.
Dad was on the floor, one hand over his chest, wheezing. His face was contorted in pain.
“Mama, ambulance! Call the ambulance!” I yelled without looking at her as I fell to my knees at my father’s side. “Dad, Dad! Can you hear me?”
