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‘Why?’
I scramble. ‘I got home and she wasn’t here, so I just wanted to make sure she was with you.’
‘Why the concern?’
‘No concern. I mean, of course I’m concerned. I’m just making sure everything is okay.’
‘Is it usual for you to call around, tracking my daughter?’
In the back I hear Ariella call out.
‘Daddy, I need you! Mommy is using American words again.’
I immediately relax. She’s safe. She’s home and not with Jasper. I hear Dahlia respond.
‘You’re such a cry-baby. It’s a valid word. Your father isn’t going to help you. Can you calculate my triple word score please?’
A loud sigh comes from the other end of the phone and Hugh Mason hangs up. Just then, I notice a Post-it note on the floor by the fridge.
I’m really sorry about what happened. I know you’re angry. I’m moving home for a while to give you some space. I’ll move out if you want me to. I am so, so sorry Caleb. I really am. Aari xxx
Before I can help myself, I am calling her. I know I am going to ask her to come home. I don’t care if she slept with Jasper. She made a mistake, and so did I. When it hits her voicemail, I hang up. I’m going to come clean about Melissa. We both messed up. We can start again.
‘Can we talk?’ I know she won’t like me doing this at her desk, in the middle of the day at work, but she has left me no choice.
She pauses, before nodding.
‘Not here, though. Is that okay?’
‘Will you please come home tonight?’ I like the way ‘come home’ sounds.
‘Okay,’ she acquiesces, giving me an embarrassed ‘please, not here?’ look.
It gives me the steam I need to power through the day. Just before I leave, Lara quickly sneaks into my dome.
‘What do you want?’ I complain.
‘Shut up, she’s gone to the loo,’ she whispers. She’s looking behind herself every five seconds.
‘I don’t know what you’re—’
‘Shut up, thicko, and listen. For some inexplicable reason, she’s bought your bullshit. Be nice. She’s blowing up everything by choosing you. Drag yourself up from the gutter in which you dwell, and prove her twenty-five per cent right. That’s your high score. It doesn’t get any higher because we both know you don’t deserve her. I was never fucking here. Bloody hell! I hate you so much! Why you?!’ And with that, Lara is gone.
THIRTY-FIVE
ARIELLA
‘Hi.’ I enter the flat, embarrassed and ashamed.
‘Cheese on toast?’ Caleb’s smile from the kitchen is warm and forgiving. It hurts because I know I don’t deserve it.
‘Yes, please.’
He pops a couple of loaded slices under the grill and pours us some wine.
‘I know you love him…’ Caleb’s phone starts to vibrate loudly against the kitchen counter before he sends it to voicemail. ‘But why did you do it?’
I wipe away the tear rolling down my cheek.
