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‘Sounds good.’ Sarah stands, and helps me fold the blanket. ‘Can you believe I’ve never been to Brighton?’
‘Well, I hope you like it,’ I say, stuffing the blanket in my bag. ‘You and Ivy are going to be here a lot.’
Poppy is exhausted by the time she sinks into bed. I readThe Magic Faraway Treeto her, but before long her eyes droop and she fights to keep them open until the end of the chapter.
‘Did you have a nice day?’ I ask.
She nods. ‘Yes. I’ve missed Ivy. And now I won’t get to see her every day at school.’
‘We’ll see Ivy and Sarah all the time – I promise. And I miss Sarah too, so I know how you feel.’
Poppy turns on her side. ‘You’re besties too, aren’t you?’
‘Yes, we are. And do you know what’s really important? Always telling the truth to our closest friends. And always making sure they can trust us and we can trust them. Never hiding things, even if you think you’re doing it to protect them.’
‘Mum?’
‘Yes?’
‘I’m tired.’
I smile, and hug her goodnight. ‘See you in the morning,’ I whisper, but Poppy’s already asleep.
In the bedroom, I sit on the bed and pull out my phone. It’s seven fifteen, so I’ve got a little time. I scroll through my emails, freezing when I see Cole’s name. I haven’t heard from him since I ran from his flat the day I found Katy’s phone, and I’d pushed him far from my mind. As much as I could. But now his name stares at me, beckoning me to click the email.
I swipe to delete it, but I can’t do it. I don’t know if it’s curiosity, or the fact that I need some closure, and to have some understanding of Cole’s senseless acts. I tap to open it, leaning forward as I read his words.
Hannah, I know you must hate me. I hate myself. But I had to explain my actions. Because I know you, deeply, and I know that you won’t put this to rest until you know why two women died at my hands.
Alice Hughes was disrespecting you. Making a mockery of your marriage, along with your husband, of course. And she would never have stopped. She wasn’t going to let him go. I’m not going to try and say I did it for you – I care too much about you to do that. I did it for me. So that I could be at peace knowing your husband and Alice were no longer hurting you.Max should never have survived that attack. He was meant to die too.
But poor Katy, she was an accident. Collateral damage, I suppose. She found the key card in my wallet. I’m sorry, I stole it from your bag. But that’s the least of my sins.
Katy said she’d found my wallet on the shop floor and needed to know who it belonged to so she had a look inside. She was about to go to the police. I panicked.
I know Katy and I never got along – we could never see eye to eye. But she didn’t deserve that. I’m sorry that happened.
But most of all, I’m sorry for losing you.
Your Friend,
Cole x
My forehead burns, and immediately I delete the message. I don’t want it in my inbox. I want nothing more to do with him.
For ten minutes after reading Cole’s words, I can’t move. I sit on the bed and think about Alice Hughes, and Katy, and how they should both still be here, living their lives.
Eventually I compose myself. I change out of my shorts and vest and put on a dress. I haven’t worn it for ages, and I’d forgotten how much I like it. It’s orange with a flared skirt and fitted top, and pretty angel sleeves.
I leave my hair as it is, sun kissed waves floating around my shoulders. And I’m not bothering to redo my make-up.
There’s a knock on the door. Two minutes late. I hesitate in front of the mirror – one last check. And then I make my way to the door, checking through the peephole before I open it.
‘What time do you call this?’ I say, smiling.
Taylor laughs. ‘Actually, I’ve been outside for the last fifteen minutes.’
I smile. ‘You’d better come in, then. Poppy’s asleep so you won’t be able to see her.’
