She’s not a bad person, she reminds herself. Her intentions are always honourable. Yes, she made a mistake with Becca, but Ellie picked her up from that. Things went wrong with Ellie in the end too, but that is salvageable now. With what happened to Mark, and him alive not dead, and Saskia sticking her nose in, and Kat’s phone still missing, the stakes are higher. But she’s still got a chance to make things right; she’s sure of it. She watches Beth walk over to the living room window and pause for a moment before drawing the curtains, except they’re voile drapes, so gossamer-thin, and rather than hide Beth, they turn her into an alluring shadow.

The playroom to the right of the front door is in darkness, and there are no lights upstairs either; Kat feels certain that Beth is alone in the house. She takes a deep breath and starts towards it, but a movement across the road grabs her attention. It’s Saskia’s front door opening. Kat freezes, then retreats a few steps; she can’t have another showdown in the street with that woman. She watches Saskia look up and down the road, then walk across it with a bottle of some type of sparkling wine in her hand. She’s going to Beth’s house. Rage surges through Kat. Why the hell can’t Saskia leave Beth alone for one minute? This is her chance, her moment. Not Saskia’s.

Beth doesn’t even like the stupid blonde. Not really. Saskia is just a friend of convenience, living across the street, their daughters’ best friends. Beth doesn’t trust Saskia with her secrets, and why would she when the drama junkie just splashes them all over her social media? She hopes that Beth turns Saskia away now. Take your bottle back home, darling. You’re not welcome here.

Kat watches Saskia rap on the knocker and wait. Please don’t answer it, she prays. Or if you do, please send Saskia away, back home to drink on her own. The door swings open. Beth looks tired, but still beautiful of course. She crosses the threshold. Walks down her steps. Beth doesn’t want Saskia inside, Kat realises with growing elation. She watches them talk on Beth’s pathway, Saskia proffer the bottle, Beth shake her head slightly. Kat tries to stay calm while she waits for Saskia to drop her head and retreat.

But suddenly the tableau shifts. Beth’s arms spread open, and Saskia folds into them. They’re locked together, like two best friends. Then with their arms still around each other, shoulders, hips, thighs, they walk up the steps and into the house.

Kat’s vision freezes. The image of their embrace is like a camera still, to be imprinted on her mind forever. Because it’s wrong. The whole scene is wrong. And she needs to stop it.

Chapter 50

Chapter 50

Beth