There’s movement beyond the window and he turns to look. Two blokes are walking past, dressed in shorts and those poncy compression socks that sad fucks around here wear to exercise. One of them catches his eye, then looks away, not even prepared to admit Mark’s existence. With a jolt of anger, Mark propels off the sofa and slams the flats of his palms against the glass. ‘Look at me!’ he screams. ‘See me!’ But the blokes just up their pace, and then they’re gone.

He kicks the wall in frustration, and watches it crack. But as he keeps on kicking, the wall changes shape in his mind. It’s no longer the straight surface of dusty plaster, but the softer ridges of a woman’s face.

Chapter 16

Chapter 16

Saskia

‘Mummy, are Martha and Ava coming for tea today like you promised?’

Saskia swears inwardly, remembering the conversation she’s just had with Beth outside the school gates. The invite extended and knocked back. ‘No, darling, not today,’ she says, in her best honey-coated voice. ‘Beth thinks they’ll be too tired after musical theatre club.’ She counts silently, wondering if she’ll get to five. Two, three, four …

‘But that doesn’t make any sense! They always come for tea on Friday. After musical theatre club.’

‘I know, sweetie.’

‘And they didn’t come last week because they were too tired!’

‘I understand why you’re disappointed.’ She tips her head to one side and tries to look sympathetic. But the watery film that’s now spreading across Olivia’s eyes isn’t helping. Not because she’s unmoved by her children missing out on their routine Friday playdate, the highlight of their week, but because there’s a more dominant emotion wanting to express itself.

Because why the actual fuck should Beth always get her own way? Why is it always Saskia, or Saskia’s children, who have to make sacrifices, pander to the Packards’ fragile dispositions? If Beth is in the mood for socialising, then Saskia is expected to be there, along with every other handpicked friend in the area. The three-line whip of high-end nappy valley. But the same rules don’t apply when Saskia is sad, or lonely, or bored half to death by her inconsequential existence.

And now Beth is expecting an apology for the MyNeighbour post too. There was nothing but compliments in that piece, but still, Saskia’s the bad guy, trampling on Beth’s right to privacy or some such bollocks. And Beth was so overdramatic about the comments that the post attracted too. Of course there’s going to be some nasty ones – that’s why MyNeighbour thrives for Christ’s sake – but there were loads of positive ones too. Someone even posted a video of Beth looking like Florence Nightingale in that floaty Whistles dress. And yet she’s still pissed off.

‘Mummy?’