‘Tiff! Tiffany! Open the door, I need to talk to you.’ She banged on the glass again. ‘I know you’re in there.’ Perhaps the damaged drone was the reason she didn’t want to answer the door. A sudden ringing in her ears, high-pitched – almost a screech – made her lower her hands and cover her ears. A dizzy sensation washed over her. She turned and leant her back against the patio doors, her breaths coming in short bursts. Was she having a panic attack?

It took a few moments to regain control over her breathing; she felt tired, drained, as if she’d had a migraine and was now suffering the after effects: the heavy feeling, the foggy head, the inability to focus. She would have to give up, go home. Rest. She gave one more look in through the glass doors before taking the drone, propping it awkwardly on the top of Noah’s pram, and leaving. She had to get it home, hide it in the garage before Brian came back. She couldn’t face the fallout today, too much else had stressed her out.

She’d deal with Tiff tomorrow.

37

THE DISCOVERY

Saturday a.m. – Day 15 post-party

The battered drone, the way Tiff had avoided her, the visits from Oliver – it all rattled around in Louisa’s mind every waking moment, like bees buzzing around the queen, haphazardly and noisily. As soon as Noah had finished his morning bottle, Louisa bundled him in his pram and she left to walk to Tiff’s. She’d decided to stage a ‘sit-in’ – literally park herself and Noah on Tiff’s driveway until she had no choice but to see her. She’d refrained from sharing this plan with Brian or Emily, leaving them to have their Saturday lie-in. Hopefully they would sleep for hours yet and then when they woke, they’d find her note telling them she was out on a ‘long walk’ to settle Noah and they’d be oblivious to her using the baby as a co-conspirator.

Even more hopefully, Brian wouldn’t decide that this was the weekend he’d like to try out his drone. Louisa still hadn’t been brave enough to see if it worked after its apparent accident, instead, shoving it in a box and hiding it behind the old dressing table in the garage. She’d check out the damage after the weekend, but thought it highly likely she’d have to go onto Amazon and buy a replacement.

She packed up Noah’s changing bag and popped in a few drinks for herself. As mad as it seemed, she felt sitting it out was the only way she’d gain answers and have the opportunity to apologise for her erratic and neurotic behaviour if the need for that arose.

She strolled through the open gate at Tiff’s house and stopped in front of the Audi, pushing the pram brake down with her foot.