‘I don’t know, Tom. But Stacey never does anything without good reason. If I were you, I’d be worried.’ He looks directly at me. ‘Very worried.’

chapter 35

millie

‘He’s obviously lying,’ I exclaim. ‘His wife turned up at our house this morning with a black eye! What else is he going to say – she walked into a door?’

‘Millie, I wish you’d just listen to what I’m trying to tell you,’ Tom says with a heavy sigh. ‘I’m not saying I believe Felix, although I’ve got to say he was pretty convincing. But we don’t know what’s really going on between him and Stacey behind closed doors: that’s the point. They could both be lying, or they could both be telling the truth – some version of it, anyway. And I’m not asking you to stop being friends with Stacey. All I’m asking is that you don’t take everything she says as gospel, that’s all. At least accept her truth may not be his.’

I open the fridge and take out a head of celery, slamming it onto the cutting board. ‘I can’t believe you went to see him,’ I say furiously. ‘A woman seeks refuge at our house, and your response is to go and ask her abuser how he feels about it!’

‘I didn’t realise MeToo meant men are no longer entitled to a fair hearing.’

‘Don’t be glib.’

‘I’m not being glib. I’m serious, Millie. Has it never occurred to you to wonder why a woman you barely know is suddenly sharing the darkest secrets of her marriage with you?’

‘Right back at you, Tom,’ I retort. ‘You hardly know Felix, and suddenly he’s spilling his soul about his—’ I pause to draw ironic air-quotes, ‘—secret shame?’

‘Yes, but he’s not treating me like we’re soul sisters! He only told me because he’s worried about you. Come on, Millie. You viewed Stacey’s house twice, and next thing you’re off to lunch and yoga practice together and before you know it she’s your BFF. That doesn’t strike you as odd?’

‘No more odd than the woman who viewed our house buying you expensive linen shirts,’ I say tartly.

Tom has the grace to look uncomfortable. I have a feeling that whatever was going on with him and Harper may have withered on the vine: he’s stopped mentioning her name, and the last time I checked his phone – he’s restored Meddie’s birthday as his password – the only suspicious texts were the ones between him and Felix.

I could be wrong, of course.