‘George…’ She stirs next to him, drawing him out of his thoughts and back into her bed. He feels the soft curve of her waist, the brush of her breasts on his chest as she levers herself onto her elbow and gazes at him with love. ‘What are you thinking?’

‘I’m thinking about Leah.’

Her face clouds. George wants to kiss away her worries.

‘I can’t keep doing this,’ he says.

‘I know. Me neither.’ Her pain matches his, it’s hard for her also. She feels it keenly, the sense of betrayal. She cares about Leah too.

‘I’m going to leave her.’ Voicing the words outside of his head gives them weight and clarity.

‘Are you sure?’ Her face is both hopeful and afraid.

‘Yes. It’s you I want to be with. I love you, Francesca.’

Chapter Forty-Six

Marie

Thirteen days ago

As soon as Marie saw George kissing another woman outside the pub, she knew she held another secret in the palm of her hands. When George turned, as though sensing Marie’s presence, it gave her a clear view of the woman’s face. Marie was shocked and angry it was Leah’s therapist, Francesca. She was saddened for her sister that this clearly wasn’t some one-night stand.

George’s expression as he caught sight of his sister-in-law was a mixture of shame and fear. She knew how he felt, terrified of being exposed for the person you were rather than the person everyone thought you should be.

She waited while George spoke low and urgently to Francesca, who bowed her head and scurried away.

‘What… what are you doing here?’ asked George as he drank in Marie’s too-short skirt, her too-glossy lips that could spill his sordid secret.

Sarcasm sat on Marie’s tongue but instead of releasing it, she swallowed it down and pursued a rare course of action.

She was honest.

‘I… I’m an addict.’ This time it was Marie who couldn’t meet George’s eyes.

‘Marie…’ George toed the kerb. ‘We all know you like a drink—’

‘It’s more than alcohol now, I’m afraid.’ She rubbed her arms, whether to draw attention to her track marks or hide them, she did not know.

‘Does Leah know?’

‘Leah doesn’t need to know everything.’ Marie’s eyes flickered in Francesca’s direction.

‘This isn’t what it looks like,’ George said quickly.

‘Good. Because it looks like you’re cheating on my sister.’

‘It’s complicated. Leah’s complicated.’

‘We all are,’ Marie said. ‘But don’t give up on her, George. Please. What we went through has made us who we are today but we can change. Leah wants to. I want to.’

‘Have you tried… to give up?’

‘Yeah. But… it’s…’ Marie tugged down her skirt. ‘To say it’s a craving doesn’t even cover it. We crave food or drink or… love and when we have it we feel satisfied, but this… it’s like I’ll die if I don’t have a hit. I can’t think about anything else. I can’t focus on anything. I’d do anything – I have done anything.’