‘Is that why you did what you did today?’ demanded Hilary, astonished. ‘Because you’re jealous of me? Is that why you went after Niall?’
‘Niall is lying, it was him!’ yelled Colette. ‘He couldn’t wait to get my clothes off, and why wouldn’t he want a sexy, toned woman in his arms. I haven’t let myself go like you have. Look at you, you’re flabby and middle-aged and—’
‘I know what happened, you lying cow!’ Hilary shouted, producing her phone and dialling the message minder and putting it on speaker. Niall’s deep voice echoed through the kitchen.
‘Oh you’re up, did you sleep well?’
‘On and off. I just feel so sad.’
‘Ah you poor thing,’ Niall said and there was the sound of more movement . . .
Colette paled. ‘Turn it off right now. I won’t listen to this!’ she screeched.
‘You will listen to it, you lying, devious bitch, the way I had to.’ The air was thick with hostility as they eyeballed each other and the recording played out its sorry tale.
‘Colette!’
Hilary turned round. Frank stood at the door, horrified.
‘Colette, how could you do that to Hilary? How could you betray a friend so grievously?’ he demanded. ‘Answer me. I’m speaking to you.’
‘Are you for REAL?’ his daughter shouted at him. ‘Don’t you dare judge or chastise me. Do you think I’ve ever forgotten finding you riding the arse off Mrs Boyle, the nanny I loved, when I was a child? With her chunky thighs, and her legs waving in the air, and your skinny, white, hairy ass and your trousers around your ankles. Do you think I’ve ever forgotten how you took me to the Shelbourne as a “treat” that day and fed me such rich confectionery I was sick all the way home. Do you think I’ve ever forgotten that it was “our little secret that Mummy must never know about, because it would make her very sad and she might leave us”? I haven’t forgotten any of it, Dad, any of it.’ Colette was red-faced with fury. ‘I’ve never forgotten how I used to cry myself to sleep when I was a kid because of you. Men are shits; I learned that from a very early age. I learned it from you, first, Daddy dearest!’
Frank gasped, stricken, before sitting down heavily at the table. ‘Colette, I . . . I . . . I don’t know what to say,’ he said lamely, head bowed, unable to look at either of them.
‘Well then, just butt out,’ she snapped as they heard the front door open.
Frank and Colette turned to look at Hilary. ‘Please, Hilary, my wife doesn’t need to know any of this,’ Frank pleaded. ‘Please say nothing.’
‘Hilary, Mummy’s done nothing to you,’ Colette said in rising panic. ‘Please don’t play that back to her.’
‘Hello, Hilary, Happy New Year,’ Jacqueline offered, leaning over to kiss her on the cheek, oblivious to the tension, as the dog she had been walking bounded around them boisterously, tail wagging furiously.
Colette looked at Hilary imploringly. Hilary gave her a cold stare over Jacqueline’s shoulder. Why should she make life easy for her former friend? Wasn’t that what she had always done, given her the soft option, never making a stand? And look how Colette had repaid her.
Frank sat rigid on his chair . . . waiting. Hilary took a deep breath. ‘Hi, Mrs O’Mahony, Happy New Year to you too,’ she said in as normal a voice as she could manage. ‘I’m afraid I have to rush, we’re going to Dee’s for lunch and I’ve to collect Mam and I’m late. I’ll see myself out.’
‘Give my regards to Sally,’ Jacqueline said cheerfully, shrugging out of her Barbour. ‘Colette, I’d murder for a cup of coffee,’ Hilary heard her say as she walked out of the kitchen, down the hall to the front door, without looking back.
‘Are the girls up?’ Hilary walked into the kitchen. Niall was putting clean dishes away and had another pile of plates stacked ready to go in the dishwasher.
‘No, not a budge out of them.’ He had his back to her.
‘You were right about one thing,’ she said flatly.
‘What’s that?’ He turned to look at her.
‘Colette O’Mahony was never any friend of mine. And today I learned what a husband I have.’
‘Hilary! What did she say to you?’ he asked, alarmed. ‘It’s not what you think. Honestly.’
‘She’s always maintained that men are hot-wired to cheat, and today I found out why. According to her there’s no such thing as a faithful man because—’
‘Hilary—’
‘Just listen, Niall. I know everything!’ Hilary replayed the message for the second time that day.
‘God almighty! She must have had her phone on without knowing it!’ he exclaimed, horrified.
‘Would I ever have found out if she hadn’t?’
‘I don’t know,’ he said miserably.
‘Well I’m glad I know! I’m glad I heard it. I’m glad I know I have the most wonderful husband in the world,’ she said, throwing her arms around him and kissing him ardently.
‘I love you, Hilary. I couldn’t believe it when she started running her hands up under my shirt and trying to kiss me.’ Niall shook his head at the memory. ‘And the things she was saying.’
‘I know . . . like she hadn’t had sex for months and she’d always fancied you and she was aching for you. Jonathan and I nearly fell off our stools.’ She flinched at the memory, snuggling in to him as he enfolded her in his arms.
‘Did you feel better when I told her that she was a disgrace and didn’t know the meaning of the word friendship?’ He smiled down at her.
‘I preferred it when you said you loved me more now than when you married me, and that false boobs and a plastic smile would never turn you on like the real thing. And I
