Buffy shrugs. ‘I have face blindness for anyone over the age of twenty-five.’ She shudders at the idea, then sneers at Salma. ‘Honestly, I don’t even know who you are.’
Across the hall, Amanda raises her voice. ‘I’m not going until you tell me where she is!’ Her voice is firm and Harry looks a little frightened.
‘I already told you, Clara’s not here!’ he replies, but she shakes her head.
‘Yes, butwhereis she?’ She holds her hand against the door even though Harry isn’t trying to close it, eyeing her old chest of drawers sitting in the hallway. ‘And why isn’t she replying to my messages? I’m worried about her! Has something happened?’
Harry glances helplessly over at me, Salma and Buffy. I don’t know why he’s trying to protect my sister; she doesn’t deserve it. I step forward, folding my arms across my chest crossly. ‘She went back to herhusband.’
Amanda regards me blankly and I await the barrage of confused questions. Instead she frowns. ‘Brandon? No, you’re not serious?’
I gape at her, my chest tight. So Clara told this random woman she’s known for two sodding minutes about her secret husband. But not us. Not her flatmates, not her family, not hertwin sister. Unbelievable.
I turn to head back into the living room, shouting over my shoulder, ‘Yep.’ I collapse onto the sofa, reaching for another brownie. Sugar is the only thing I can think of that might help right now.
After a few seconds, the group follow me in. Amanda is with them.
‘Sit down,’ Salma is saying nicely as Harry fetches Amanda a glass of water. ‘Would you like a brownie?’ She looks at me. ‘Jem, are there any left?’
I casually shove the Tupperware in their direction and Amanda takes a slab, that worried expression still plain on her face. ‘Do you really mean it? Clara’s back with Brandon? She got back with him? Why would she do that?’
‘I told her to,’ I say with a shrug, staring forward, eager for her to leave.
She squints at me. ‘Youwhat? Why the hell would you do that?’
I sit up straighter, feeling defensive under the heat of this stranger’s judgemental gaze. ‘Because it was the right thing to do,’ I reply. ‘They’remarriedand she left him without an explanation over in New York. He was heartbroken and miserable. She’s a coward.’ I sniff. ‘I can’t even believe we’re related. I could never walk away from someone I love like that. Letting them think I’m dead or injured. Letting them fear the worst like that, it’s so low. She’s – there’s no other word for it! – she’scruel.’
Amanda looks alarmed. ‘He’sthe cruel one!’ she cries. ‘Shehadto leave him like that.’ She sighs deeply. ‘Brandon had her under some kind of horrible spell, and believe me, I know.’ Her breath gets shuddery. ‘She confided in me because my ex was the same as Brandon: awful, mean, cheating constantly.’ She swallows and looks down in her lap. ‘When I tried to endthings, he’d suddenly become charm personified, showering me with love and promises. Brandon did the same to Clara. She couldn’t resist his manipulative pull.’
There is silence in the room as horror dawns on me.
‘No.’ I start to shake my head. ‘No, he can’t be… that can’t be… she would’ve said something… he didn’t seem…’
Amanda laughs shortly. ‘Yeah, they neverseem. That’s how they get you. It’s how they keep you confused and controlled.’ She stands up abruptly. ‘I’m sorry to barge in like this, I’ll go now. But you need to know this is a bad guy. You should call her, tell her to come home. He’s not a good person.’
I look up at her. ‘She didn’t tell me,’ I say quietly, pleadingly, and Amanda nods.
‘I didn’t tell my family and friends either. I think Clara was embarrassed to admit the truth.’ She regards each of us in turn, taking in Harry, Salma, Buffy and me. ‘She felt so stupid about it all. Believe me, it’s humiliating. It feels like it’s your fault. But she really loves you all. Really, really.’
There is a long silence before Harry stands up. ‘We have to go get her,’ he says with determination in his voice.
‘No,’ I say firmly, also standing.
‘Jemma!’ Salma shouts, furious. ‘This is not a competition between you!’ She sounds more exasperated than I’ve ever heard her. ‘She’s our friend, too. You can’t stop us caring about her. Life was just better with her around. And yes, all the stuff you said earlier is true. She is a selfish, immature nightmare, but she’s also a real person with agood heart. We have to help her. We have to get her away from this bloke.’
Harry nods, leaning closer. ‘It’s true, Jemma.’ His eyes are wide and sincere. ‘I know Clara teases me all the time, but she’s all bluster. Underneath it, she’s kind and sweet.’ He smiles fondly at me. ‘I see a lot of you in her actually.’ I automatically bristle at this as he continues, ‘The fact is, she’s just as insecure and scared as the rest of us. She puts on this front because she’s afraid people will see the real her – and maybe won’t like what they find.’ He eyeballs me. ‘And you know it! You were starting to warm to her, too, towards the end there. Don’t try and deny it!’
Salma laughs dryly. ‘And you know what’s funny, Jem? You chose me as a best friend, and I’m actuallyreallylike your sister! You claim that you’ve wanted to get away from her your whole life, but you picked someone just like her to be in your life every day!’ She and Salma both look at Buffy for her turn and she shrugs.
‘Don’t look at me,’ she says. ‘I thought Clara seemed like a loser pick me girl.’
I sigh. ‘I know all that. I didn’t meanno, we can’t help her,’ I explain slowly, ‘I meant,no, this is not a we thing. I have to go get her myself. I have to see my sister and I have to help her get away from this dickwad. And, if it’s at all possible, I have to bring her home – where she belongs.’
It’s all suddenly so obvious.
Chapter Thirty-FiveCLARA
Enya’s sofa is a lot lumpier than Mum’s.
