There was a flash of something in her eyes, as if she were daring him.
‘There’s only one thing that will fix this, Noah. Come to America with me. Choose me. Do you think you could do that?’
16
KELI
Keli had almost changed her mind and turned her car around at least ten times on the journey. As soon as she’d got into her little Mini, out of habit, and mostly to distract herself, she’d called Noah, to find out what had happened with Anya this morning. Noah had answered straight away, but his breathing had been laboured as he’d given her the update. Yet calling him had helped. Despite every single part of her life being in the toilet, Keli couldn’t help but feel better when she spoke to him. The way he’d taken care of Tress in the last year hadn’t surprised her one bit. He’d always been the one who’d looked out for everyone else and the whole golden child tag was just their way of teasing him for being far too bloody perfect. Tall. Handsome. Doctor. Funny. Caring. And all-round good guy. If Keli didn’t love him so much, she’d get a complex.
If ever there was someone who surprised her with their actions, it was her former sister-in-law. Keli had adored Anya. Looked up to her. Wanted to be just like her. Yet, the whole time, Anya was lying to them and cheating on her brother with his best mate. Keli had no idea how Noah could even give that woman the time of day now, but it did prove the point that hadbeen going back and forth in Keli’s mind since she’d got that text earlier: if the sister-in-law who’d always seemed like the most decent of people could tell the most horrific lies, then so could the bloke who had swept her off her feet and then vanished off the face of the earth.
What. A. Mess. For all of them.
Although, it was ironic that she’d promised to round up a posse to track Noah down if he didn’t show at Mum’s tonight, given that she was the one who was on her way to meet a complete stranger. This could be a kidnap plot that would have her tied up in the back of a transit van within the hour. And yes, she’d binge-watched too many episodes ofSpecial Victims Unitover the last month.
But still… What was she thinking? Seriously. Meeting this random woman had to be – as Yvie said – the most batshit crazy idea ever. This could be a complete set-up. It could be a highly slick, devious scam. Or maybe… another sickening wave of nausea… maybe it was a journalist, fishing for a story, or one of those catfish documentaries. That thought had caused sweat to pop out of every pore and she’d put her window down, even though it was bloody freezing outside.
Keli had hung up just as she was coming round to the parking spaces in the street in front of the St Kentigern. A grand building, overlooking a beautiful garden square, it was one of the most stunning hotels in the city, a triumph of Victorian architecture.
She checked the clock. A few minutes after two. Today had already felt like it had lasted a lifetime and it was only mid-afternoon.
She spotted someone pulling out of a space right in front of the door, and slid straight in after them. It was the first lucky thing that had happened to her all day.
As promised, she fired off a quick text to Yvie.
About to go into hotel. If I show up on some dodgy Insta Live in the next hour, let me know.
The reply came straight back.
The ladies from Ward 4 are ready to storm the building with me. Walking sticks at the ready. Be safe. Call me as soon as you’re done.
Butterflies performing somersaults in her stomach, Keli got out of the car, and marched to the door of the hotel before she changed her mind.
The doorman opened it and greeted her with a cheery ‘Good afternoon,’ which she reciprocated, although nothing felt good about right now. Not a thing.
She wasn’t sure what to do next. Sit in the lobby? Wait at the door? Go to the ladies’ and check if she looked as terrified as she felt inside?
‘Keli?’
The voice from behind her made her spin, and the sight that she saw there was not at all what she’d expected. Somehow, based on nothing but her imagination, she’d thought this woman would be glam and brash, perfect make-up and wearing a trendy, over-the-top outfit. But no. She was stunning, for sure. Tall, about the same height as Keli, around five foot ten. Brown eyes. But that was where the similarities ended. This woman had long caramel hair, parted in the middle and falling in natural waves. No make-up and she certainly didn’t need it because her face was all cheekbones and full lips. With her willowy frame, black jeans and polo neck, under a grey suede jacket, she could be a model, out on a casting call, for a shoot that was searching for a naturally gorgeous girl next door.
‘Hi, I’m Laurie. It was me who called you.’
‘Erm, hi.’ There was a hesitation as they both stared each other, before Keli broke it. ‘I’m not sure what to say, or how this should go, but do you want to go into the bar, and get some coffee? Or something stronger, if you want.’
Laurie nodded. ‘Sure.’ This was so bizarre. They were talking as if they were meeting for a work chat. Or they were pen pals getting together. Or strangers going on a date.
In the bar, Laurie asked for a glass of Pinot Noir, but Keli stuck to herbal tea. Despite the fleeting thought that she might need wine earlier, she wasn’t taking any chances. If she were pregnant, she didn’t need the guilt of knowing she got pissed at lunchtime. And getting drunk with the girlfriend of the baby’s father was the stuff of really bad reality TV shows.
‘Look, I’m just going to start,’ Laurie began. ‘Because you must be wondering if this is all a big joke. Or some kind of mistake. I brought pictures to show you so that you’d believe me.’
Keli didn’t need them. She could see by the devastation on Laurie’s face, the defeat in her voice, that either this was real or she deserved an Oscar. Laurie flicked through a dozen images on her phone, each one making Keli wince. They were clearly a couple.
‘I just want to say again that I’m sorry. I had no idea.’
‘I believe you,’ Laurie answered, pulling the glass of wine that the barman had just poured towards her. ‘I could tell when I spoke to you earlier, to be honest. You sounded as shocked as I feel.’
Keli nodded, lifting her tea. ‘You said you’d been with him for three years?’
