The Friends We Keep(100)

“I don’t know,” he said. “I’ve called an Uber. I’ll have it take me back to the house to get my stuff, and then I’ll . . .” He stood up, still not looking at her. “I’ll call you when I’m ready.”

Evvie watched him walk away until she couldn’t see through the tears anymore. She had spent the last few months terrified of losing Maggie, never dreaming that she might lose her son. And as he disappeared, her heart cracked open all over again.





forty-seven


- 2019 -



Topher placed a cup of tea on the table in front of the sofa, looking at Maggie with concern.

“Thank God you didn’t hit your head,” he said. “Those flagstones don’t look very forgiving. I put some whiskey in the tea. It’s more of a hot toddy than a cup of tea, but I figured the whiskey would help with the shock.”

“Did you know?” Maggie looked at Topher.

“My God, no! I was as stunned as you were. He got out of the car and I just stared at him. I had no idea. I guess this explains why none of us had ever seen pictures of him.” Topher shook his head. “I don’t know what to even think.”

“I want to see her,” Maggie said. “I want to know everything.”

“She hasn’t come back. Do you want me to text her?”

Maggie shook her head. “I’ll do it myself. Can you pass me my phone?”

We need to talk, she typed. I’d like you to come . . . Maggie hesitated. She was going to write home, but that would be wrong, given what she now knew. This couldn’t be Evvie’s home anymore. She finished typing, to the house, watching as the three dots appeared on the screen and Evvie said she was on her way.

While they were waiting, a car pulled up outside. Topher went out to meet it, and then returned to the house to get a suitcase, which he carried outside. Maggie realized the boy . . . that boy, must be taking his bag and himself somewhere. But she couldn’t think about that now.

Topher waited with Maggie until they heard Evvie walking up the gravel drive. After she had assured him she would be fine, he headed upstairs to give them some privacy.

Maggie sat up and watched Evvie walk in, as if she were watching a stranger. She thought she knew her so well, and yet it turned out she didn’t know her at all.

“He’s Ben’s, isn’t he.” It was a statement, her voice too defeated to ask the question. “He’s obviously Ben’s, but I need to hear it from you.”

Evvie nodded. “He is.”

“How could you?” Maggie said after a pause, her voice cracking with bitterness. “You were supposed to be my best friend. How could you betray me like that? You bloody well slept with my husband, and you had his child! By rights, that’s not even supposed to be your son. That’s supposed to be my son!”

“I know.” Evvie blinked away tears as a silence fell.

“Did Ben know about him?”

“No! He suspected, when Jack was born, but I fudged the dates and he believed me.”

“He never saw him then.”

“No. I was careful to keep everyone who knew Ben away from Jack.”

“What on earth were you thinking, moving in here?” Maggie’s voice rose in anger. “We’re living together in my home, and all the time you had a son fathered by my husband. It’s unbelievable.” She let out a bitter laugh. “You didn’t think it was inevitable that we’d meet at some point?”

“I know. It was selfish. It was stupid. On some level I think I must have wanted to be found out, but . . .” She shook her head. “I don’t even know if that’s true. I tried not to think about Jack. I just missed you. I missed you, and Topher, and I was lonely. Before the reunion it felt like there was nothing to look forward to. When we all saw each other again and started talking about living together, it sounded so amazing that I stopped thinking straight. I thought I could manage it, with Jack being so far away.”

“How long were you having an affair with my husband?” Maggie said.

“It wasn’t an affair. It wasn’t like that.”

“What was it like?”

Evvie sighed. “Can I get myself a drink first?”

“I’ll have another one as well.” Maggie downed the last of her hot toddy and took the teacup to the bar, this time not bothering with the tea, pouring a large slug of whiskey, and ignoring Evvie, standing behind her. Let Evvie make her own bloody drink.

“So.” Maggie sat down again. “What was it like then?”

“It wasn’t anything, Maggie. I know that’s hard to believe. Remember when I stayed in town that week after graduation? That’s when it first happened. I didn’t plan anything. I didn’t even like Ben, let alone fancy him, but I ran into him while he was doing some kind of scavenger hunt. Honestly, I don’t even remember the details, but kissing me was somehow part of the prize. I know it sounds ridiculous, but that’s what it was meant to be. Just a kiss for a photo. But then . . .”

“I remember,” Maggie said. “I called you dutifully from the South of France every day, and you were never there, and you never returned my calls. That was the beginning of you slipping away from me. Now I know why.”

“I felt so guilty,” said Evvie. “I didn’t know how I was going to face you again.”