The Younger Wife(47)

Everyone laughed.

For the next few minutes, conversation moved in a circular fashion with ease, everyone seeming to notice when someone hadn’t contributed and somehow looping them into the discussion without making them stand out or feel put on the spot. It was astonishing, being around such skilled conversationalists. The champagne went down very nicely and before Heather knew it, her glass had been refilled. Mary darted back and forth between the kitchen and the dining room, a tea towel draped charmingly over her shoulder.

‘So,’ Elsa said, ‘how is Pam doing?’

‘She’s doing well,’ Stephen said. ‘We visited her this week, and she seemed in good spirits.’

‘You . . . both visited her?’ Elsa said.

Mary arrived with bowls of soup. ‘I should have checked: do you have any dietary restrictions, Heather?’ she called, setting a bowl in front of Stephen.

‘No,’ Heather said. ‘None at all.’

Elsa was still looking at Stephen.

‘Yes,’ Stephen said. ‘Heather and I visited her together. Pam and Heather spent quite a bit of time together this past year, when Heather was overseeing the renovations. And she’s been a great support as we moved Pam into the home.’

Michael was making his way around the table with a bottle of wine, filling the glasses. Elsa opened her mouth to say something else, but Mary got in first.

‘Dig in, everyone!’ Mary said. She held out a basket of crusty rolls. ‘And tell us about the house, Stephen. Is it sublime?’

‘Sublime is a good description for it,’ Stephen said thoughtfully. ‘Most mornings I feel like I’ve awoken in a hotel. It was definitely worth the wait.’

‘I remember sitting in the kitchen with Pam years ago,’ Elsa said, ‘while she drew up plans on a serviette. She was so excited.’

‘I saw her serviette plans,’ Heather said. ‘She also had a whole shoebox full of fabric, swatches, paint colours. She was a dream client in that way. She knew her style – warm, textured, ornate. Never met a throw cushion she didn’t like.’

This drew a laugh from the room, even from Elsa.

‘I bet she’d be thrilled that her dream came to fruition, even if she wasn’t able to see it,’ Mary said. ‘Are there throw cushions everywhere?’

Heather hesitated. She assumed Stephen had told them about the change in direction. She glanced at him for guidance, but he had a mouthful of bread.

‘Well, in the end, we decided to go for a different style. More . . . minimalist. Clean lines.’ She took a quick swig of her wine. ‘I mean, it made sense that if Pam wasn’t going to be living there, we should adapt the plans to suit Stephen’s own style. I wanted him to be happy with the results.’

‘And evidently he is,’ Mary said, barely missing a beat.

‘And Pam has no idea, so what does it matter?’ Elsa muttered.

Silence. Stephen fought to swallow his mouthful.

‘It matters,’ Heather said. ‘Of course it matters. Stephen cares enormously for Pam, and so do I.’

‘You care about her?’ Elsa said. David put a hand on her arm, but Elsa shook it off. ‘I’m sorry, but honestly. Pam was your client, and not only did you fail to meet her brief, you took off with her husband!’

‘That’s enough, Elsa,’ Stephen said.

‘Stephen was my client too,’ Heather said. ‘I met his brief.’

‘Enough!’ Stephen said, loudly now.

The room was silent for a few moments. Even Mary couldn’t seem to find anything to say. Heather looked at Stephen, but he seemed to be avoiding her gaze.

‘I’m sorry, Mary, but I think we should go,’ he said finally.

‘You don’t have to,’ Mary said, rising to her feet. But it was clear there wasn’t really another option. Elsa was planted in her seat, glaring. Her husband was sitting awkwardly beside her.

‘We’ll walk you out,’ Michael said, as Heather grabbed her purse.

At the door, they spoke in hushed tones.

‘I’m sorry, Mary,’ Stephen said. ‘I thought it would be okay.’

‘Don’t apologise!’ Mary said. ‘It’s not your fault. I have no idea what got into Elsa.’ Then, perhaps feeling disloyal, she added, ‘She and Pam were very close. I guess everyone grieves in their own way.’

‘It was a lovely dinner,’ Heather said, even though she’d barely touched the soup. ‘Thank you for inviting me.’

‘We’ll do it again,’ Mary said. ‘Soon. Just the four of us.’

‘I’ll see you at golf,’ Michael said, shaking Stephen’s hand. ‘It was great to meet you, Heather. Hopefully next time will be less eventful.’

Michael and Mary waved, and Stephen and Heather walked to the car.

‘I’m sorry,’ she started, but Stephen held up a hand.

‘Let’s talk about it at home.’

Heather got into the car. But as Stephen got into the car beside her, she felt it, that little pinch of unease she used to get when her father was on the warpath. She used to think of it as her sixth sense. It told her something was in the air. Danger.





27


RACHEL


Rachel found it hard to recall how dinner ended. At some point, the bill was paid, they’d thanked the waitstaff, and they’d wandered out into the evening together, as if it were something they’d always done. On the way back to Rachel’s house they continued their conversation from the restaurant, but with new comfort, more teasing, and an undeniable frisson of chemistry.