The Keeper of Secrets by Amanda Brooke Read Free Book Online Page A

get up to goodness knows what, you’re the one having to account for your every move. He really doesn’t want you going out with me any more, does he?’
    Elle swallowed a mouthful of wine. ‘You have to admit, it is going to make things difficult. We don’t want to take sides,’ she began, ‘but what happens when we have parties? Who do we invite? And if we invite both of you, what happens if either of you brings a new partner …’
    â€˜What parties, Elle?’ Angie said carefully. ‘Stop repeating Rick’s arguments as if they’re your own.’
    Angie had never been one of Rick’s biggest fans but she had put up with him, at first for Chris’s sake and then for Elle’s too. But without her husband’s calming influence and calls for diplomacy, Angie was finding it difficult to disguise her contempt. Although she couldn’t disagree with Angie’s often scathing comments, it didn’t make her feel any better. Not about Rick and not about herself. ‘He’s not a bad person, Angie,’ she tried.
    Angie swirled the last dregs of wine around her glass as she considered her response. ‘I know he’s not. What Rick is though is incredibly insecure and pathetically weak. It’s a fair definition of most bullies.’ Before Elle could protest, she said, ‘OK, I’ll stop now. I wouldn’t want Rick accusing me of coming between you two just so I can have some company in the divorce courts.’ Angie caught the look in Elle’s eyes. ‘Oh, he’s saying that already, is he?’ She was laughing as she spoke.
    Elle laughed too but she couldn’t quite relax into it. ‘I don’t know what I’d do without you. You’re my best friend.’
    Angie, being the friend she was, didn’t point out that she was Elle’s only friend. ‘That’s why I’m here.’
    â€˜Actually, getting you here is quite fortuitous. I need a dose of your no-nonsense talking, if you don’t mind.’
    Angie refilled their glasses to the brim as Elle sought out the cereal box that now contained the offending sympathy card as well as the love letters.
    â€˜What do you think?’ she asked once Angie had gone through all the evidence.
    â€˜Truthfully?’
    Elle nodded.
    â€˜Your dad fell in love with someone but he didn’t think he was good enough for her and never would be. She married someone else and eventually so did he. Twenty years later they started meeting up again, possibly for a few years, but then that ended.’
    â€˜That?’ Elle asked. She was still in denial and needed Angie to be brutally honest if she was ever going to face facts.
    â€˜Your dad had an affair,’ Angie replied, and had the good grace to grimace.
    Elle’s face was grim as she silently returned the evidence to its hiding place. She didn’t know when Rick might return. Recalling Angie’s call to Chris, she realized she didn’t even know where he would be returning from, but that was a question for another day. ‘Do you want to stay here or go into the living room?’
    â€˜Where would you rather be?’
    â€˜In my old bedroom with the duvet over my head,’ Elle admitted. ‘I don’t know how to deal with this, Angie. I know my dad was only human, but even so. What if we’re reading this all wrong? Dad isn’t here to defend himself.’
    â€˜You want to see this Corinne woman, don’t you?’
    â€˜Yes … and no. Do you ever get the feeling that your life is hanging by a thread and if you start pulling at it, it’s all going to unravel?’
    Angie leaned in closer, her stare intense and uncomfortable as Elle felt not only her face but her whole life under scrutiny. ‘Here’s hoping,’ she said.
    It was eleven o’clock and Elle and Angie were still in the kitchen, pouring the last of dregs of the second bottle of wine