The Liar Next Door by Nicola Marsh

Fourteen

Celeste

Frankie’s not half as friendly toward me as she was yesterday and I’m wondering if her persona at the gender reveal party was an act, like how she fakes it online every day. She must pretend, because I refuse to believe anyone is that damn perky all the time. It would be exhausting being her. I also pity Luna, who craves her mother’s attention. If it’s obvious to me, why can’t Frankie see it? Or is she so self-centered all she cares about is her precious image?

We’ve been in the park less than fifteen minutes and she’s hardly said a word, and I wonder why she agreed to this play date when I texted her first thing this morning.

“Are you okay?” I ask her. We’re watching the girls play with their dolls in a shaded patch of grass not far from us and she takes a while to respond.

“I’ve been better.”

“Want to talk about it?”

“Not really.”

I’m not surprised she doesn’t want to confide in me as we only met yesterday, but I’m hoping we can be friends for our daughters’ sakes. Luna was all Vi could talk about last night and I’m thrilled the girls have bonded so quickly.

We lapse into a strained silence again, punctuated by the girls’ chatter as they mimic some grand fairy tale with their dolls. I’ve never seen Vi so happy. She’s practically glowing every time Luna smiles at her and I’m glad. While I’d like to be friends with Frankie, if I have to put up with Frankie’s sullen mood for my daughter’s happiness, so be it. I almost wish Andre had brought Luna out to play instead but he’d been behaving oddly around me yesterday and with Frankie watching us, what would she think of her husband and me alone at a play date?

Silly, really, because dads bring their kids to play dates all the time. It doesn’t mean anything and it’s not like I’m the flirty type. Most men don’t know how to deal with me. My sarcasm is off-putting. Roland hadn’t minded. Until he did.

“I’m glad the girls are getting on well,” I say, making an effort to chat because I can’t stand the silence. “It’s important to me for Violette to make friends here.”

I glimpse a softening in her face and some of the tension in her shoulders relaxes. “Yeah, it’s great. I worry that Luna suffers sometimes because I work so much, and she doesn’t get to socialize with kids her own age at play dates like this often enough.”

“You’ve got typical working mom guilt. Don’t let it bother you. You’re a great mom.” I gesture at the girls. “Luna’s well-adjusted and happy, so you’re doing okay.”

She smiles in gratitude and I’m glad she appears more engaged. “Do you work, Celeste?”

“Yeah. I’m a freelance accountant. I do the books remotely for a few companies in Manhattan, long-standing clients.”

“Do you enjoy it?”

“It pays the bills.” And allows me to be home with Vi, something I’m eternally grateful for. “Do you like lifestyle vlogging?”

“I used to love it.” She sighs.

“Used to?”

“We all have bad days, right?” She’s fiddling with the hem of her top, plucking absentmindedly at a loose string, lost in her thoughts. “Imagine how you feel on your crappiest day, then imagine having to put on make-up and the perfect outfit and smile until your face aches because that’s what people expect of you.”

I’m not sure if she’ll like my first thought but I say it anyway. “Why don’t you stop?”

“Because it pays too well and I’m afraid if I do…” She trails off, gnawing at her bottom lip.

“What?”

“That I’ll go back to being a nobody…”

She speaks so softly I wonder if I’ve heard correctly. I don’t know her well enough to ask why she sounds forlorn. Ironic, how she portrays perfection online but seems so sad about her job when the camera turns off. It makes me like her a little more, normalizes her in a way.

I’m glad she’s opening up to me. “Is that so bad?”

“I suppose not.” She shrugs. “I’m just exhausted.” She takes a breath and blows it out, and it’s as if a weight has lifted off her. Either that, or she’s a great actress, as her smile appears genuine. “Don’t mind me. I didn’t sleep well and I’ve been in this weird funk all morning because I’ve got a lot of subscriber comments to respond to.” She waves a hand between us as if she’s shooing away her problems. “I’ll be fine.”

“If it makes it easier on you, I’m happy to take Luna off your hands. Have her over for a few hours at my place later this afternoon?” I point to the girls. “Vi loves having a new friend and the girls get on well. So if you want a break, I’m not far.”

She smiles. “Thanks, Celeste, I appreciate the offer.” She’s staring at me like she’s seeing me for the first time.

“Is Andre home today?”

She stiffens and her eyes narrow almost imperceptibly. “Why?”

“I need some muscle to help me move an old trunk in my bedroom. It was there when I arrived and it’s taking up too much room.” I flex my arm and poke at my bicep. “And as you can see from this pathetic excuse for a muscle, I need all the help I can get.”

“He’s out at the moment but I’ll send him over when he gets home.” Her tone is friendly, but rather than continue the conversation she returns to staring at the girls and I wonder if I upset her. Perhaps I shouldn’t have brought up Andre. But I don’t get it. Surely she can’t be jealous of me? She’s gorgeous, whereas I’m… washed out, as Roland had told me before things ended, one of his least nasty insults.

“Frankie?”

“Yeah?” she replies, her eyes fixed on her daughter.

“Friends don’t betray each other and I’m hoping that’s what we can be, friends.”

It’s my roundabout way of saying she has nothing to worry about with Andre and me, and after a long pause, she gives a nod.

“Sure, I’d like that.”

I’m not sure how sincere her response is, but for now, it’s enough.