The Liar Next Door by Nicola Marsh

Six

Celeste

I see Frankie watching us, her stare boring holes into Andre’s back. Her intense scrutiny makes me uncomfortable, which is silly, as I’m not doing anything wrong. Her husband is clearly an extrovert—he commands attention—so maybe she’s insecure? Or one of those possessive women who don’t like their man interacting with the opposite sex? Whatever her rationale, she doesn’t have to worry about me. I’m not a husband stealer. In fact, I would almost say he dislikes me.

Then again, not many people like me. Even Roland, Vi’s dad, didn’t like me enough to build a life with me, to provide a stable future for our daughter. More recently, he acted like he hated me.

That’s what moving to Hambridge Heights is about. Escaping the disappointments of my past. Escaping from him.

I’m a tolerant person. I’ve put up with a lot in my thirty-eight years. But what he’d said to me during our last screaming match…

I had to get away.

He left me no choice.

Violette runs up to me, Luna hot on her heels. I’m glad they’ve bonded so quickly and I greet them with a big smile. “Mom, can Luna come over for a play date? Pleeeeease?”

I glance at Andre and he’s smiling indulgently at his daughter too, and in that moment I like him.

“Yeah, Dad, can we have a play date?” Luna slips her hand into Andre’s and I swear I see him melt on the spot: he looks at her with open adoration, his smile goofy.

“Sure, sweetheart, but I reckon everyone’s going to be tired after this party, so how about I chat with your mom and Celeste and we organize a play date for another day?”

Luna frowns and Vi visibly deflates, but after a few moments Luna’s sulky expression clears and she nods. “How about tomorrow?”

Andre’s gaze meets mine and we laugh in unison. “If it’s okay with Celeste?”

“Fine by me,” I say, the words barely out of my mouth before both girls start jumping up and down on the spot, yelling “Yay.”

“I guess that’s settled,” he says, with a chuckle.

I’m grateful to the girls for breaking the ice between us and I smile at him. We share a moment most parents do when we know we’ve given in too easily to our darling cherubs and we don’t give a damn.

“I’ve heard girls are more difficult than boys and I’m beginning to understand why,” Saylor says, pressing her fingers to her ears as the girls continue to whoop and dance around.

Andre laughs, a genuine belly laugh, and I can see why Frankie is attracted to him. He has a naturalness about him, like he’s hiding nothing.

Pity the same can’t be said about me.

Saylor notices it too. She’s staring at him with something akin to adulation and I wonder if it’s the pregnancy hormones. I remember the fifth month of my pregnancy. I was mad for Roland, couldn’t get enough of him. Every evening when he came home we’d be going at it and when he left the next morning I’d be teary and resentful. It saddened me because our relationship had been smooth once. Until everything changed, and we never recovered. I thought having a baby might bond us. Sure, he loved Vi, but as for me… if anything, the resentment grew.

Moving here is the opportunity I’ve been looking for. A fresh start, far from the sins of the past.

Frankie joins our little group. She’s grinning, but there’s a brittleness behind her stiff smile as she studies her husband’s face intently, as if searching for reassurance. Is Frankie’s perfect life not so perfect?

“Hey, girls, what’s all the excitement about?” Frankie asks, reaching out to pluck a leaf from Luna’s hair.

Rather than answering, Luna and Vi run back toward the cupcake table and Andre replies for them. “The girls were trying to coerce us into a play date today, but Celeste and I stood firm.” He grins. “We managed to convince them tomorrow was better.”

Frankie laughs at his sheepish expression and the tension dissipates.

“Is that okay with you?” I ask, and she nods.

“Absolutely fine. I’ll grab your cell number later and we’ll tee up a time. I’m working in the morning so maybe the afternoon? Out here in the park?”

“Perfect,” I say, and it is. Today couldn’t have gone better if I’d planned it.

“On that note, I think it’s time I popped the balloon,” Saylor says, pointing to the table where the great reveal is going to take place.

“Go ahead,” Andre says, while I share a conspiratorial smile with Frankie about our mutual antipathy for gender reveal parties.

Oh yes, today has gone splendidly, better than I could’ve anticipated.