The Liar Next Door by Nicola Marsh
Epilogue
Frankie
Two months later, the residents of Vintage Circle in Hambridge Heights are gathered in the park again. I’m hosting an impromptu get-together as a way to facilitate healing.
Gossip has been rife for the last eight weeks and I don’t want it following the girls around whenever they come out to play. All it takes is an offhand remark or careless comment and this way everyone can see the girls are fine.
At least, Luna is. She thought Celeste had taken them on an adventure to the beach and she would’ve seen us the next day. When she woke in that cottage and saw Andre and me hovering, she’d flung her arms around us, then promptly demanded what’s for breakfast. Now she’s back to her exuberant best, bossing me around, rolling her eyes at Andre, but interestingly she’s softer with Violette, like she senses she needs to be handled gently.
These days, Violette asks for her mother less. Though shy, she’s laughing more spontaneously and is eating better. When she asks where her mom is, we tell her the version of truth Marisa advised us to say: that Celeste is sad about her dad dying and she needs some help to recover. We don’t mention the J word as jail will terrify a girl who’s already fragile. Violette is seeing a renowned child therapist and I’m hopeful she’ll make progress.
As I watch her now, running around and playing tag with some of the kids from the neighborhood, I can’t help but be optimistic for the future. Luna is close by, protective and intuitive. I love that about her. I like to think she gets her nurturing side from me.
There’s a touch on my arm and I turn to see Ruston balancing a giant store-bought croquembouche. “I come bearing gifts.”
“So it’s true. Size does matter.”
He laughs and does a deliberate jiggle, like he’s about to drop it. “I know it’s over the top but there’s a lot of people to feed. Big turnout today.”
“Yeah. Most are curious, I think.”
“And you wanted to show you’re all okay.”
“There you go again, impressing me.” I’ve already thanked him numerous times for his support the night Celeste kidnapped Luna but I still feel indebted. What he revealed about Andre and Saylor that night in the car on the way to Gledhill has helped me release some of my resentment toward my husband. They hadn’t been having an affair. It had been one drunken, drug-fueled, crazy mistake. Not that I’ll ever completely trust my husband again but Ruston’s insight has helped me work toward forgiveness.
“Don’t be too impressed. I’m no saint.”
“Considering how you’ve been supporting Saylor, I beg to differ.”
To my surprise, he blushes. “I feel bad for how I treated her all those years and it’s tough to see how she’s struggling now. It’s the least I can do, lend a helping hand when she needs it.”
“Whatever your motivation, I think it’s great you’re assisting her.”
He shrugs, his lopsided bashful grin one of the things that probably attracted Saylor to him in the first place. “I like that we’ve finally reached a place where we can be friends.”
“I think she appreciates it. Just go easy on her, okay?”
If he hears the underlying warning in my remark—not to let her get too invested in their friendship so she starts hoping for more—he doesn’t say. He nods and glances over my shoulder. “Saylor’s heading this way, so I’ll leave you ladies to chat. I’ll see you later.” He takes a step before pausing. “For what it’s worth, I’m glad you and Andre are trying to work things out.”
I don’t correct his misconception. Instead, I smile and turn to see a heavily pregnant Saylor waddling toward me. She’s eight and a half months now, wearing that weary expression of a woman who’s ready to give birth.
“You came,” I say, somewhat surprised.
She’s barely been outside for weeks, not since I had a blunt discussion with her: namely, stay the hell away from my husband and if he’s the father we’ll deal with it when the time comes like mature adults. Lloyd paid her rent for the next six months before he left, thoughtful considering what she did precipitated the end of their short-lived marriage. She’s unprepared to be a single mother so having her next door is convenient; if the baby’s Andre’s, we’ll do our bit. Co-parenting, co-custody, whatever.
“Ruston said it would be good for me to come, to get out of the house for a while. Besides, it seemed right, considering we all met at my gender reveal three and a half months ago.”
She’s pale, without a hint of make-up, and her hair is pulled back into a low ponytail, making her look a vulnerable eighteen rather than twenty-six. But there’s strength in her steady gaze, as if she’s come to terms with what she’s done and the potential fallout on our lives, and she’s dealing with it.
“I’m glad Ruston’s helping you.” I gesture to where he’s chatting with Andre. “Turns out he’s more than a pretty face.”
Her eyes follow to where I point and her smile is soft, that of a woman who’s realistic yet hopeful. “He’s really surprised me, stepping up to grocery shop and take me to appointments and whatever I ask.” Her gaze returns to me and I’m relieved it’s clear rather than smitten. “We’re in a good place as friends.”
“I’m glad,” I say as Luna appears.
“Wow, Saylor, your tummy is huge.” Luna’s eyes are wide as she stares at Saylor’s belly. “Do you have more than one baby in there?”
I’m about to chastise my daughter about the polite way to greet a pregnant woman, when Saylor says, “It’s just one baby. A boy. He’s big.”
“Humungous.” Luna holds her arms wide. “I think he’s going to be as big as this when he comes out.”
“I hope not,” Saylor murmurs, and our gazes meet in mutual amusement.
I don’t hate her. I don’t hate Andre either.
Because I know better than most that nobody’s perfect.
“Mom, can you come and cut the chocolate cake now? Us kids are starving.”
“Sure thing, sweetie.” As she slips her hand into mine and gives a tug, I say to Saylor, “Don’t worry. Everything’s going to be okay.”
As my precious daughter leads me to a long trestle table laden with food, I know it’s true.
It seems like fate that Luna and Violette are united.
Sisters should live together.
I’m glad I lied to Walter about Luna’s paternity and falsified that test. Anything can be done on the Internet these days. The one I sent him looks so real. Even I couldn’t tell the difference between the actual test and the one I forged.
At the time, I knew what would happen if Walt learned the truth. He’d lay claim to Luna. He’d want to be a parent to her. And I couldn’t have my daughter’s life disrupted; or mine.
So I lied.
Perfection comes at a cost and I couldn’t risk being dragged through a custody battle that would put my marriage, my career, and the flawless life I so carefully constructed, at risk.
No one knows the truth but me. It’s why I haven’t kicked Andre out. Because we’ve all done things we’re not proud of and I think my secret outweighs all the ones he’s kept from me.
In a crazy way, I almost hope he’s the father of Saylor’s baby. I like the idea of having a boy as a sibling for the girls. Accepting our blended family has lifted a weight off my shoulders.
I don’t have to struggle with perfection any more.
My imperfect family has completed me.
Want to read more gripping domestic suspense from Nicola Marsh? When Brooke returns to her family home in Martino Bay, she meets her sister’s new husband and is shocked to recognize him instantly as the man who shares her biggest and darkest secret.
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