The moment I saw the credit card statements, something inside me cracked. I knew exactly what they meant, even before I opened my mouth. Cassie looked at me with that fake innocence she’s perfected, and I could feel the rage bubbling up. “Just keep your voice down,” she said, all calm, like I was the one making a scene.
“You haven’t had it out with her, have you? ” Mary piped up, always the peacemaker. “Look, maybe there’s a logical explanation,” I tried, but even I didn’t believe it. Cassie snorted.
“She’s as bent as a nine bob note. ”
“Well, I’ve got a plan. When she goes to work in a bit, I’m going to follow her. ”
Mary sighed.
“Let’s hope it’s not a wild goose chase. ”
I didn’t want to think about that. I just wanted to know where my money was going. Later, I found myself outside the cafe, watching her.
She didn’t look like someone who was hiding a secret. She looked like the same Cassie I’d known for years. But as she slipped into a building I didn’t recognize, I felt my stomach drop. Meanwhile, the others were wrapped up in their own drama.
Sally was convinced Idris was responsible for Alfie being in the hospital, going on about the damp in the flat. “Mold is no laughing matter, and Idris, you can’t get away with this, Brody. ”
Brody just nodded, trying to calm her down. “I’m not disagreeing with you, Sally.
I’m just saying we need to be sure. ”
“Sure? Look at Alfie’s photo. He looks terrible.
”
I tuned them out. I had my own problem to deal with. When Cassie came home that night, she was all smiles, like nothing was wrong. “Hello, girls.
I’m back! ”
“Where did you get to last night? ” Mary asked, her voice tight with worry. “Just needed some downtime,” Cassie said.
“Took myself off to the swimming lake. ”
“Well, you could have rung,” I said. “We’ve been sick with worry. ”
She ignored the edge in my voice.
“I’m sorry. Mental health is a shocking thing, and when it takes over, I get selfish. ”
I didn’t believe her. But I didn’t say anything.
The next morning, I was supposed to go into work, but I couldn’t face anyone. I told Todd to take it easy, diverted my calls, and stayed home. Then my phone buzzed. It was a number I didn’t recognize.
“Hello? ”
“It’s Theo’s next of kin,” the voice said. “I need to give you an update on the investigation. ”
I let him in, offered him a drink, but he got straight to the point.
“It’s not good news. We’ve reached a stalemate. ”
I stared at him, feeling numb. “I’m just getting my head around the fact that I was with such a monster for so long.
”
“Look, I’m sorry how I left things yesterday,” he said. “We need to work through our problems, rather than run away from them. ”
I knew he was right. We’d been arguing about getting married, about everything.
And now this. “I don’t need to get married,” I said, trying to convince myself. “Look how it worked out for me in the past. ”
He smiled, relieved.
“Can we just forget the last few days ever happened? ”
“Yeah,” I said. “I’ve erased the data. Wiped the Betamax.
”
He laughed, and for a second, it felt like everything might be okay. But it wasn’t. Later, I told him about my plan for Idris. “I’ve been researching lawyers who’d help me sue him, but I’m not sure I can afford it.
”
Sally butted in, as usual. “What about Adam? His girlfriend’s Idris’s cousin, but I saw him in the cafe earlier, and he was definitely not team Idris. ”
“As if.
”
“Well, it’s worth a shot. ”
I sighed, texting Adam anyway. What did I have to lose? The big surprise came when I least expected it.
The twins, Hope and Ruby, had been acting suspiciously all week. Then, at the family gathering, they cornered me with this wild look in their eyes. “Dad,” Ruby said, “we have something to show you. ”
They pulled out a phone.
On the screen was a man’s face. An older man, with kind eyes and my same jawline. “This is your dad,” Hope said, grinning. I stared at her.
“What? ”
“We took some of your DNA and sent it off to this website,” Ruby explained. “And we found him. And we messaged him pretending to be you.
And now he wants to meet you. ”
My heart stopped. “You did what? ”
And then he walked in.
The man from the phone, in the flesh. He looked at me, confused. “I’m sorry, mate. I don’t really recognize you.
”
I couldn’t speak. “Him? ”
His eyes widened. “Oh.
It was a very long time ago. ”
My brain was spinning. “I thought I was chatting with you. ”
“It was us,” Hope said, proud.
“Hi, Grandad. ”
The man looked at her, then at me, then at Cassie. “This must be Dorien,” he said, trying to recover. “How do you know their names?
” I asked. “Well, you tell me all about her,” he said, and then he turned to me. “Look, I’m sorry, pal. I wouldn’t have come today if I’d known.
”
“It’s not your fault,” I said, but I didn’t know what else to say. The girls were overjoyed, but I felt like the floor was falling away beneath me. I looked at Cassie, who was watching me with a strange expression. “This is really weird,” I said.
“Honestly, you’re by yourselves,” Cassie said, trying to give us space. “Come on, girls. Let’s leave them to have a little chat. ”
The man, whose name turned out to be Lenny, followed me outside.
My head was pounding. “So, who was he then? ”
Cassie sighed, looking down. “That was Lenny.
My ex-husband. ”
“Oh, no. It’s nothing like that,” she said quickly. “I took out a credit card in his name.
And he found out about it on the night that Theo died. And that’s the reason I was late picking up Todd. ”
My jaw dropped. “Not just Lenny though, was it?
There’s a load of other credit card stuff. ”
Cassie’s face crumpled. “I’ve got a spending addiction. It’s an illness.
”
“Yeah, or a brain tumor, love,” I said, the bitterness leaking out. “It’s a disease. It causes disease in my life. And in the lives of all my loved ones.
And I’m very sorry. But I’ve let it get out of control again. ”
The words hit me like a train. I’d been with this woman for years, and I had no idea she was in this much debt.
“Lenny has agreed not to press charges,” she said, “on the condition that I attend an addiction support group. ”
I stared at her. “And you’re supposed to be attending one tonight? ”
“Yes.
”
“Then you should go. ”
Just as I was processing Cassie’s confession, I got a call from Adam. He didn’t have much time, but he had something to say about my other problem. “Watch yourself with your dress.
Look, I know you’ve got something going. Just watch him, okay? That’s all I’m saying. ”
“Are you even listening to me?
” I asked. But he was gone. Later, I sat down with the man who claimed to be my father. He looked at me with this sad, searching expression.
“I can’t do this. I’m sorry, Ty. It’s too much for my brain to take. ”
“Yeah.
I should go after her,” he said, standing up. Just as he was about to leave, he turned back. “Before you do, can we at least exchange numbers? Then I definitely know it’s you I’m chatting to.
”
I hesitated. But I gave him my number. “You’re a bit of a golfer, aren’t you? ” he asked.
“I’ll book us a day on the course. ”
“Right. I’ll see you there. ”
But as I walked away, I didn’t know if I was ever going to call him back.
“You know what, mate? I’m sorry you’ve been messed about, and I know you didn’t bring any of this on yourself, but I’ve managed the last 40-odd years on this planet and done all right without a dad. I don’t see why I would want one now. ”
He looked hurt, but he just said, “Take my number.
In case you change your mind. ”
I took it. But I didn’t know if I’d ever use it. The house meeting was a disaster.
Mary, Glenda, and George were all sitting there, tense, staring at Cassie. “So, this is about the card you took out in my name,” Mary said, her voice cold. “Yes,” Cassie whispered. “I’m so sorry.
”
“Sorry? You stole my identity to buy rubbish for your car. Does that sound complicated to you? ”
“I’m not making excuses,” Cassie said.
“Oh, you’re about to,” George snapped. “It started as a result of a trauma I experienced. It’s an impulse I can’t control. I thought I had it in a manageable place, but as you know, we’ve had a very rough time recently.
And it always starts up again when I’m under stress. ”
George stood up. “Flipping dopamine? There’s only one dopamine round here.
”
“Then why have you forgiven her? ” Glenda asked. “Because it’s an addiction. ”
“Yeah.
And Count Dracula was addicted to sucking folks’ necks. It don’t mean I want him living with me. ”
Mary sighed. “I won’t be informing the authorities, Christina, but neither do I accept your apology.
You’ll have to earn that. While I give careful consideration to the appropriate reparations, I’d like that minuted. ”
Glenda nodded. “I’ll take a minute.
”
“I’d like that minuted! ” Mary said again, louder. The tension was unbearable. Cassie looked at me, her eyes pleading.
“Please, George. Don’t turn your back on me. I need you the most. ”
I didn’t know what to say.
I didn’t know if I could forgive her. Meanwhile, the investigation into Theo’s death was crawling along. Maria pulled me aside at the cafe. “Is this about the Theo Silverton murder?
” I asked, annoyed. “I just wanted to double-check something from your statement,” Maria said. “After you and Gary left the builder’s yard at 10:20 p. m.
, you both returned home and didn’t leave again? ”
“Yeah, that’s right. ”
“And neither of you left at any time? Not even to take the bins out?
”
“No. ”
She looked at me closely. “And you’re absolutely sure that at no point Gary could have slipped out without you noticing? ”
I felt my blood run cold.
“No, I don’t think he could. Sorry, why are you asking after Gary again? ”
“We’re asking after everyone again,” she said, and left. Later, I confronted Gary.
“This is the third time now that they have asked me the same questions, Gary. They obviously know something. Just tell him the truth. ”
He shook his head.
“If I tell him about the van, that’s going to be their proof that I did it, isn’t it? ”
“They’re not going to believe a thing I say. ”
“But I’m supposed to,” I said, my voice cracking. “And what do you mean by that?
”
“I mean that you have acted like this before and people usually end up hurt. ”
“No, all I’ve ever done was to protect you and the boys, okay, babe? ”
“Yeah, and Sarah. There’s nothing going on.
How many times do you want me to say it? ”
“I believe you about that. I don’t think you’re having an affair with her. But I do know that you’re a good liar.
And I’m getting really sick of feeling like I’m being stupid because you’re hiding something from me. ”
Gary’s face went pale. “No, no, no. Gary, please, just tell me everything.
Please, just tell me the truth. ”
Silence. Then, his voice shaking, “I can’t do it. I can’t tell you.
I’m sorry. ”
“What do you mean you can’t tell me? Did you kill Theo? ”
“No.
”
“Do you know who did? ”
“No. ”
“Right, well then why can’t you tell me? ”
“Because you’ve just got to trust me that it’s for your own good, okay?
”
“Yeah, until the police find out that I lied about being your alibi and I end up in prison along with you. ”
His jaw clenched. “No, you won’t, because it’s like you said, I’m a good liar. ”
I stood up, grabbing my coat.
“And so are you? ”
“Where are you going? ”
“Away from you. ”
“Are you coming back?
”
I didn’t answer. I just walked out the door, my heart pounding in my chest. A few days later, the twins were buzzing with excitement. “So, are we going to go out tonight?
” Hope asked. But Todd had other plans. “Sorry, he’s got something he needs doing, so we’ll have to bow out. ”
I watched as Todd’s eyes darted away, and a cold feeling settled in my stomach.
Something was definitely off. Then Ross, the man who might be my father, called. “Look, I know you said you didn’t want to, but I’ve got the day off tomorrow if you’re around and you want to talk. ”
I hesitated.
But something in his voice made me say yes. At the golf course, we walked side by side, neither of us knowing what to say. Finally, he spoke. “Not much of a resemblance then?
”
I studied his face. “I don’t know. I reckon you got my eyes. ”
He laughed, a dry, sad sound.
“Look, I’m sure the girls meant well. ”
“Yeah, you don’t need me in your life. I get it. ”
“It’s nothing personal,” I said.
“It’s like you were saying. I don’t really need any more relatives. My life’s noisy enough. ”
He nodded, accepting it.
“No, I get it. I’m the same. But if it hadn’t been for that message, well, things would have just carried on as normal. But if I’m honest, the box has been opened now, and I’m not sure I’m capable of looking away again.
”
I took it in. “I’m surprised I had it in me, you know. Having a son. ”
He looked at me, his eyes earnest.
“Cars aren’t the only thing we’ve been talking about. You know what it’s like. You know when your son’s out there but not being part of your life. ”
That hit me hard.
I thought about the young boy in the hospital, the one fighting for breath because of the mold. And I thought about my own son, the one I never knew existed until a few days ago. “Cassie, get her,” I said, my voice cracking. Ross nodded.
“I’ll tell you what. I’ll book us another day on the course. If you want. ”
I nodded, not trusting myself to speak.
That evening, Cassie came to find me. She looked exhausted, worn down. “George, I’m so sorry. I know I’ve hurt you.
I know I’ve hurt everyone. ”
I looked at her, really looked at her. The woman I loved, who had lied to me for years. Who had stolen from me, from everyone she cared about.
“You have a problem,” I said. “You know what they said in the group? It’s an addiction like any other. ”
“No, not if you’re serious about getting better and making amends and taking ownership.
”
She looked at me, tears in her eyes. “I am serious. I promise. ”
I didn’t know if I believed her.
But as I looked at her, I remembered the woman I’d fallen in love with. The woman who made me laugh, who always knew the right thing to say. “We’ll see,” I said. “One day at a time.
”
She nodded, grateful. “One day at a time. ”
