– well, last night he came in drunk again and he was being his usual vile inebriated self.’
‘He’s such an arse.’ Star spoke her mind.
‘And then – I can’t believe I’m telling you this …’ Kara paused. Then with pain in her voice, she went on, ‘James Bond came rushing in as he does, made Jago jump and the bastard only went to kick him. How I managed to stop him, I don’t know. It was so awful. I didn’t dare say anything then as I just wanted him to fall asleep without a load of verbal abuse.’
‘Oh, Kara.’
‘But what I did do once he was asleep, I checked his phone. And you know me – I’ve never gone there, not once. Not once in eight years, to be exact. I’ve never been through his pockets, either. But last night something snapped. I’d had enough. Nobody hurts an innocent animal.’
‘And nobody should hurt you,’ Star replied gently.
‘To be fair, he’s never touched me.’
‘But he has hurt you with his words and the way he controls you, which in my eyes is just as bad.’ There was a silence between them, then Star added, ‘I can’t believe his phone wasn’t locked.’
‘It was, but I had watched him open it enough times to work out the code.’ Kara’s voice was unsteady. ‘I must have been ready to find out.’
Star became animated. ‘Yes, yes you were – you are! Bloody hell, it’s hot for April.’ She pressed the button that took the black cloth roof of her little car right back and down.
‘He has been seeing someone and he’s meeting her today, and what’s more, it looks like he’s been doing so for the past umpteenth Fridays and beyond.’
‘Mate, you seem incredibly calm in the circumstances.’ Star undid her water bottle and took a sip.
‘Last night I felt sick, but this morning I’m strangely fine. The signs were there, I just didn’t want to see them. We haven’t had sex for months – and who wears Gucci aftershave to the bloody Jobcentre? This is well overdue, Star. I’ve been hanging on to this ridiculous relationship for years.’ Kara added determinedly, ‘I can do this.’
‘Yes, you can.’
‘I checked the savings account, too.’ Kara made a little moaning sound. ‘You know, the one he told me not to tell him the password for as it could be our little secret nest egg and he didn’t want to touch it?’
‘Go on.’ Seeming to guess what was coming next, Star placed her hand on Kara’s as her voice began to crack.
‘Anyway – nada. Zero. He’s had the lot. So not only has he been clearing the blue pot, he’s spent all that too – and on her, no doubt, whoever she is. Why am I surprised? I’ve been such a bloody fool.’
‘No, no you haven’t. Sadly, love is stronger than pride sometimes and that wanker is a sneaky dick of a sociopath. I don’t know how you didn’t go crazy.’ Star bashed her hand down on the steering wheel. ‘I’m getting cross for you. I’d have had his bollocks off. Where did you put all that anger? I’m the one who preaches peace and love, but I don’t think even I could have coped with all this as calmly as you are.’
‘I sat up half the night and wrote him a letter. I cried, I ranted. I want him to read it. It’s the best way.’
Star thought that only dear sweet Kara would write a letter in a situation like this. ‘Please say you are telling him to leave.’
‘Yes, but I don’t know how I’ll manage on my own.’ Kara’s strength suddenly vanished. She blubbered, ‘He’s always told me that I would be lost without him.’
‘Look at me.’ Star took her friend’s face in both hands. ‘You will be fine. The cock has been spending all your money anyway.’
‘I’ll have to pay the council tax on my own and bills and—’ Kara panicked.
‘You will be eligible for a single supplement on the council tax and bills will probably be less with him not in the flat all day,’ Star replied practically, then added, ‘And he’d better be taking that stinking terrapin of his.’
‘Depends where he goes, I guess. If he goes to his mother, she’s far too uptight to take on the both of them.’
‘Well, neither Sid Vicious nor Jago Ellis will be your responsibility any more. Imagine how good that will feel – getting not one, but two reptiles out of your life.’
‘What if he doesn’t