it in them to tell their cheating husbands they’re no longer required.’ Her eyes darted to Callum before returning to Joely. ‘Think about that,’ she advised sternly.
Knowing Callum was bristling and almost wanting to laugh, Joely said, ‘There’s more to the story than you know.’
Freda nodded curtly. ‘Isn’t there always?’ and pulling Joely to one side she said, quietly, ‘You know I didn’t mean for you to be in the tower for more than a day, don’t you?’
‘Actually, no, I didn’t know that,’ Joely informed her.
Freda frowned. ‘Really? Well, it was my intention to get the truth out of your mother and return again the same day, or maybe the next morning. As we know it didn’t work out quite like that, which is a lesson to me not to presume I know what’s going to happen.’
Joely’s eyebrows rose. Freda chastising herself for presumptions, this was a first. ‘And the music?’ she asked curiously.
Freda shrugged. ‘I thought it would keep you company,’ and treating Callum to a baleful look she got into the car. ‘I hope you’ve snuffed out the moth that flew into your flame,’ she told him bossily.
Before Callum could respond, if he even knew how to respond, Marianne called out from the doorstep. ‘What are you two doing here? I thought you had an appointment at the hospital this morning, Joely?’
‘We’re on our way,’ Joely replied, going to embrace her mother as best she could. ‘We’ve just been hearing how Freda’s invited everyone for the weekend.’
‘Or we’re foisting ourselves on her. Whichever way, she’s definitely not going back there alone so I’ve called the office to let them know I won’t be in for the rest of the week, and Jamie’s done the same. Did he tell you Clare and the children are flying over on Friday after school?’
‘He did, and apparently you’ve all met Holly’s boyfriend who’s also joining the weekend party.’
‘Yes, isn’t that lovely? Wait till you see him, he’s quite a dish, although Holly nearly gagged when I used that word. She informs me I should have said ripped, which opened up an interesting discussion with Freda. Anyway, do say that you can make it as well. It sounds such a beautiful place. I know you don’t have the best memories of it, darling, but with us all there maybe you could create some new ones?’
Just like that. Her imprisonment and death-defying escape dismissed.
‘The kids are counting on seeing you,’ Jamie added as he came to collect his mother’s case. ‘And Clare’s already talking about picnics and walks and horseback riding.’
‘Don’t forget the funicular,’ Freda called out. ‘Everyone should ride it, shouldn’t they, Joely?’
How could she disagree with that?
Minutes later, after Jamie had promised to call when they reached their destination, Joely and Callum stood on the pavement watching Marianne’s Lexus, with Jamie at the wheel, turning out of the street.
‘So no mention of the fact that she tried to kill you?’ Callum muttered drily.
‘Amazing, isn’t it?’ Joely responded, still feeling faintly dazed by the last few minutes. ‘Although I don’t think she sees it that way. In fact I know she doesn’t. She’s moved on, edited it out, rewritten it … She has so much else to focus on now, a long-lost nephew and his family, a teenage BFF with a boyfriend, and a new soul mate, Marianne. I’m not even sure you and I really fit in, and as for the memoir …’ She turned to look up at him and said, ‘I guess one thing we can say for certain, it’s going to have a very different ending now to the one she imagined when she set out.’
His eyebrows arched. ‘In anyone else’s hands I might be intrigued to find out where it goes,’ he replied, ‘in hers I’m thinking about upping the life insurance.’
*
It was around midday on Saturday when Callum turned the car into the driveway of Dimmett House and as Joely suspected he might, he gave a low whistle of appreciation. It really was an impressive place, especially with all the shutters open and early spring sunshine bathing the white walls.
He brought the car to a stop and as Joely looked at the house she could feel the horror of her imprisonment in the tower tightening her chest. It seemed both distant and frighteningly real. She’d known that coming back wouldn’t be easy, she’d had sleepless nights about it all week, but she was here now and, she reminded herself with clenched hands, things had moved on. Freda