job pretending, though, that’s why everyone’s so shocked about what happened with Dad and all this stuff about Mum and Ryan. Like the morning before I stabbed Dad, the way my parents were with each other. All smiley in the sun. Pretending like we’re just a normal family. A happy family. A family that doesn’t have any secrets or any lies.
It’s like Maddy says, when things are too good to be true, they usually are. When things are really too good to be true, then you have to watch your back and the backs of those you love.
I catch my sister’s eye. She looks scared. I give her a reassuring smile. I hope she sees the message in it: we’re going to be okay. I’m going to make sure we’ll all be okay.
So why does it all feel so wrong? Why do I feel like I’m spiralling down a rabbit hole?
Chapter Thirty-One
Forest Grove Facebook Chit Chat Group
Tuesday 23rd April, 2019
9.05 p.m.
Pauline Sharpe
Absolutely disgusted with the vandalisation of the cameras in the forest! Those cameras hold precious footage for the kids’ wildlife project. My husband and I found two of them smashed up on the ground early this morning. Does anyone else know who owns them? Is it the council? How can I report it?
Belinda Bell
What in God’s name is going on with Forest Grove lately? First the incident at the Byatts’ house, now this?
Jackie Shillingford
Pauline, contact Ryan Day, the forest ranger. He owns them. He’s not on Facebook but google him, he has a website with a number you can call.
Graham Cane
Or ask Melissa to ask him . . .
Rebecca Feine
What’s that supposed to mean?
Belinda Bell
Didn’t you hear about the fight between Graham’s daughter and Melissa earlier? Supposedly, Melissa was seen kissing Ryan Day in the forest.
Rebecca Feine
Pure speculation. Charlie shouldn’t have mentioned it. I was there picking the grandkids up and heard about it after.
Graham Cane
Well, Melissa was rather aggressive with her when she asked a very innocent question about the twins being back at school.
Belinda Bell
It is rather soon for them to have gone back . . .
Pauline Sharpe
Clearly too soon for Lewis. I heard he got into some trouble on the football pitch. Andrea Cooper, wasn’t it your son who was the brunt of an unprovoked attack?
Andrea Cooper
I don’t really want to comment on Facebook. All I’m saying is I’ve just come back from a very eventful trip to A & E.
Rebecca Feine
What happened?
Andrea Cooper
Put it this way, I won’t be letting Carter anywhere near the Byatt children any more. That’s all I’m going to say.
Andrew Blake
Didn’t Lewis Byatt beat the crap out of Harvey Piper too a year back, Eamon Piper?
Eamon Piper
He did indeed . . . not right in the head, that kid.
Kitty Fletcher
What an awful thing to say, Eamon. Mental illness must not be mocked.
Rebecca Feine
Oh, for God’s sake, he’s just a kid. Kids get in fights, doesn’t make them mentally ill. Anyway, didn’t you get suspended from Forest Grove rugby team for hacking down Sandra’s boy a few years ago, Graham Cane? And I very much doubt Melissa was aggressive with your daughter, sounds completely unlike her.
Graham Cane
Oh, come on, that was rugby! And I didn’t get suspended, you daft woman. The Byatt boy is a different matter altogether, full of rage, that one. Always getting himself in trouble. Mark my words, it’ll be him behind the vandalism, and you need to wonder where he got it from. My bets are on Melissa, the way she was with my girl earlier.
Peter Mileham
Come on, guys, this is all a bit unfair. Lewis is a good kid and Melissa doesn’t have a bad bone in her body.
Jackie Shillingford
Agreed. Can we calm down with the public lynching, please? Andrea Cooper, the comments on this post are getting out of hand.
Belinda Bell
Nothing wrong with airing one’s views, we’re a free country. You can’t blame me for wondering.
Melissa Byatt
No need to wonder any more, Belinda Bell. Feel free to ask away!
Andrew Blake
Well, this just got awkward . . .
Jackie Shillingford
Don’t feed the trolls, Melissa. I’ve reported this post to Facebook. Andrea Cooper, please get on the case.
Daphne Peterson
Good luck with that, Jackie. I guarantee Scandrea Cooper is sitting at home with her seaweed-flavoured popcorn, enjoying all this.
Melissa Byatt
No, it’s fine, really. So Graham Cane, Belinda Bell, Eamon Piper. I’m here, ready to take your punches.
Daphne Peterson
Interesting. It’s gone verrrrry quiet all of a sudden . . .
Debbie Lampard
Oh, Melissa, sweetheart, ignore them.
Andrew Blake
*Grabs popcorn, takes a seat*
Belinda Bell
I