38. Chapter Thirty-Eight
Chapter Thirty-Eight
‘Are you sure you want to be doing this, love?’ Margot placed an arm around May’s shoulders. ‘Don’t get me wrong, I’m grateful for the help, but surely you’ve got better things to do with your time.’
May managed a weak smile, lifted a soapy hand from the bubble-filled water, and brushed hair from her eyes.
‘Honestly, Margot, everyone here hates me. There’s nowhere else I can go.
’ She picked up another cup and swirled it through the hot water.
‘I’ve spent the past couple of days holed up in Jack’s cabin and I’ve started climbing the walls. It’s a relief to get out.’
‘You could just sit down with a coffee,’ said Margot. ‘You don’t need to be doing the washing up.’
‘Firstly, I’m glad to be doing something useful,’ said May. ‘I could see how run off your feet you were when that big group came in. And secondly, it’s much easier to hide in the kitchen than it is out front.’
Margot laughed. She tucked a strand of hair behind May’s ear and stroked her thumb across her cheek.
‘I know you’ve got yourself into a muddle,’ she said, ‘but I never believe what those papers say. There’s always far more to a story, and I have a feeling there’s a lot more to yours than you’re letting on. ’
May’s eyes filled with tears. She dipped her head to hide them. One plopped into the washing-up water, and there was no fooling Margot, who pulled a tissue from her pocket and dabbed it against May’s closed eyelids.
‘There’s more truth to what they wrote than I’d like there to be.’ May’s voice came out thick, catching on every other word.
‘Including the part about you trying to sleep your way to the top?’ said Margot. May opened her eyes to see Margot shaking her head. ‘I’m sorry, May. I know you. How clever you are, diligent. I struggle to believe that’s true.’
Whether it was weeks of holding in her secrets, or whether it was the relief of someone finally believing in her, May collapsed against Margot. Her body trembled as tears broke free, becoming gulping, hiccupping sobs.
‘Just as I thought.’ Margot held May’s head against her shoulder and stroked her back. ‘And I’m sure Alice doesn’t believe it either.’
‘She does,’ sobbed May. ‘She believes every word. I’ve let her down so badly.’
Margot gently pushed May away and cupped her face with her hands. ‘You need to go and explain to Alice. You don’t need to explain to me. Alice is the one who needs to hear it.’
‘I can’t.’ May couldn’t face Alice’s fury and hurt again. ‘I’ve been such an idiot. And the truth’s probably even worse than the fiction they printed in those awful newspapers.’
‘You said it right there,’ said Margot. ‘Those papers that shared the story are trash.’ She tutted.
‘No one with more than half a brain cell would read them. Anyway, you’re to pay no attention to them.
So what if you left university without a degree?
That doesn’t have to be the end of it. There are other universities that would welcome a former Cambridge student with open arms.’
May shook her head. ‘I can’t… I can’t do it all again.’
‘There’s no need for you to decide anything yet.’ Margot wagged a finger. ‘What you mustn’t do is let them beat you.’
‘It’s the press. They’re everywhere,’ said May, shivering at the image of the shouting journalists camped all over Saffron Bay. ‘I can’t breathe.’
‘I know, I know,’ said Margot. She lifted her palms. ‘Some other exciting story will come along soon, and you’ll be old news.
Those papers will be used for nothing better than wrapping fish and chips.
’ She touched May’s cheek. ‘This will pass, May, trust me. I’ve been through my fair share of tough times, and we women always somehow weather the storm.
’ She raised an eyebrow. ‘You’ve already weathered more storms than your share, and you’ll be all right this time too. ’
May sniffed. ‘Thank you.’ Nothing had changed, but Margot’s pep talk had raised her spirits a little.
‘You’re welcome. Now, won’t you have a sit down? The dishes can wait.’
‘No,’ said May. ‘It’s fine. I’d rather get this finished.’
May was finishing the last few cups and saucers when she heard a commotion just beyond the kitchen door.
‘Where is she? Let me through. I need to speak to her.’
With an inward groan, May walked to the door. ‘It’s all right, Margot,’ she said. ‘Let her come through.’
‘Fine,’ said Margot. ‘I’m not leaving the two of you alone, though.’
‘What do you think I’m going to do?’ Kia’s eyes widened in mock horror.
‘I don’t know. Attack her?’
‘And risk these nails?’ Kia held up a perfectly manicured set of fingernails. ‘I don’t think so.’
‘It’s fine, honestly,’ said May.
‘OK.’ Margot glared at Kia. ‘I’ll be at the counter, so if anything happens, May, shout.’
‘I will, thank you.’ May glanced at the door, and Margot walked out with a great show of reluctance.
May and Kia faced each other. Kia’s hands were on her hips, a defiant look on her face.
‘So,’ she said, ‘you decided it was all right to go kissing my fiancé. And not only did you kiss him, you kissed him in public. Have you any idea how humiliating that is to me?’
‘I’m sorry,’ said May. ‘I really am.’ And she was. Not because of the kiss as much as the rubbish that had followed it.
‘Yes, sorry you got caught,’ snapped Kia.
‘No.’ May held up a hand. ‘Obviously I’d rather that hadn’t happened, but no, I’m not that kind of girl.’
‘Ha!’ scoffed Kia. ‘Not according to the papers. From what I’ve read about you, you’re exactly that kind of girl.’
There was no point in arguing. Kia had made up her mind, and besides, all the evidence supported her theory.
May leaned against the kitchen counter. ‘Is there a reason you’ve come here?’ she said, ‘Or is it just to get an apology from me? You can have that willingly. I should never have kissed Cillian. It was a shitty thing to do, and I really am sorry.’
‘An apology?’ Kia raised a delicately plucked eyebrow. ‘You think I want an apology from you? No, I’m here to issue a warning, May Tyler.’
‘A warning?’
‘Yes.’ Her hands went to her hips again.
‘Think about even setting foot into the same room as my fiancé again, and I’ll make your life a living hell.
’ She smirked. ‘You’ve no idea how many contacts I have within the media, and it wouldn’t take much digging to find a few juicy stories about you, not with your reputation. ’
Weariness washed through May. She wanted this all to be over, and soon. ‘I promise you, Kia, I have no intention of having anything to do with Cillian again.’
‘So you say,’ said Kia. ‘What about the wedding, though?’
‘The wedding doesn’t count.’
‘It doesn’t?’
Indignation swept away the weariness. ‘Of course it doesn’t.’ May threw out her hands. ‘I’m not going to miss my sister’s wedding. I’d risk any number of scandals rather than not show up when she needs me.’
Kia sniffed. ‘I suppose there’s not much I can do about that.
’ She chewed her immaculately coloured lip.
‘Consider this advice, May Tyler. If you think Cillian would ever look twice at a girl like you when he wasn’t completely under the influence of drugs or alcohol, you’re sorely mistaken.
’ She pulled back her shoulders, and stood straighter to tower even further over May.
‘Why would he, when he could have me?’ She sneered.
‘Look at you. You’re a short, dumpy Goth who’s dropped out of university and has no future.
Not only that, you’re a slut who slept her way around campus and is now starting on this village.
’ Her leer spoiled her supermodel beauty.
‘It wouldn’t surprise me if you went for your sister’s fiancé next. ’
Anger bubbled in May’s throat. ‘I’d never do anything like that.’ She bit out each word.
Kia humphed. ‘The evidence says otherwise,’ she said. ‘You are nothing. In fact, you’re worse than nothing. And if you ever dream you could be part of Cillian’s world, you are also insane and so deluded you deserve to be locked up.’ She paused, staring at May. ‘Have I made myself clear?’
‘Perfectly.’ May held her stare.
Without another word, Kia tossed her mane of glossy hair and marched out of the kitchen.
May leaned over the sink. Her heart hammered, her breaths came too fast. She’d lost the feeling and use of her legs, and as she clung to the edge of the basin, a stream of tears joined the soapy water beneath her.