Chapter 46
JUDITH
‘Alison is making us a drink right now. I might be able to catch her red-handed.’ Lizzie springs up and rushes over to the back door.
‘What the hell are you putting in my mum’s drink?’ I hear her shout.
I grip the arm of the chair for support. So we were right. Sadness and fear wash over me. I liked Alison. I trusted her.
I grab my walker and slowly make my way over the grass, cursing myself for being such an invalid. When I reach the kitchen doorway I see Lizzie and Alison facing each other. Lizzie has her fists clenched by her side, looking furious, and Alison is holding a bottle of sweetener.
‘This is my drink, and I always have sweetener instead of sugar,’ Alison says icily.
‘What’s going on?’ I stand in the doorway, supported by my walker.
‘She’s trying to hurt you, Mum. Just like we thought.’
‘What?’ Alison exclaims. She turns to look at me. ‘You both think I’m drugging you? Why? Why would you think that?’
‘Because she’s so tired and woozy headed all the time, she feels like she’s being drugged,’ Lizzie replies before I can gather my thoughts.
‘God, Lizzie, you’re so paranoid. I can’t believe you’re accusing me of such a terrible thing. All I’ve done is care for your mum.’ She looks at me with wounded eyes. ‘I thought we got on. I thought you trusted me. Why on earth would I drug you?’
She looks so hurt and bewildered that I wonder if she’s right and I’ve been swept away by Lizzie’s suspicions.
‘Because you want to get back at me! You’re playing with my head and even trying to cause trouble between me and Nick.
’ Lizzie glares at her. ‘And don’t deny it, you’re always messaging him to come over.
I bet you’re the one who bought the peanut butter, sneaked Mum’s keys and put it in our cupboard. ’
‘What? This is ridiculous! Why would I do all that, Lizzie?’ Alison demands.
‘To get your own back on me for causing your mum’s death,’ Lizzie practically shouts the words out.
Alison looks incredulous. ‘What do you mean?’
‘Stop pretending that you don’t remember me! I was at the amusement park when your mum died. I put my peanut butter crusts in your lunchbox. That was what caused your mum to have that fatal reaction.’
I can’t believe that Lizzie has come out and said that. Alison is shaking, her mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water gasping for air.
‘I’m sorry. Really I am. But I was a child and I didn’t understand about allergies. I didn’t know the consequences of my actions,’ Lizzie says, her voice breaking. ‘You’ll never know how devasted I am about what happened, how I wish I could go back and put it right.’
Alison swallows and grips the worktop so tight her knuckles are white.
‘It wasn’t your fault my mum died, Lizzie. It was mine.’