Chapter 31
Chapter Thirty-One
Before leaving for the Westons’ house, Lily and Clara devised a plan. Clara would distract Nancy in order to give Lily time to speak to Samantha alone. That was assuming Johnny would be hidden away as he had been on Lily’s previous visits. If not, Clara would need to distract them both.
In the end, they arrived to find Nancy was in the shower and Johnny nowhere to be seen.
Samantha beamed as she answered the door, her bright red lips stretching wide.
“It’s so lovely to see you again,” she said, drawing Clara into a hug.
Tears glistened in her eyes when she pulled away.
“Sorry,” she said, her lower lip trembling.
“It’s just made me miss Julia. I never really stopped missing having my best friend next door.
” She fanned her hands in front of her face as she blinked madly.
“Come in,” she said, then continued to apologise for her tears as she ushered them into the kitchen where a hearty aroma filled the room.
“The kitchen is a little different from how I remember it,” Clara said.
“Completely different.” Samantha smiled and went to peer into the oven. “It’s almost ten years since we renovated, but I still love the kitchen.”
“It’s beautiful,” Clara said, leaning against the island in the centre of the room.
Lily shot her grandmother a reproachful look. They should use the time to quiz Samantha, not croon over the kitchen. She took a few steps closer to Samantha and lowered her voice.
“We spoke to Martin this afternoon,” she said, straight to the point. “He admitted to lying about where he was the night my parents died. He told us why he lied, too.”
Samantha inhaled through her nose and glanced furtively at the doorway. “Nancy never knew about any of it.”
“About his affairs?” Lily asked. “Or yours?”
Her eyebrows lifted sharply. “What on earth did he say to you?”
“That Johnny isn’t his son.”
“That despicable man,” Samantha hissed. “I wish Johnny wasn’t his. And thank god he’s nothing like the man, that’s all I can say.”
Lily exchanged a puzzled glance with Clara.
“Was he lying?” Clara asked.
“No.” She shook her head. “Apparently he genuinely believes it. I told him years ago to get a DNA test if he didn’t believe me, but he brushed the suggestion away. I took that to mean that he knew Johnny was his and was just trying to get back at me.”
“Get back at you for what?” Lily asked.
Samantha huddled closer. “I had an affair at the start of our marriage. It was short-lived, and it wasn’t a physical relationship.
It was inappropriate though, I won’t deny that.
Anyway, I told Martin about it. I thought if we could be open with each other it might make us closer, but he was furious.
When I fell pregnant a couple of months later, the first question he asked was whether the baby was definitely his. ”
“And it was?” Clara asked.
“Yes. I thought I’d convinced him of that, but he was indifferent towards Johnny from the start. Things settled down between us. They weren’t good, but they weren’t terrible. Then I found out he was having affairs.”
“Why didn’t you leave him?” Lily asked.
“Financial reasons mostly. Plus, I thought it would be best for Johnny if we stayed together. It was only after Nancy was born that things got worse. Martin doted on her, and when I asked why he was never like that with Johnny, he told me it was because he knew Johnny wasn’t his child.
He used to say that a lot when he was angry. ”
“The poor kid,” Clara muttered.
“He didn’t say it in front of him,” Samantha said in a rush. “It wasn’t like that.”
“Johnny knew, though,” Lily said, certain that his eavesdropping would have seen to that. “He knew Martin didn’t believe he was his son.”
“I suppose so,” Samantha said. “He asked me once, before he went off to university. I told him that Martin was definitely his father.” She glanced furtively at the door, sorrow etched on her features. “He said that was a pity. He’d hoped he might not be.”
“That’s terrible,” Clara said.
“Johnny’s a good man, despite everything. He always looks after me. And Nancy. The two of them don’t get on, but he’d do anything to protect her.”
Fear swirled in Lily’s stomach as she pondered exactly what he might do to protect his sister. Could he have started the fire, thinking he was saving his little sister from the heartache of moving away from her best friend? But what would he have thought starting a fire would achieve?
Maybe he just knew the adults in his life were arguing and wanted to lash out in some way.
Lily really hoped that she was on entirely the wrong track.
“You’re here already!” Nancy said, waltzing in. “I didn’t hear you arrive.” She hugged Clara, clinging to her for too long, then releasing her with a giggle. “Do you even remember me? I guess I’ve changed quite a bit since the last time I saw you.”
“I remember you,” Clara said happily. Her gaze went to the doorway as Johnny appeared. With a shy smile, he approached Clara and politely kissed her cheek.
“Now I officially feel old!” she said, as her gaze swept over everyone in the room. “It’s been too long.” Her voice caught on the words, and she turned away, walking to the windows.
“Who would like a drink?” Johnny asked, clapping his hands together.
“Oh, gosh.” Samantha let out a frustrated grumble.
“Thank goodness you’re being a good host. I was too busy chatting to offer drinks.
There are nibbles too,” she added, pointing at the platter on the island.
“Lasagne will be ready in ten minutes. I remembered it was your favourite, Lily, but your tastes have probably changed since you were four.”
“I’m still a fan,” Lily said, then nodded at Johnny when he held up a bottle of white wine with a questioning look.
Samantha looked at Lily fondly. “I assume you don’t need me to cut it up and blow on it like I used to.”
“I’d really rather you didn’t,” Lily said, making them all laugh.
She went to Clara’s side, put a hand on her shoulder. After wiping away a few tears, she smiled at Lily and gave her hand a squeeze before returning to the centre of the room and asking Nancy about her job.
That got Nancy talking, and she barely stopped throughout dinner. By contrast, Johnny smiled and nodded along but barely said a word. Once or twice, Lily tried to catch his eye, but he was either focused on his dinner or giving the conversation his rapt attention.
When he slipped away after the main course, Lily assumed he’d gone to the bathroom. Except he didn’t come back.
After ten minutes, curiosity got the better of her.
Quietly, she excused herself and went in search of him.