Chapter 16
SIXTEEN
It was better to nip this situation in the bud before it festered and got out of hand. That was the sensible thing to do, the grown-up thing, Nancy had thought when she’d sent a message to Imogen, her cover being that they meet to go over the detail for the Christmas fair.
She looked into her coffee cup. Near empty because Imogen was already twenty minutes late. Maybe she wouldn’t turn up, thought Nancy. Maybe she’d said she would just to make Nancy sit here like an idiot, waiting. No, she thought, you don’t even know the woman, stop assuming the worst.
She gazed around and her eye caught on the ancient yew tree down near the water. Up close, she could see how twisted its limbs were. There was something malevolent about it, something spellbinding.
She checked her phone again but there was no message.
Nancy was about to give up when she heard a car pull into the car park.
She looked up to see Imogen getting out and walking across to the cafe.
She was wearing a pair of dark sunglasses, cropped chinos and a T-shirt.
Nancy watched as she approached, then pulled out a chair opposite her and sat down. She crossed her legs and waited.
Nancy knew she was a fool if she thought she was going to get an apology for Imogen’s lateness.
‘What can I get you?’ asked the waitress who’d approached their table.
‘A flat white, please,’ said Imogen.
Nancy ordered the same. She was pretty certain Imogen was looking at her but she couldn’t see her eyes through the glasses.
Then Imogen raised them onto the top of her head. ‘Bottle stall, pound a go, tickets that end with a five or zero win prizes. What else is there to discuss?’
Nancy thought she was laughing at her, baiting her, and it rankled for a moment before she reminded herself why she’d suggested this meeting. But if Imogen wanted to play it direct, then so be it.
‘I know we haven’t got off to the best of starts,’ she said, ‘but Lara and I, we just want to fit in. It’s a small village, our girls are in the same class and . . . I think it might be a good idea to draw a line under what’s happened and start afresh.’
The waitress arrived with the drinks. Imogen took a long, slow sip of her drink, and said nothing.
Nancy bit her tongue.
‘Is that why you asked me for a coffee?’ asked Imogen, as she replaced her cup. ‘To brush everything that’s happened under the carpet so you can go on your merry way without feeling any guilt at all?’
Nancy was taken aback. ‘Guilt?’ she repeated. ‘For what?’
Imogen let out a little laugh. ‘Oh, come on. Your daughter appears to be on a campaign to hurt mine. Rosie has the scratches to prove it.’
‘Actually, I don’t think that’s quite right,’ said Nancy carefully. ‘Rosie was belittling Lara in the playground and Lara accidentally scraped Rosie’s hand in her hurry to get away. It wasn’t a “campaign” and what Rosie said was quite hurtful.’
Imogen was looking at her coolly and Nancy tried again.
She laid her hands on the table. ‘I appreciate that we’re each getting two different sides to the story, but I think if we can sort things out now, before they escalate, it might be best for everyone involved,’ she said.
She attempted a smile. ‘We’ve only just got here.
I certainly don’t want to fall out with anyone. ’
‘No, I’m sure you don’t,’ said Imogen.
Nancy’s smile slipped. ‘What do you mean by that?’
A tear was rolling down Imogen’s face. This woman sitting in front of her was beyond contempt.
She had no feeling at all, no sensitivity.
Did she know what it was like to lose everything you’ve worked for?
All your plans, money, your whole dream gone up in smoke?
Did she bother to think whose feet walked across those floors before hers did?
Did she even stop for one damn second, and think about what it was like to watch the locks getting changed on your house and then the bailiffs hand the key over to a total stranger?
Of course she didn’t.
And now, because life had finally got a little inconvenient for her, she wanted to smooth it all over, so she could carry on in whatever way she pleased.
‘I have never been so scared in all my life as when my daughter was pulled out of the water barely breathing,’ said Imogen. ‘Until you actually think there is a chance your child is going to die, you cannot begin to understand.’
Nancy went to open her mouth but Imogen wasn’t finished.
‘If you don’t want to fall out with anyone, then tell your daughter to stop bullying innocent kids.’
‘Lara bullying?’
But Imogen had got up from the table. She pushed her glasses onto her face and walked back to her car.