Chapter 67
SIXTY-SEVEN
If there was ever a morning Imogen needed to run, it was today.
She was still fuming about the public dressing-down she’d received from Nancy the night before.
In her restaurant! How dare Nancy waltz in like that, throw her weight around.
Embarrass her like that. Imogen had had to smile and act as if it was no big deal.
Had to apologize for the interruption to her diners’ evening. It had been utterly humiliating.
And not once had Nancy ever acknowledged her own daughter’s part in any of it. The whole thing was a joke and Imogen was not going to let it go.
The sex was more urgent today. Imogen pulled James upstairs and he was pleasantly surprised by her enthusiasm. Afterwards they lay spent on the bed.
‘I’m still upset that you suspended Rosie,’ said Imogen.
‘What was I supposed to do?’ said James. ‘You need to let her know that what she did can never happen again.’
‘She didn’t mean it. You make it sound as if she’s evil. She’s not just stepped out of The Omen, you know. Kids can be kids and sometimes it goes wrong.’
‘Imogen—’
‘I’ve spoken to her, OK? She knows she made a mistake.’
Imogen rolled onto her side, caressed James’s chest. ‘I also wanted to speak to you about Miss Young.’
‘What about her?’
‘It’s clear she dislikes Rosie intensely. It’s highly unprofessional. And the way she questioned her. It was out of order.’
James grunted in a non-committal way.
‘You know I’m right. I’m not sure she’s the best teacher for your school.’
James lifted his head. Frowned. ‘What are you saying?’
‘Nothing. Just voicing an opinion.’
When she got home, Dylan and Rosie were tidying away the breakfast things.
‘Good run?’ asked Dylan.
Imogen went to get a glass of water. ‘Great.’
‘Rosie and I have been talking about her apology to Lara.’
She tensed. ‘Oh yeah?’
‘She’s going to put it in a letter. I think it would mean more,’ said Dylan, looking at Rosie, who was subdued.
‘Fine,’ said Imogen.
‘You want to go and write it now?’ Dylan prompted, and Rosie left the room. Dylan moved over to his wife, exhaled deeply. ‘I’ve had to have a long talk with her. She seems to think it was all a joke gone wrong.’
‘It was,’ said Imogen.
‘Jesus, Imogen, that girl could’ve died.’
Imogen pulled a face.
‘Don’t try playing this down. Making out it’s no big deal,’ said Dylan sharply.
Imogen took a calming breath. ‘I’m not, Dylan. It is a big deal. And I, too, have spoken to Rosie, explained how she must never, ever withhold anyone’s medicine. But what happened, none of that was part of Rosie’s plan. She didn’t want to harm Lara. She’s mortified about it.’
‘Is she?’
‘Yes!’ said Imogen, dismayed. ‘You don’t honestly think our daughter set out to . . . God, I don’t even want to say it.’
Dylan was looking at her, somewhat mollified. He didn’t believe it either, not deep down, she could see. Rosie wasn’t capable of that sort of dark malevolence. No, never.
‘She needs to know how serious it was,’ he said quietly.
‘She does,’ said Imogen. ‘As is Nancy’s threat to me yesterday. Erin thinks she’s the Canine Killer.’
Dylan scoffed. ‘The Canine Killer is something dreamed up by Erin’s paper. A load of sensationalist crap.’
Imogen didn’t answer. On her run home, she’d thought long and hard about what to do about Nancy. She finished her water and left the room. She had a phone call to make.