Chapter 19

I shrug Frank off me angrily and he stumbles back. ‘If you think I'm going to stand by and watch you hurt my sister, allow you to blackmail me, then you can think again,' I hit back, anger soaring through every cell in my body. ‘So, go ahead and tell Tom. I'll deny it all. It'll be your word against mine. Who do you think he's going to believe, hmm?'

Frank opens his mouth to speak when a voice says. ‘Hey, I was about to send out a search party.' I spin around. Tom is standing behind me, phone in the palm of his hand, as if he was just about to text me. His white cotton shirt is undone to his waist like a seventy's medallion man, gold crucifix glimmering against his chest, face red from alcohol. My mouth fills with saliva – did he hear everything I said?

‘We were just catching up,' Frank says, smoothly. ‘Bella is thinking of coming back to the gym.'

‘Really?' Tom slips his phone into the side pocket of his black combats, then slings his arm around me, stinking of booze. ‘I thought you said you were too busy, my love. Mind you, you've got Daisy now.' He plants a wet kiss on my cheek at about the same time as his phone bleeps and vibrates in his pocket. Relief floods through my body. He didn't hear our conversation.

‘It was just a thought,' I mutter, still shaken by Frank's revelation.

‘Hey, we could get one of those joint memberships, work out together.' Tom lets go of me and starts marching on the spot, head back, grinning like a loon. ‘They're cheaper, aren't they?' He stops marching and looks at Frank, bleary-eyed. ‘Text me the details, fella. You've got my number.' My guts turn to mush. They've exchanged phone numbers?

There's a ruckus of footsteps and a shuffle of movement. ‘I love my sister-in-law, but bloody hell, Elaini could talk for England.' Linda's at my side, straightening her crumpled skirt. ‘I need another drink.' She looks at me, our shoulders touching, and I register the flick of concern in her eyes. ‘The in-laws are threatening to visit tomorrow.' Her eyes dart around the kitchen. ‘Pass me the wine.'

Outside, Linda tops up her glass with merlot, takes a pew next to her husband on the rattan sofa, grabs a handful of crisps from the bowl on the table and starts munching hungrily, giving me intermittent looks that say I take it the plan wasn't successful.

Georgia stumbles along the decked patio in her white Converse platforms, a smudge of red lipstick on the side of her mouth, mascara smeared under her eyes. Brushing past me, she announces that she's starving and then, in a voice loud enough for the entire neighbourhood to hear, claims that there's never any decent food in this house. I can tell she's had more than enough to drink. It was inevitable. Probably necked the entire bottle while I was inside trying to convince Frank to leave my sister. Daisy follows her swiftly. ‘I'll make her a sandwich,' she whispers reassuringly, gently squeezing my arm. ‘You okay?'

‘Yes,' I lie, running my hands up and down the sides of my legs. ‘Just a bit tired.' Daisy holds my gaze for a moment and then, with a quick look over her shoulder, tells me to relax. She's got everything under control.

A fusion of Georgia and Daisy's chatter and the sound of crockery wafts through the open bifold doors. I should go inside, sort my daughter out with some food, let Daisy get back to the party, but the need to release my sister from the clutches of Frank has intensified tenfold.

I go to stand up, then sit down again, trembling. If Frank blabs to Tom my life will be over. Perhaps I should just keep quiet. Save my marriage. As Linda said, their relationship will fizzle out soon. I shoot to my feet before I can talk myself out of it. I can't bear the thought of Frank being a part of my family.

My eyes race around the garden. Tom is putting the lid down on the barbeque, two magpies are perched on the fence – a good omen – Behind me, Linda is telling Theo about a new series on Netflix - Zelda is sitting on the long bench under the pergola, phone in hand, hair in her face. Frank is nowhere to be seen. Bingo.

Folding my arms, I make my way along the dewy lawn, rehearsing my speech silently – Hey Zee, having a good time? Look, there's something I need to tell you. Frank isn't the man you think he is – he's got an eye for the ladies, was even checking Daisy out right under your nose earlier. No, no, I want to keep Daisy out of this. I'm going to have to be brutal. Frank made a pass at me. I rejected him, quit the gym and fired him. I picture her horrified expression, then plough on. I'm sorry to say this, but he looked you up on my Instagram followers list and I think he's got an ulterior motive for dating you. Maybe it's revenge for turning him down. The thing is, Zelda, he knows stuff about me, things that could destroy my marriage. But I love you, you're my sister. So, I'm risking everything to keep you safe. Oh, God, will I even get all that out before Frank comes wading in?

Blades of grass tickle my toes that are peeking from my cross sandals. A light, warm wind blows in my face, carrying the musky smell of my sister's perfume. Zelda looks up at me from her phone. ‘Hey, Sis, where've you been?'

‘Hey, Zee, having a good time?' Nodding, she shoves up, making room for me on the white bench. Throwing a glance at the house, I take a pew. Through the window, I catch sight of Frank wandering around the kitchen and saying something to Daisy. ‘I need to talk to you. It's important.' I can feel my heartbeat belting in my abdomen.

‘Is everything okay?' Zelda puts her phone down and I take her hands in mine.

‘Zelda, I need you to listen to me carefully and trust me on this, okay?' Zelda nods, frowning. ‘And promise that you won't…'

A tinkling sound of metal against glass demands our attention. I look around. Tom is sitting on the rattan sofa, Theo and Linda are on the three-seater. Daisy is standing next to Linda, breadstick in hand, a look of intrigue on her face. Georgia is on the lounger, stuffing her face with a sandwich. They're all looking at Frank standing on the decking, bottle and spoon in hand.

‘Listen up, guys.' Frank is striding towards us now. He thinks I've trashed him to Zelda and is out for revenge. I close my eyes, breath shallow, waiting for him to expose me to my family and friends for what I really am. A liar. A cheat.

‘We meet a lot of arseholes in this lifetime. Fact.' Lukewarm laughter ripples through the air. I can hear the rustle of his footfall approaching. My gut simmers with anxiety. Swallowing sour spit, I squeeze my eyes tighter, clenching my fists until I feel the sting in the flesh of my palms. ‘Life is short. So, without further ado.' There's a pause and a shuffle of movement. ‘Zelda, we haven't known each other long, but…' My eyes snap open. Frank is on one knee gazing up at my sister. He's holding a ring between his fingers made out of kitchen foil. ‘Will you marry me?'