Page 34 of The Girlfriend’s Secret

‘I’m just saying that I thought it was possible,’ I reply. ‘You have to admit, it is rather convenient that he’s struggling to keep his business going and he suddenly inherits a large amount of money after his healthy grandma “falls” down the stairs. In one moment, his money issues have gone away.’

I use my fingers to add emphasis to the word ‘falls’, to show I’m not quite believing that Valerie did take a tumble of her own accord.

‘Scott wouldn’t hurt anyone,’ Joel says then, defending his big brother.

‘That’s what I had hoped,’ I say sadly. ‘Until he threatened me.’

‘He did what?’ Joel cries.

‘Is this another lie?’ Liane asks me, her eyes narrowed.

‘I’m not lying!’ I cry. ‘I’m telling the truth.’

‘No, you’re telling us a story that we have no way to verify because the person you are talking about is not here to give their side of it,’ Frederik says. ‘So I think we need to call Scott and get him here so he can defend himself against this nonsense.’

‘No, don’t call him!’ I cry, and in the process, gave away how wary I am of that man.

‘Because you know he’ll come here and destroy your fictitious story?’ Liane asks me.

‘No, because he’ll come here and threaten me like he already has been doing. You saw the message he just sent me. It’s not the first one he sent and he’s done more than message. He has threatened me to my face too.’

‘He’s done what?’ Joel cries. ‘When?’

‘After the wake, when he was here late and we had all been sat around drinking. Just before he got a taxi home, we were alone together. You were all in the kitchen and I asked him about his business. By this point, I had already checked online, so I knew he was in debt, but I wanted to see if he told me about it because I had a feeling he hadn’t told any of you about his struggle. Am I right?’

The whole family cannot say that I’m wrong there.

‘But as soon as I had asked him about it, he went on the defensive. Wanted to know why I was asking. I said I was just interested, but he seemed paranoid and told me it was none of my business. Then I asked him about the inheritance money and how I was sure it would come in useful. But he got very agitated. It could have just been because he had been drinking and it had been a stressful day with the funeral. Or it could have been because he had a guilty conscience and didn’t like somebody poking around at the truth.’

‘Nonsense,’ Frederik decides. ‘Scott would not hurt anybody, least of all his grandmother.’

‘Unless he was desperate and drowning in debt,’ I say. ‘Otherwise, why get all defensive around me and tell me to stay away from this family? Because that’s what he did and that’s what he has continued to do. I don’t know how he got my number, but he has it and he keeps telling me to leave, so he obviously knows I’m onto something.’

‘Or he just doesn’t trust you,’ Liane says. ‘And he wouldn’t be the only one.’

‘I told you I didn’t want to have to do this,’ I say, defending myself. ‘But what am I supposed to do? Scott is the one threatening me and you’re all treating me like I’m the villain here.’

‘I’m not,’ Joel says, putting his arm around me, but in this moment, it feels more like a token gesture than anything more meaningful. Now I feel incredibly alone in this house, even though I’m surrounded by people. But of course I’m alone, because all these people are bonded by family while I am the outsider.

I’m the outsider who has just accused one member of their family of murder.

‘I think it would be best if you spent the night somewhere else,’ Liane says then, and when I look at Frederik, he appears to agree with his wife.

‘Fine, I’ll go,’ I say, conceding easily because I don’t have the energy to fight this anymore. It already feels like I’ve been banging my head against a metaphorical brick wall trying to get them to take my concerns seriously, so better to quit while I’m behind rather than expend more energy on a lost cause.

‘You can’t leave,’ Joel says. ‘Where would you go?’

‘I don’t know,’ I reply honestly, but I continue moving towards the door.

‘Then I’m going with you,’ Joel says before his mother objects.

‘Think about this, son. Think about what she just said about your brother. Maybe it is best if she gives us all some space for a little while.’

Best for who? Me or them? But I don’t ask. I just go upstairs to collect what few belongings I have.

* * *

It doesn’t take me long to pack what little I have in this world into my backpack, and I guess I’m on the move again, just like my travelling times overseas. But unlike in Australia, I’m not moving on to another sunny shore for a spot of sightseeing. I’m stuck here, all alone.