Page 92 of Be More Capybara

‘I’m talking to you now.’

‘Look, I want us to pick up where we left off, but I’m sensing you’re not on the same page yet.’

‘I need to understand what happened better, not just about the takeover but your lie as well.’

‘What else do you need me to do?’

‘I don’t know, Nige. I honestly don’t know. I shouldn’t have answered the phone.’

‘Don’t say that. I’m so glad you did. I need you, Hel.’

He sounded deflated. It would be so easy to give in, but she couldn’t just brush it all under the carpet. She was struggling to get past how easily he’d lied to her about the appointment. ‘When are you back home?’

‘I land at Heathrow on Tuesday, so Tuesday evening.’

‘We’ll talk some more then.’

Helen ended the call before he could respond.

‘Ican’t tell you what to do,’ Carrie said on the other end of the phone.

Helen groaned. ‘But if I relent, it feels like I’m letting him off lightly for lying to me.’

‘I’m sensing you want me to give you permission to forgive him.’

‘Would you think I was a fool if I did?’

Carrie sighed. ‘You love him. He loves you. You’ve missed twenty-five years of being together. Why miss any more time over one small lie that he made while under extreme pressure and trying to honour his legally binding promise to someone else not to say a word about the situation?’

‘I’m still not sure. That red flag is still fluttering.’

‘You need to work out whether this is about Nigel now, or about Angus.’

70

HELEN

Helen sat down with her tea in the airport cafe. She’d bought the plane ticket on impulse. Hopefully,she wouldn’t regret it later. But she wanted to resolve this, and it was too important to wait until Tuesday. Phone calls and FaceTime were no substitute for looking Nigel in the eye and gauging his body language.

She phoned Nancy.

‘Helen, darling. How was the flight?’

‘All ok. I’ve got through border control, so I’m officially on American soil now. Just that bus ride to do.’

‘Are you sure you can’t get a connecting flight?’

‘I’ve checked again, but they’re still fully booked. I guess everyone’s heading upstate because of the eclipse. Does Nigel know I’m coming?’

‘You told me not to tell him.’

‘I know, but I realise it may have slipped out.’

‘I can assure you I am perfectly capable of keeping a secret when I’m asked to do so.’

‘Sorry, I didn’t mean to suggest that you couldn’t.’

‘I understand that. Now that you’ve made it as far as JFK, do you want me to tell him you’re on your way?’