As they walk to the cafe, Eddy pretends to listen to Lotte and Martin talking some bullshit about all of them advancing on Seb’s office together, an insurrection to demand the truth, and tries to think through how best he can protect his son – and, by extension, Lily – in all of this. If everyone knew that his new girlfriend’s mum was a sex worker who had had sex with their head teacher, Blake would at best become a laughing stock and at worst might have to change schools, which would be a disaster.
By the time he’s arrived at the cafe, Eddy knows he must protect Abi’s identity, that his son’s happiness, his fragile teenage confidence – once shattered, so hard to rebuild – depends on it.
When they arrive at The Pot, Anna is already there in her neat work suit, standing when she sees them all, her eyes sparkling, opening her arms to their little group, a strange corporate Jesus welcoming her disciples. ‘Honestly, guys, the audacity of the man! He’s got to go.’
Eddy knows they’re in for a fight.
‘It’s the arrogance that blows my mind,’ Anna says, settling down behind her large cappuccino. The group lean in closer towards her, hanging on her every word, desperate not to miss any clue she could let slip about what it is Seb’s done.
‘He’s the one who’s done this terrible thing and now he gets to come out of it like some knight in shining armour. It happens again and again. Just like Trump. It makes me so bloody mad.’
She blows the frothy top of her drink.
‘The thing is, I’m not sure it’s even ethical to let us go on speculating like this, Anna,’ Lotte says, sipping her flat white but keeping her eyes fixed on Anna. ‘I mean, it could be harmful, couldn’t it – might start to impact the kids? That’s what I’m worried about …’
‘Me too.’
‘And me.’
Others chirp because, of course, they’re all saints here.
Anna nods like she understands but Eddy recognizes the wildness in her eyes; she’s losing her grip on her plan, can feel the solidity of it slipping away. ‘You guys have to understand that the reason I’m not revealing the truth is out of respect for Rosie. You know we’re good friends. Trust me, I’m not protecting him, I’m protecting her. And their children, of course.’
Her hands shake, her coffee spills as she takes a sip; she’s full of adrenaline but she’s getting a little desperate, too, worried that the smiles surrounding her could quickly sour and curdle.
Eddy knocks the small coffee table with his knee as he stands. ‘Anna.’ She glances at him. ‘Can we go and have a quick chat outside?’
She nods, shrugging her shoulders at the others, before following Eddy out of the door.
It’s started to rain, so they’re huddled in the cafe doorway.
They turn towards each other and just as Eddy’s about to open his mouth she gets there first. ‘I know what you’re going to say, Ed, but I’m going to have to tell them what he did.’
‘Anna, you promised …’
‘No, I said if he did the right thing and resigned then I wouldn’t say anything. I never promised anything if he didn’t resign.’ She opens her hands innocently. ‘Lotte told me that a couple of people are saying that maybe I’ve made it all up, or have made it into something much bigger because I have some personal vendetta against Seb …’
‘Well, that’s ridiculous.’
‘Of course it is,’ Anna snaps, ‘but it’s also totally unfair. I’m not going to allow my integrity,
Eddy feels like pointing out that they’re a family not a business, that these kinds of phrases shouldn’t apply to them, but Anna’s already turning towards the door, ready to go back inside. But Eddy hasn’t got what he needs yet – safety for Blake – so he takes her arm, turns her back to face him as he says, ‘Promise me, Anna, promise me you won’t mention Abi’s name.’
She looks at him, shrugs and says, ‘I don’t see why I should have to bring her into any of it …’
‘That’s not a promise.’
Anna narrows her eyes at Eddy, mistrust blooming. Those suspicious neural pathways in her brain like well-trodden tracks. ‘Why are you so concerned about her, Ed?’
He has no choice.
‘I think Blake has a crush on Lily.’
‘What?’
‘I saw them, together, at the assembly. They looked close.’
Anna looks away from him, as though staring into some appalling future – her boy with a prostitute’s daughter. ‘Well, he’s not … he’s not allowed!’
Eddy can’t help it, he laughs, and Anna’s eyes flash, furious at him.
‘He’s not a toddler, Anna.’
‘We have to get her away from him. Get them to leave town, preferably.’
Eddy winces. ‘No, Anna. Lily seems like a lovely kid; we need to protect them both, and the only way we do that is by letting this whole thing just blow—’
‘Anna, hi!’ They both spin around to a tall, attractive woman pulling back the hood of her raincoat, smoothing her hand across her hair as she asks, ‘It is Anna, isn’t it?’
She smiles, Anna nods and the woman extends a hand. ‘I’m Millie; my son Isaac is the year below Blake, totally idolizes him.’
‘Hi, Millie.’ Anna smiles. ‘Yes, I’ve seen you around.’