Silent Truths Read Online Free PDF

Colin?’ she asked.
    ‘Of course. You don’t think he’d call his mother?’
    Beth’s heart tightened. So he’d managed to ring Bruce and Phyllis, but not her. Why not her?
    ‘I suppose you’re happy now,’ Phyllis snapped.
    ‘What are you talking about?’ Beth cried. ‘How the hell can I be happy about something like this?’
    Phyllis was silent, then Beth realized the old lady was crying. ‘He didn’t do it,’ she spluttered. ‘I know he didn’t.’
    ‘Of course he didn’t,’ Beth reassured her.
    ‘He told me she was already dead when he got there.’
    Beth allowed herself to imagine the body lying on the bed, twisted, blue and lifeless, while Colin approached in his navy Savile Row suit and Cartier cufflinks. ‘Do you know what he was doing there?’ she said abruptly. ‘Do you know who she was?’
    ‘No.’
    ‘He didn’t tell you?’
    ‘We couldn’t speak for long. He just wanted me to … He was concerned about …’
    Beth was hardly listening. ‘Would you like me to come and see you?’ she offered.
    ‘No. I’m fine. You’ll have enough on your plate without worrying about me.’
    ‘Has the press found you yet?’
    ‘I’ve had a few calls. I’ve got nothing to tell them.’
    ‘Maybe you should go and stay with your sister Dolly for a while.’
    ‘Yes, I’ll probably do that.’
    There was a long pause, then Beth said, ‘If he calls you again …’ Phyllis waited, but Beth’s throat was suddenly too tight to say more. ‘Nothing,’ she finally managed. ‘I just …’ She knew she was going to break down. ‘I’ll be in touch soon,’ she said hastily, and ended the call.
    For several seconds she struggled to steady herbreathing and reduce the swelling emotion in her chest. Then to Georgie she said, ‘All I’ve ever done is love that woman’s son, and she treats me as though I’m the worst thing that ever happened to him. Does she have any idea how he’s treated me all these years? Does she even care?’ Her breath had become ragged again as fear whipped up her anger and pushed tears on to her cheeks. ‘He can do no wrong as far as she’s concerned, and if he can’t stay faithful then it must be my fault, because God forbid anyone should suggest there might be something wrong with her precious boy, like sex addiction, or serial adultery, or some psychotic kind of misogyny! Jesus, she’s as bad as my own mother,’ she seethed, banging her fists on her knees. ‘Poor Colin, married to that boring, unaccomplished kindergarten teacher, who never was going to amount to anything. She doesn’t even know how to dress properly, never mind hold her own in Society.’ She was sobbing now. ‘But if I was so wrong for him why did he keep coming back? Answer me that. Why didn’t he stop loving me? Why didn’t he just divorce me? We don’t have any children, so it wouldn’t be hard.’ Struggling for breath, she dashed away her tears. ‘No one gets it, do they?’ she cried. ‘Despite everything, all our differences, our rows, his adultery, my insecurity, we’ve always loved each other, and nothing’s going to change that. Not even this is going to change that.’
    ‘I know,’ Georgie said softly. ‘And no one’s ever doubted how much he loves you.’
    ‘But everyone’s so critical! So damning of me and the way I hold him back. At least that’s how theysee it; just because I hate the limelight and despise his colleagues means I’m standing in his way. But he’s right at the top, for God’s sake. Do they seriously think he got there without my support? Even he says he couldn’t have done it without me, so who the hell do they all think they are, spouting off on things they know nothing about? For Christ’s sake, I love him. I’ve always been there for him, just like he’s always been there for me. They’re all so damned quick to judge, accusing me of resenting his success, wanting him all to myself and I don’t even want to think about where all this is