“Come on in. You’re a bit early for us, aren’t you? ”
“Thought we’d pop in and wish you luck for later,” I said. “I might just need it.
I feel like I’m the one on trial. ”
We talked about Will. He hadn’t said much about yesterday. Just that he couldn’t do it—couldn’t turn on her.
He felt ashamed. I worried that whatever I said now wouldn’t matter, not after everything she’d put this family through. “You just have to get up there and tell the truth,” I told him. “That’s the one thing you’ve got that she hasn’t.
”
Later that morning, Lance and his son stopped by. Lance mentioned Susie wasn’t well. Tummy ache. He was letting her stay home with Ollie.
“You think she’s being a chancer? ” he asked. “I don’t know. Maybe.
Though it’s not been the easiest of times, has it? ”
I wasn’t feeling great myself, still angry from the night before. Nick was representing her. That Scottish tow-rag.
I couldn’t believe it. I’d gotten it out of my system, though, and we got ready to head to court. Before I left, I ran into Nick. He was buying a sausage roll.
He told me he was thinking about going to see Sam later. “Look, I told him not to mention what happened in the trial yesterday,” Nick said. “What about Will changing his testimony? ”
“Exactly.
Well, what should I say if he asks? No lying, Nick. You can’t keep him in the dark forever. ”
“I know.
I’m going to talk to the psychiatrist, find a way of breaking the news. But until then, I think it’s best he doesn’t find out. ”
I wasn’t sure I agreed, but I said, “He won’t find out from me. ”
Gary forgot he was supposed to have Jake.
Jake completely lost it—slammed into his bedroom, nearly took the door off its hinges, and refused to talk to me for the rest of the evening. That was my night. Meanwhile, my friend had stayed in with Peanut and watched *Babe*. I joked about keeping my head on my phone too much.
“Scientists say it plays havoc with your concentration,” she said. “And where did you read that? On your phone? ”
“My point is, all this mindless scrolling…
it does you no good. ”
“Right. So you don’t want to see a video of a fat penguin face planting? ”
She laughed.
“Yes, please. ”
We got to court. The prosecutor asked if I’d noticed a change in Will over the past year. I described it: he was moodier, more secretive, stressed and angry all the time.
At first, we thought it was the move here, settling into a new school. Then we found out the real cause—his alleged relationship with the accused. “There’s nothing alleged about it,” I said. “She look advantage of my son.
She manipulated him and she abused him. ”
The prosecutor asked why Will couldn’t admit what really happened. “Because he’s still trying to protect her. ”
Then the defense got their turn.
The defense lawyer, Adam, started in on me. He pointed out that I’d said we initially thought the change in Will was due to the move. He painted me as someone who dragged my son away from his childhood home, from his friends. “We never forced him into anything.
”
“So it was his decision to relocate to Weatherfield? ”
“Well, no. ”
“And was he happy about it? I imagine it could be quite traumatic for a lad his age to leave his own life and start again somewhere he doesn’t know anyone.
”
“It was difficult for all of us, not just Will. ”
“And yet you still went ahead with it despite his feelings. ”
He suggested Will’s behavior was simply because he was unhappy and angry at me. He called Will a bully.
“He’s never bullied Will in his life! He’s twisting his words to get her off the hook! ”
I was furious. Adam kept pressing: “Your son has categorically stated that my client didn’t do anything to him.
That there was no relationship between them. ”
“He said that because he’s confused and trying to protect her. ”
“Or perhaps he’s finally telling the truth about what really happened. Or didn’t.
”
I nearly lost it. But I had to keep it together. After court, I went to the café to pick up a coffee. I realized I’d left my wallet and phone in the salon.
The woman behind the counter wouldn’t let me take the order without paying. “Why don’t I come back later and just pay? I’m not going to do a runner. ”
“Can’t help you.
”
My friend—who’d followed me in—jumped in. “Yes, she can. Please go on then. As soon as it’s you.
”
The woman looked at me. “Hi, love. You alright? Can I get you something?
”
I suddenly remembered something at work and changed my mind. I left without the food, embarrassed. My friend ran after me. “What was all that about?
I don’t know. She’s your sister. ”
“I’ve messed up, haven’t I? ” I said to my husband later.
“I put my foot right in it, saying we thought Will was upset because of the move. Adam jumped right on it. Made me out to be a bully. Like this is all my fault.
”
He tried to calm me. “We knew this was going to be difficult. You’ve done your best. ”
“Megan’s about to take the stand,” I said.
“What’s the point in that? Whatever she says, she’s just going to lie through her teeth. ”
“Maybe everybody in that court, including the jury, will see she’s a liar. We’re not giving up yet.
”
My friend later went to see Sam in the mental health unit. She felt guilty about not telling him the truth about the trial. Toya had told her something was happening, but Sam didn’t know the details. In court, Megan was giving her testimony.
She maintained that her relationship with Will was purely platonic—caring, professional. She said she knew he had feelings for her, but she made it clear nothing could ever happen. “She looks like butter wouldn’t melt in her mouth,” I muttered to my sisters. “She’s a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
”
“She’s a sick pervert. That’s what she is. ”
The defense lawyer asked Megan about the burner phone the prosecution claimed she’d given Will. She denied it, saying it was a lie made up by Will’s stepmother and her sisters—who also physically attacked her.
I wanted to shout. But I stayed quiet. Then the lawyer asked Megan what she meant by Will going through a difficult time. “He was under a lot of pressure from his family about his running.
Especially from his father. ”
“His father played rugby professionally,” Megan said. “Will thought his father was trying to relive the glory days of his own career through him. The family were very tough on Will to succeed.
Failure wasn’t an option. ”
She said it caused tension in their relationship, but that it was devastating for Will. “On more than one occasion, I found him in tears after a race. ”
“What were you worried about?
”
“I don’t think they did this intentionally, but Will told me that because he was under so much pressure, it left him feeling suicidal. He thought about killing himself. ”
That was it. I couldn’t hold back anymore.
“LIAR! HOW DARE YOU SAY THAT ABOUT MY SON! ” I jumped up. “She’s trying to blame everybody else for what she did, and you’re helping her!
”
The judge warned me. “Any more outbursts like that and I will have you removed from the court. ”
My husband pulled me back. “Think of Will.
Get him out of here before he gets sent to the cells. ”
I swore I wouldn’t let her get away with this. Back home, my daughter was looking something up on her phone after I told her to do school work. She joked she was looking up the definition of annoying and found a picture of me.
I asked about her stomach. She said she didn’t want to go to school while “all this” was going on. My friend came over. When he saw her, he said, “What are you doing here?
Shouldn’t you be at school? ”
“She said she wasn’t feeling well, though she seems fine to me,” I said. Later, I ran into my friend at the café. He had the day off, no kids.
We talked about Sam. He said Sam seemed to be getting help, but it would be a while before he was back on his feet. “I feel so helpless,” he said. “I’m not great company right now.
”
“Hey, behave yourself. I like your company. ”
He tried to cheer me up. “You’re very attractive, interesting, funny.
” Then he asked if I wanted to go to the Chariot Square HoTel—spa, steam room, fluffy white robes, a glass of bubbly. I almost said yes. But then he mentioned the trial. He asked if Will had changed his testimony.
“I tried to tell him I didn’t know what was going on,” he said. “But he didn’t believe me. I couldn’t keep lying to him. ”
I froze.
That’s how I found out Sam knew. My friend looked guilty. “I’m sorry, Sam. I didn’t mean to upset you.
I thought you should know. ”
I waited outside while my friend talked to Sam. When Sam came out, I asked, “Why didn’t he tell me the truth? ”
“We were worried about what it might do to you.
”
“You mean learning that Megan’s going to get away with everything? ”
“We don’t know that yet. I wanted to talk to the psychiatrist to find the best way of telling you. I’m sorry.
”
Sam looked at me. “So am I. Sorry I ever believed you. ”
That hit harder than anything Megan said in court.
Later, I went to the café to find Sarah. She was in a rotten mood. I asked her about Jody. “What’s the score with you and Jody?
Summer’s gone on because one minute you’re best mates and the next you practically leg it out of the café like you did this morning. ”
“There’s nothing going on. I don’t know what you’re talking about. ”
“You’re lying.
”
“I’m not. Nothing’s happened. It’s you. You’re paranoid.
”
I ended up back at court, trying to keep calm. But when Megan gave more lies, I lost it again. I shouted at her in front of everyone. I threatened her.
My friend tried to reassure me. “You’re only protecting Will and the family. Not to be ashamed. You’re right, mate.
”
I wasn’t so sure. “I’m supposed to know him better than anyone. But he’s told this family so many lies in the past. I want one more.
”
I went back to see Sam. He was surprised. “What are you doing back here? Is it the trial?
”
“No, I had to leave. I couldn’t sit there listening to her talk about you like that anymore. ”
“What did she say? ”
“She said you felt like killing yourself.
Because I was too hard on you and put you under too much pressure about the running. ”
Sam’s face went pale. “What? She actually said that?
”
“Is it true, son? I won’t be angry. You tell me. ”
“No.
No, I swear. I’ve never thought about anything like that. Look, Dad, none of this is your fault. ”
“Yes it is.
I should have seen what was happening. I’m sorry. ”
“It’s okay. You know, we could just talk about this.
”
But my friend—who’d just walked in—said, “I want you both to leave. I don’t want to talk to you anymore. ”
I tried to stay. “I’m not leaving.
I told you before, I don’t want to see you. ”
“But you don’t care about what I want, dear. ”
“Of course your dad cares. We both do.
Seeing you upset like this is exactly why we didn’t tell you about the trial. ”
Sam’s voice rose. “So this is my fault, that I’m in here? Is that what you’re saying?
”
“No one’s saying that. You just need to calm down. ”
“How can I be calm? Megan’s going to get away with it.
She’s going to walk free from that court and there’s nothing I can do about it. ” He looked at me. “And you’re right. It is my fault.
”
I didn’t know what to say. I’d come to fix things, and I’d only made them worse. Later, I tried to lighten the mood with my friend. She said if I wanted to make a proper day of it, I could book us a room at the hotel.
I finally said yes. “Life’s too short, isn’t it? ”
At the hotel, I asked for a room. The receptionist recognized my friend.
He said she was a mate and had gone through a lot lately. He sounded jealous. I told him she was with me. I got the room.
That night, I texted my friend. No reply. She’d had her phone switched off all day. When I saw her, she told me what I’d missed: nothing good.
The defense had got a witness for Megan. “Made it sound like she’s the sun shining out of a… you know. ”
“She’s hoodwinking everyone.
It’s not just us. ”
I looked at her. “Just be honest with me. Is she going to get away with this?
”
“I don’t know. But at the minute, it doesn’t look good. ”
I came home. My husband was waiting.
“Everything alright? What’s happened? ”
I couldn’t hold it in anymore. “I’ve messed up.
I’ve ruined everything, and now I don’t know what to do. ”
