So, after dinner, I suggested we both do the washing up together, and no one argued with that, including her. I think the others were a little wary, and didn’t want to get caught in any crossfire between us over the Fairy Liquid, so, after helping us clear the table, they happily let us go off to the kitchen to wash up and hopefully work things out. I couldn’t wait.
‘Are you okay?’ I said to Ella, once we’d filled the sink with hot, soapy water and immersed the first load of pots.
‘I am more than okay, Clare,’ she said, and I could just tell she was dying to tell someone her news.
‘You seem very happy,’ I pushed a little.
‘That’s because I am.’
As tempting as it was, I couldn’t make this go on any longer. I wasn’t doing it to get kicks. ‘I have something to tell you,’ I started. ‘It’s about the message you received from the TV company the other day.’
She looked at me suspiciously. ‘What message?’
‘Stars TV… the new “super secret” project? A cross between Love Island and The Bachelor?’
She turned to look at me. ‘How… how do you know about that? Oh. My. God. Clare, have you been reading my messages? Wow, you’re even sadder than I thought.’ She threw down the tea towel she’d been holding.
I shook my head. ‘No, I’m really not that interested in your messages.’
‘Liar. How do you know then?’
‘Because I sent it.’
‘What the hell?’ Her mouth fell open, she couldn’t take in what I’d said.
‘Wow’ was all she kept saying over and over. I don’t think I’d ever seen anyone so shocked; she hadn’t suspected a thing. She was looking at me, just shaking her head. ‘How could you, Clare?’ She was about to cry.
‘Look, Ella, I just… had to do something. You know everything about me, you’re constantly threatening to tell – and now I have a hold over you. I just couldn’t work out if you’d fallen for Jamie – turns out you hadn’t.’
‘You bitch.’
She was leaning on the kitchen counter, angry, but most of all devastated that the offer wasn’t real.
‘You sent me a message stating that you’re single, no commitments and ready to go anywhere at any time.’
‘Yeah… because I thought it was from…’
‘I know, and I shouldn’t be meddling in your career, it’s none of my business. But you shouldn’t be meddling in my life either – and what happened three years ago between me and Jamie is none of your business… Do you see where I’m going here?’
She just stared. I could feel her hate, like a solid block between us.
‘So, if you keep what you know to yourself and don’t tell Dan – then I’ll keep what I know to myself and I won’t show Jamie the messages you sent stating how single you are and how you’re up for anything, with anyone, for your little slice of fame,’ I explained.
She rolled her eyes like a petulant teenager being lectured by her mother – but I saw the pain and disappointment in those eyes. It was so stark, I almost felt sorry for her. ‘You’ve played the bride, the newlywed, you’ve enjoyed a free holiday and completely beguiled Jamie and his family,’ I continued. ‘Then, as soon as something better comes along, you’re ready to dump him, prepared to end your marriage without a second thought.’
‘I did give it a second thought, as it happens.’
‘I’m sure you did,’ I said sarcastically, ‘before saying “yes please!” Anyway, my point is, if you don’t want Jamie to know that you were about to end the marriage to “star” in a tacky TV show for singletons, then you should keep quiet about me and Jamie.’
She stood for a few seconds, composing herself, all her hurt and disappointment channelling into anger. ‘God, what a bitch you are,’ she said, like she was talking to herself.
‘I’m sorry, Ella, but you drove me to it.’
‘No, you’re not sorry. You’re a smug, jealous cow,’ she hissed. ‘You’ve looked down your nose at me all the time I’ve been here… And thanks to you, me and Jamie are over.’
‘You don’t have to be over,’ I said. ‘If you don’t rock my boat, then I won’t rock yours. No one needs ever to know.’
‘You’ve made me look an idiot,’ she laughed. ‘I’ve messaged my agent, texted my friends and told them. You’ve trampled on everything; do you have any idea what you’ve done?’
‘I’m sorry, but I had to…’ I had no pity for her. I felt vindicated; she was clearly set on abandoning Jamie and the Taylors at the first sniff of something better.
‘Yeah right. You’re just nasty. SO jealous because your pervy husband hangs around me all the time. “Let me put your sun oil on, babe”,’ she said in a whiney voice meant to be Dan’s. ‘Jamie says he can’t keep it in his pants, that Bob told him he worries when Dan does staff interviews because he picks young, pretty women who can’t do the job. But that doesn’t bother Dan, he soon finds something to keep them busy,’ she added with a smirk. ‘I see him staring at me– and so do you.’
I didn’t want to hear this. ‘Ella,’ I said, ’I don’t know why, but it seems to me all you’ve ever wanted to do is destroy me, and I don’t know why.’
‘Me destroy you? You told everyone I was a thief, that I stole my mother-in-law’s earrings – and then said I was lying about my own sister drowning. Who would lie about something like that?’
‘I’m sorry… about your sister. But the earrings, you took them, I saw you.’
‘I didn’t. Joy told me to get them for her.’
‘She said that to help cover it up, that’s what Joy would do because she doesn’t want the embarrassment, the shame…’
‘No, she asked me to get them from her dressing table. I took them downstairs to her – she said she wanted me to have them, but I mustn’t let you know because you’d be jealous.’
‘That’s just not true, Joy wouldn’t do that. You’re lying again, Ella. When will it stop?’
‘She said she hadn’t bought me a wedding gift,’ she pushed on, ignoring me, ‘and so I could have them and wear them when I got home, but never in front of you.’
‘I don’t believe you,’ I said. ‘I was with Joy when she opened her jewellery roll, she was surprised and upset that they weren’t there.’
‘She had to be surprised, she couldn’t tell you that she’d given them to me.’
I rolled my eyes; she really wasn’t able to ever take responsibility for her actions. Always the victim, always someone else’s fault.
She started to walk towards the kitchen door and I leaned on the counter, surprised at how badly she’d taken it, but at least I’d brought about some kind of ending. Hopefully I’d managed to put a stop to her constant threats. But then she turned around.
‘Oh, and by the way, you’ll be pleased to know I already told Jamie I was leaving him. Said I had this great offer and had to be single with no commitments – I wanted to be upfront and honest and didn’t want to string him along. He didn’t have sunstroke, he just couldn’t face everyone. So your little plan to blackmail me has backfired spectacularly, babe. Talk away, I’ve nothing to lose. But you still do.’