‘I’m going to go and look at it now. Thanks, Liam. Thank you, so much.’
There was a long silence. It was as if he was about to say something and then stopped himself.
‘What?’ she asked quietly.
‘Just show it to the police and come home.’
‘You know I can’t do that.’
‘Rachel, I’m not messing about here. Will you please fucking come home.’
She rarely heard him swear and it shocked her.
‘I can’t. Not yet,’ she said, feeling tears well up in her eyes.
‘I didn’t think so,’ he said, his voice softening again.
Another long lag.
‘Are you alone?’
‘Of course I am.’
‘Right then—’
‘How’s things? How’s Sheryl?’
‘We’re all busy.’
‘You should get a good night’s sleep then.’
‘Good night, Rach.’
‘Good night, Liam.’
She ended the call, and bit her lip so hard it drew blood.
‘Darling, how are you?’
Patty Reynolds breezed through the door of Somerfold like a rainbow. Her smile was a broad red slash of lipstick, her hair was freshly highlighted, her green dress Diana recognised as one of Erdem’s most beautiful summer numbers.
‘All the better for seeing you,’ said Diana, feeling suddenly dowdy in her cashmere jogging bottoms and white T-shirt. ‘Where’s Michael?’
‘Just finishing up a call outside. Here he is now.’
Michael came through the front door, his round face beaming. He embraced her, his soft arms wrapping her into a friendly hug. Just being in the Reynoldses’ presence made Diana feel safe and warm.
‘Come on, come through. Mrs Bills has made supper,’ she said as her friends followed her to the kitchen.
The farmhouse table was set beautifully, and a shepherd’s pie was bubbling in an orange Le Creuset dish on a serving tray.
‘Look at that,’ said Patty, handing Mrs Bills the huge bunch of flowers she had brought with her. ‘It’s our calorie intake for the week.’
‘I’m eating for two now, remember,’ said Diana with a grin.
She saw Patty’s eyes cloud with joyful tears.
‘Now then, I’ve had a doctor friend of mine prepare a document for you,’ Patty said, reaching into her large leather tote. ‘It’s a list of five of the world’s top obstetricians, in London, Switzerland and New York. All of them specialise in identifying early-stage pregnancy problems. We are not taking any chances with this baby. I know there’s no real link between stress and miscarriage, but even so, I have suggested to Michael that you stay with us for a while.’