Free Secret Smile by Nicci French Page B

looking after us, taking care of us. I smiled broadly.
'Sure,' I said.
    'I knew you would,' my mother said
fervently.
    'I guess I'll need to find a rich
husband,' I said, still smiling.
    'You'll find whatever you want,' said my
mother.
     
    CHAPTER 10
     
    They arrived before I was expecting them,
so I was still in my dressing gown, drinking coffee and eating a custard pie
that I'd bought a few days ago on my way back from work. It wasn't a very
healthy breakfast, but the crust was already a bit stale and if I didn't eat it
now I would have to throw it away. Anyway, I'd been running. I'd puffed my way
through five miles on the Heath on a glorious late October morning, sharply
cold, but bright too, with soggy brown leaves underfoot. The run, all that
pain, balanced out the custard pie. I had planned to paint my toenails, clear
the living room a bit and ring up Nick to arrange to meet him for lunch. That
way, I could welcome them and then have an excuse to rush off.
    But then the bell rang, in three assertive
bursts. Before I could answer it, I heard the scrape of a key in the lock. I'd
given Kerry a spare key already, but I felt a twinge of resentment. I felt they
ought to have let me admit them like guests on their arrival. The scraping went
on, and I heard muffled swearing and then some giggles. I stuffed the last
morsel of custard pie into my mouth, stood up, tightened the belt on my
dressing gown and opened the door, pulling Brendan in with it, holding on to
the key that was still in the lock. We were about three inches apart. He was
wearing a thick coat that belonged to my father, a long, speckled scarf that
looked like one I'd given Troy last Christmas. In his left hand he carried a
large nylon bag. I could see pyjamas, a dressing gown, bath foam. His eyes were
bright, his dark hair glossy. His mouth looked redder than usual.
    'Hi,' I said curtly, standing back to let
him in, but he simply took a step towards me, as if he were a partner in some
dance, and stood looking down at me. The upturned collar of his coat brushed
against my jaw. I felt his breath on my cheek.
    'Hey there, Mirrie,' he said. He lifted a
thumb and before I could stop him had tenderly wiped a crumb from my upper lip.
Then his head bent down, his red lips were on my cheek. I smelt mint, and
underneath it something sour.
    I turned away and wiped the spot where his
lips had been, then retreated further into the hall. Brendan followed. Behind
him, Kerry stood, in a bright red duffle coat. Her cheeks were flushed, her
fair hair was tied in a little girl's pigtails. She carried a box: bran, herbal
tea, vitamin tablets, alfalfa beans, organic elderflower cordial. She had to
put the box on the floor before she hugged me.
    'Don't close the door,' she said. 'We've
got loads more to get out of the car. And Mum and Dad and Troy are bringing the
rest over.'
    'Don't worry,' said Brendan. 'Just
essentials.'
    'I'll put some clothes on and then I'll
help you with them.'
    'Why don't you make us some coffee
instead?' said Brendan. 'And we haven't had breakfast yet, have we, Kerry? We
were in such a rush.'
    'You were in such a rush. I don't
know where you get your energy from.'
    He smirked, then said, 'Just some toast
and jam would be fine. Or do you have tahini?'
    'What?'
    'Kerry and I are trying to eat healthily.'
He put out his large hand and caressed the top of Kerry's head. 'We want to
have a long life together, don't we, sweetie?'
    'We did this questionnaire on the
Internet,' said Kerry. 'You had to say how much you exercised and what you ate,
and then it told you when you'd die. I'm going to live until I'm ninety-two.
Brendan's going to live to ninety-six.'
    'I've only got jam,' I said.
    I took my time getting dressed. I sat on
my bed for a few moments, breathing deeply, practising being calm. I dressed, brushed
my hair unnecessarily, made my bed. The phone rang, but someone picked it up in
the other room before I could get to it.
    The outside door was still open