Free The Keeper of Secrets by Amanda Brooke Page A

wine and gave her an uncomfortable smile. ‘Rick invited me, I assumed you knew,’ Chris said.
    Charlie tried to peak around the side of Chris’s large frame. ‘Is Angie with you?’ he asked.
    â€˜No, son,’ Chris said to Charlie, but he was still looking at Elle as if her puzzled gaze would give him answers. Instead it brought more questions. ‘Is that who you were expecting?’
    â€˜You’d better come in,’ she said. ‘Rick’s in the shower but he shouldn’t be too long. Would you like a drink? I think I would. A big one.’ By the time Elle had stopped rambling on they were already in the kitchen. ‘Sorry, let me take your coat.’
    It didn’t take long for the first glasses to be filled and devoured. ‘Maybe I should phone Angie,’ Elle suggested.
    â€˜Or I could just leave.’
    â€˜You’ll do no such thing. I’ll have one of those, sweetheart,’ Rick said. The scent of his aftershave overpowered the warm, spiced aroma of the Moroccan lamb stew simmering in the oven.
    The doorbell rang again.
    â€˜Angie!’ Charlie cried, only this time Elle couldn’t share his excitement.
    â€˜Shall I get it?’ Rick asked cheerfully.
    â€˜I think I’d better go,’ she said, still not quite believing what was happening.
    â€˜Are you going to tell me what you’re playing at?’ Chris was asking Rick as she left.
    The waft of fresh air as Elle opened the front door wasn’t enough to push back the growing sense of dread, but she did her best to greet her unsuspecting friend with a smile.
    Charlie’s greeting was more exuberant and Angie crouched down to give him a bear hug. ‘Hello, big guy,’ she said. With the little boy’s head buried in her neck, she glanced up at Elle. The false smile on her friend’s face didn’t fool her and when Angie stood up, she couldn’t resist putting her hand on Elle’s cheek.
    The simple show of affection made Elle feel all the more uncomfortable. She had unwittingly become Rick’s accomplice. ‘I’m really sorry, Angie, but Chris is here. Rick invited him. I’ll understand if you don’t want to come in.’
    The look of puzzlement on Angie’s face was reminiscent of the one her estranged husband had worn only moments earlier. Then she shrugged. ‘Let the games commence,’ she said.
    It was Angie who led the way into the kitchen where Rick and Chris were still loitering. Chris looked embarrassed but, true to form, Angie had an air of confidence that Rick would do well to heed if he knew what was good for him. ‘Care to explain?’ she asked.
    Rick came over to her and gave her an affectionate peck on the cheek. ‘Call me all the names you like, and this is probably a big mistake, but you two mean a lot to us. Everyone keeps saying how crazy it is that you’ve split up. Now, I’m not expecting miracles, but would it do any harm for us all to have a pleasant evening together like the good old days?’
    â€˜I never took you for an old romantic,’ Angie said.
    Glasses were filled as everyone shuffled around, trying to find a comfortable space in the large kitchen that was starting to feel a bit too snug. Elle was making a glass of juice for Charlie when the first exchange between Chris and Angie finally came.
    â€˜You look nice,’ he said. ‘Is that dress new?’
    â€˜Yes, and it cost a fortune,’ Angie told him. Elle had her back to them but she imagined that her friend had raised an eyebrow. The note of challenge was a familiar one between the two. Their relationship had always been tempestuous and they were both strong-willed, but their constant war of words had always sparked with the kind of passion she could only dream of.
    â€˜Mummy looks pretty too,’ Charlie piped up. ‘Daddy said she could make lots and lots of money out on the