I glance sharply at Fliss, but she looks as flabbergasted as I do.
And now he’s in front of the stage and he’s looking up at me with those dark eyes that I love, and I think I’m going to lose it. I was just about holding it together, but now he goes and turns up—
“Lottie,” he says, and his voice is as deep and comforting as ever. “I know you’re … m—” He seems to have difficulty saying the word. “Married. I know you’re married. And I wish you every happiness with that.” He pauses, breathing heavily. Around him, all the chatter has died away. The audience is watching us, riveted. “Congratulations.” His eyes flick to Ben, then away again, as though Ben is some loathsome creature he can’t bear to look at.
“Thanks,” I manage at last.
“So I won’t keep you. But I thought you should know something. You didn’t start the fire.”
“What?” I peer at him, unable to process his words.
“You didn’t start the fire,” he repeats. “It was another girl.”
“But what— How—” I swallow hard. “How did you even—”
“Fliss told me that you thought you’d started the fire. I knew you’d be devastated and I couldn’t believe it was true. So I went to find out the truth.”
“You went to the guest house?” I say disbelievingly.
“I talked to your friend Arthur.” Richard nods. “I made him get out the original police reports. He let me spread them over his table and read through all of them. And it was quite clear. The fire didn’t start in your room. It was above the kitchen.”
For a moment, my thoughts are so jumbled I can’t reply. No one’s even whispering. The only sound is that of the bunting flapping in the sea breeze.
“You went to the guest house?” I repeat at last, falteringly. “You did all that? For me?”
“Of course,” says Richard, as though it’s obvious.
“Even though I’m married to someone else?”
“Of course,” says Richard again.
“Why?”
Richard shoots me a disbelieving look as though to say, Do you really have to ask?
“Because I love you,” he says matter-of-factly. “Sorry,” he adds to Ben.
33
FLISS
Of all the moments I’ve experienced in life, this is the one I will remember forever. I’m holding my breath. The whole place is silent. Lottie’s staring at Richard, transfixed, her eyes huge. Her Happy Couple of the Week sash is glimmering in the lights, and her crown has slipped.
“Well … well …” She doesn’t seem able to get the words out. “Well, I still love you!” She tears off her crown. “I love you!”
Richard visibly jolts with shock. “But—” He gestures at Ben.
“It was a mistake!” She’s almost sobbing now. “It was all a mistake! And I was thinking about you all the time, but you’d gone to San Francisco, but now here you are—” She suddenly turns to me, her face tearstained. “Fliss? Did you bring Richard here?”
“Er … kind of,” I say cautiously.
“Then I love you too.” She flings her arms around me. “Fliss, I love you.”
“Oh, Lotts.” Tears are welling up in my eyes now. “I love you. I just want you to have the happiest, happiest life.”
“I know.” She squeezes me tight, then turns and leaps off the stage, straight into Richard’s arms and the tightest embrace I’ve ever seen. “I thought you were gone forever!” she says into his shoulder. “I thought you were gone forever. I couldn’t bear it! I couldn’t bear it.”
“I couldn’t bear it either.” He’s looking warily at Ben. “The only thing is, you’re married—”
“I know,” she says miserably. “I know. But I don’t want to be.”
My antennae are on full alert. This is my moment! I leap down off the stage and tap Lottie, hard.
“Lotts! Tell me. This is important.” As she turns, I grip her by both shoulders. “Have you—” I glance at Noah. “Have you put the sausage in the muffin? Have you done it? Tell the truth! This is important!”
34
LOTTIE
What’s the point in lying anymore?
“No!” I say, almost defiantly. “We haven’t done it! We’re complete frauds. We’re not a happy couple; in fact, we’re not even a couple! Here.” I turn to Melissa, who has been watching avidly with all the others. “Have my crown. Have the sash.” I rip it off and grab the trophy from Ben. “Have everything! We were telling lies the whole time.” I press them all onto her, and she gazes back at me, her eyes narrowed.