‘The police?’ Gabby echoes, her mouth agape.
‘Something’s going on here, Gabs,’ Otis croaks. ‘I don’t know if I think that Lex has just gone away for a few days anymore. I think… I don’t know what I think, but it’s not good.’
Otis’s head has barely ducked before Gabby’s arms find him. She holds him steady, whispering that it will be okay. All the while I watch her, wondering how someone who has turned so pale can make such a bold promise.
CHAPTER 16
When we enter the house, Otis goes straight to the kitchen and pours himself a whisky. He offers one to me and Gabby, but we both decline. We watch Otis down his drink, check the time, then excuse himself to go to the bathroom. His watery eyes tell me that’s more to compose himself than for a bathroom break.
As soon as Gabby and I are alone, she turns to me. ‘Why are you really here?’
The question is so direct, I can’t help but flinch. ‘I want to find Alexa and make sure she’s okay.’
‘But why? You don’t know her. You don’t know Otis.’
‘Can’t someone want to do a good thing?’ I say, but as Gabby’s already sceptical expression increases, I shrink. ‘There’s nothing weird to it, I promise.’
Gabby lets out a small scoff then folds her arms. ‘You do know she leaves him all the time, don’t you? That this is just what she does? Makes everyone worry, breaks his heart, then comes back and expects us to act as if nothing happened?’
A defensiveness prickles my skin. ‘From what I’ve heard, she’s going through a lot.’
‘And so is Otis. The miscarriages crushed him, too, you know, not that anyone talks to him about it. They just expect him to be okay. To carry on as if he isn’t cut up on the inside.’
My cheeks fire into life, thinking of how in all our losses, people always ask how I am. Very rarely do they do the same to Kamal.
Glancing at the door Otis just exited from, Gabby moves closer. ‘Look, I don’t want to sound like a bitch, but you need to leave. You can say you being here isn’t weird all you like, but it is. And if the police are coming over soon, they won’t want random people hanging around.’
‘But I—’
‘No,’ she cuts in. ‘Do you have any idea how hard things are for Otis right now? Lex has left himagain. He can’t take another hit like this. He’s hanging on by a thread. He doesn’t need you here, stirring up trouble.’
‘I’m not stirring trouble. I’m just offering to help.’
‘If you want to help, then leave.’
‘I can’t. I was there when Otis realised Alexa wasn’t using her card. The police will want to speak to me.’
Gabby’s nostrils flare, but she can’t deny that I am right. Turning away, she leaves me to wander around the impressive room while we wait for Otis to return.
I find myself being drawn to the wall facing the sofas, which is a giant built-in bookcase. It has been expertly styled, with vases and small sculptures that probably cost more than most people’s monthly salaries sitting alongside beautifully framed photographs. One is from Otis and Alexa’s wedding. It’s a snap I didn’t see on social media, but it’s just as stunning as the ones I did. Alexa’s emerald ring sparkles even more in print. The only thing more beautiful than it is her smile.
Further along the shelf, I spot another shot from the wedding. This time, it’s an image of the entire wedding party. Sure enough, Gabby is in it, standing two people away from Otis.
‘That’s one of my favourite photos,’ Gabby says, coming up behind me. ‘Otis bucked convention and had me as a groomsman. Fun idea, right?’
Looking at the image again, I notice Gabby’s dress is the same grey as the groomsmen’s suits. I wonder how much it stung her, to be part of Otis’s big day as a friend when she wanted to be his bride.
‘Are you and Alexa close too?’ I ask.
Gabby doesn’t react, almost as if she was anticipating this question. ‘Not as close as I am to Otis, but that’s to be expected because we grew up together.’ Her tone is guarded, almost as if she’s challenging me to read more into her relationship with Otis.
Otis enters the room at that moment, carrying an empty whisky glass.
‘Gabs and Lex get along great,’ he says, sinking into one of the sofas wearily. ‘I’m lucky. I know how awkward it can be when your spouse doesn’t get on with your friends. One of our other friends, Drew? His wife hates me.’
‘Only because you got him so drunk on his stag do, he missed his flight home,’ Gabby says.
Otis laughs, but his smile soon fades. ‘Lex was so unimpressed with me that day. I’ll never forget the look on her face when I got home.’