Lizzie Marshall's Wedding Read Free Page A

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    ‘What do you mean he shouted and grabbed you? When? Where? Why didn’t you tell us?’ Susie was clearly horrified.
    ‘What bad news?’ Jess asked.
    Becky’s head was splitting. ‘I’ll just get some pain killers then I’ll tell you.’
    ‘I’ll get the pain killers, you stay put – and slow down on the wine.’ Jess was back in less than a minute and she handed Becky the tablets and a glass of water. ‘With water, not wine.’
    Becky swallowed the tablets and sighed. She rubbed her forehead and closed her eyes briefly. ‘Okay. Yesterday, I got a letter from my solicitor. It seems one of the creditors is no longer prepared to accept monthly payments and they’re going after the full amount. That means the whole thing comes tumbling down and I’m back to square one.’
    ‘What? They can’t do that! They all agreed to accept reduced amounts and monthly repayments. They can’t just change their minds and go back on it,’ Jess said, stunned by Becky’s news.
    ‘Apparently they can. This creditor has been taken over by another company and its lawyers have said there is no signed agreement. I was sure I got all their agreements in writing, but this one must have slipped through somehow. The terms were that all creditors must agree, so this could make the whole thing void or something. You know what banks are like, and most of the creditors are banks. I don’t really understand it but my solicitor said it’s true, although he’ll do what he can – which will mean more costs and ...’ Becky shook her head and fiddled with the stem of her wine glass.
    ‘Oh God Becky,’ Jess said, ‘just when you think things are getting better something comes and knocks you back down. Why on earth didn’t you tell us?’
    ‘I think I was trying to pretend it wasn’t really happening and, I suppose, part of me was hoping my solicitor would come back to me on Monday and say it was all a mistake and the agreement still stands. Besides, you’ve heard enough of my problems to last a lifetime. And then, of course, it’s the anniversary today. To be honest, I thought if I started telling you, I’d end up crying my eyes out and might never stop.’
    Susie sat down beside Becky and put her arm around her. ‘You should have told us. We’d have cried with you. That’s what friends do, and then, we’d have tried to think of a way to deal with this.’
    Becky smiled half-heartedly and tried in vain to stop the tears welling up. ‘I don’t know what I’d do without you two – and I mean that. Sometimes, I can almost understand why Jeremy felt he had to do what he did; why he felt so hopeless, and if I didn’t have you –’
    ‘No!’ Jess snapped. ‘Don’t you ever say that. It’s only money and nothing justifies what he did. Nothing ever will. He had you, and he should have talked to you. Instead, he deceived you then left you in the lurch and you’ve spent the last five years trying to pay off his debts and deal with the grief. I know you loved him and I know he’s Lily’s dad and everything but he was still a bastard! Don’t ever say you understand it and don’t ever say you feel the same!’
    ‘Jess, don’t,’ Susie said, hugging Becky tighter.
    Tears rolled down Becky’s cheeks. ‘It’s okay Susie. Jess is right. And I’d never do it. I couldn’t leave Lily. Sometimes, even I hate Jeremy, especially when I think what he spent all that money on. But gambling’s a sickness, an addiction, like alcohol and drugs and he just couldn’t stop.’
    ‘Then he should have got help. I’ve said this before so there’s no point in going over it, I know, but it wasn’t just his life he gambled away, it was yours and Lily’s too and I’ll never, ever, forgive him for that.’ Jess strode towards the kitchen. ‘I’ll get more wine.’
    Becky grabbed a tissue from the box on the coffee table and wiped her eyes. ‘I was really beginning to think things might be improving and that this year would be