The Secrets Sisters Keep: A heartwarming, funny and emotional novel (The Devlin Sisters Book 2) Read Free Page B

huge bruise.’ Then, glaring at me, she demanded, ‘Are you his mother?’
    Victoria’s clones fussed over her, asking if she was all right. I was surrounded and outnumbered. I thought – for a split second only – about denying that Leo was mine, but then I decided to stand my ground. ‘Yes, I am.’
    ‘He’s just attacked me with that wretched ball. Have you nothing to say?’
    ‘I do, actually,’ I said, my blood beginning to boil. I could feel all eyes on me, judging me, but suddenly I didn’t care. ‘It was an accident, and Leo is very sorry. There’s no need to call him names.’
    ‘I beg your pardon?’ she spluttered. ‘Is that it? Is that all you have to say? Your son has scarred me.’
    I looked at her leg. ‘No, he hasn’t. It’s a tiny bruise.’ I kept my voice as even as possible.
    She tried to frown, but her Botoxed face remained stiff. ‘You’re obviously new to the school.’
    ‘Yes, we are.’
    ‘Well, let me tell you that such behaviour is not tolerated. Boys are not allowed to behave like wild animals.’
    I’d had enough. ‘Chill out. They were only playing football.’
    ‘ Chill out?  Who do you think you are?’
    ‘Julie Devlin. Sophie Devlin’s sister. You remember my sister Sophie? You were best friends for a while. We’ve met before. In fact, we had an interesting little chat in Starbucks a while ago.’
    Victoria looked shocked. ‘What on earth are  you  doing here?’
    ‘The triplets are starting in the third form.’
    ‘But you can’t possibly be sending your children to Castle Academy.’
    ‘Actually, I can, and I am. They might even be in your son’s class. Anyway, I’m sure you’ll be delighted to hear that your old pal Sophie is doing really well. She’s a partner now in the Beauty Spot.’
    Victoria narrowed her eyes and gave me a sickly smile. ‘Poor Sophie. I did feel for her when Jack divorced her and took up with Pippa Collins. Pippa is so young, beautiful and successful. It must have been hard for Sophie to be cast aside like that.’
    The hairs on the back of my neck were now at right angles to the ground. How dare she belittle my sister? ‘Actually, Sophie divorced Jack. She’s really happy and fulfilled now. All that lunching and shopping was boring her to death.’
    Victoria turned to her posse. ‘Sophie was married to Jack Wells. You must have heard about them. So tragic. He lost everything in a Ponzi scheme. He even tried to get Gerry involved, but Gerry was much too clever to fall for that.’
    I was very tempted to ask her if Gerry had enjoyed his dinner in Le Jardin on Friday night, but decided not to stoop to her level. It was my first day: I was supposed to be making friends, not mortal enemies.
    Victoria flicked back her wavy, honey-coloured hair and tottered off in her high heels with her adoring fans. Emily followed them, so I found myself alone.
    The bell rang, calling the boys into class.
    I fought back tears. My first day was a disaster. I’d alienated about half the bloody school.
    Leo looked up at me. ‘Sorry, Mum. I didn’t mean to hit her.’
    I bent down and hugged him. ‘I know, pet. She’s just a stuck-up cow. Don’t you mind her. Now, off you go and have a great day.’
    I watched the triplets lining up behind their teacher. They were the only ones with Tesco backpacks and I was proud of that. Some of the boys had leather ones with their initials embossed on the back. More money than sense, as Mum would say.
    My heart sank as I saw Victoria’s son standing in line behind the triplets. They were in the same class. Could this day get any worse?
    As I stood there, waving, fake-smiling, standing alone, I longed for my old life at the school gates, with Marian at my side, laughing and joking. Here, I was an outcast already.

2
    Louise
    I snapped my laptop shut and cursed under my breath. Wendy just wasn’t on point. I’d have to talk to her next week. I really didn’t want her sending me annoying emails on Sunday