Eight Years of Lies

‘Is that Mrs Bennet?’ The chirpy voice of the school receptionist tinkles down the phone line. ‘This is St Mary’s. Do you know what time you’ll be here to pick up Isla? Only it’s almost four and the school day finishes at three o’clock.’ This is the day my life changes for ever. It started so normally. The alarm went at 7am. My husband made bacon and pancakes for me and our seven-year-old daughter, the kitchen full of chatter and laughter. He gave me a quick kiss, told me he loved me, grabbed his wallet, and rushed off to work. Just an ordinary day. Until I get the call from the school. It was Tom’s turn to pick up our daughter. He must be held up for some reason. I call his mobile. Leave a message. Then I call his office. I get his boss. His tone is brusque. Tom hasn’t shown up at all today. I find Tom’s phone under our bed. Now I know there’s something seriously wrong. I scroll through his messages. A text sent late last night: I KNOW EVERYTHING. I call the police. They don’t want to know. They think Tom’s having an affair. But it’s far worse than that. I start digging – and make a truly shocking discovery. The man I’ve lived with for the past eight years, the man I’ve made a home, a family, a life with, isn’t who I thought he was at all. The man I married has been lying to me ... about everything.