Women's Fiction
When Sarah’s twin brother, Simon, dies of an unexpected heart attack, she’s shocked to find he’s left everything to his dominatrix. As Sarah carries out her duties as executor, she becomes intrigued by her brother’s secret life. She befriends dominatrix Angelica Belle and soon finds there is much more to discover.
Extract from Novel
‘Simon was my twin…’ I glance at his portrait, propped on an easel beside the coffin. It was my sister Wendy who suggested we lay a rose on the top. I wish I’d argued more.
A small spray of flowers would be more appropriate. The symbolism of a single rose conveys an emotion I’m not feeling.
The congregation wait expectantly. Are they even referred to as ‘congregation’ at a humanist funeral?
Si once joked he wanted ‘Highway to Hell’ as his coffin was carried in but Wendy vetoed that. She’s Christian; she’s allowed one veto. I must stay focused.
‘When Si was seven…’ I recount a prepared anecdote. I tell them of Simon’s fascination with astronomy and volcanos, and his love of Terry Pratchett.
When I get to the part about Wendy and I dressing him up in a tutu, they laugh. I want to howl. Perhaps it was our fault?
I find myself counting heads. There must be eighty or more. An eclectic mix of family and work colleagues and, lurking at the back, some I can’t identify.
‘Simon was well regarded at work.’ His colleagues nod encouragingly, one older lady dabbing at her eyes with a tissue. ‘Kind, patient, always at the end of a phone…’
I’ll invite them to stay on afterwards for a cuppa and a chat. They’ll queue to speak to me, gushing with earnest condolences. Clasping my hand and telling me how wonderful my brother was.
If they only knew… I could tell them the truth. I could share all Simon’s sordid little secrets. I could reveal that my brother was, in fact, a great big liar.
