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Flaming Liar!

The strong bond with my twin was about to snap


Published by: Gemma Aldridge and Amy Thompsom
Published on: 24th August 2010

We didn’t share identical looks or personalities, but me and my twin sister Victoria were close. From homework to boy troubles, we’d faced it together.
When, aged 14, she’d started dating a boy called Darryl, it didn’t come between us – not even when they married five years later and had their daughter Georgianna.
Not when I met my bloke Alan, either. And our bond grew stronger when we were pregnant at the same time with my daughter Maddison and Victoria’s second little girl Eloise.
We always had each other, swore nobody would come between us.
Which was why, seeing my sister in tears on my sofa, I had to help. Even if she had brought her troubles on herself…
‘I can’t believe you didn’t tell me sooner,’ I sighed, over a cuppa.
‘I was too embarrassed,’ she sniffed. I could believe that. Who wouldn’t be ashamed of having an affair with their father-in-law?!
‘What did you even see in Lewis?’ I asked, baffled.
Victoria had it all – an attractive hubby, two gorgeous girls, a nice home. And here she was, telling me she’d been having it off with Darryl’s stepdad, Lewis Birch.
He was 14 years older than us, and something about him made me… uncomfortable.
‘He’s a nice guy,’ Victoria said.
‘But it was a mistake, right?’ I asked. ‘I mean, you still love Darryl?’ She nodded.
‘He won’t talk to me, though,’ she sighed. ‘Maybe you could talk to him? Make him understand it didn’t mean anything.’
I frowned, unsure. ‘Please?’ she begged. ‘I’ve screwed up, but it won’t happen again.’
I didn’t condone how she’d hurt Darryl, we’d always been close.But I couldn’t let one mistake ruin our close-knit family.
‘Okay,’ I agreed. After chatting to Darryl, it was obvious he still cared about Victoria. He was willing to give things another go.
Over the next few months, Victoria and Darryl’s relationship recovered well. ‘We’re taking the girls to Disneyland,’ she told me excitedly one day. ‘And Darryl’s bought me a puppy.’
I smiled, pleased for her as she gabbled on. She hadn’t spoken to Lewis since everyone had found out about the affair, and making the break had done her good.
But two weeks later, Darryl came to see me. ‘She sent a text meant for Lewis to Mum’s mobile by mistake,’ he cried. ‘They’ve been seeing each other the whole time!’
They broke up and the next thing I knew, Victoria and Lewis had moved in together. I tried talking some sense into her.
‘What will the girls think?’ I worried. ‘Lewis is their granddad – and you’re trying to slot him in as their new daddy?’
‘They’ll understand,’ she protested. I couldn’t believe it. Still, she was my sister, so I had to try to be there for her.
Soon though, I noticed a change in Victoria. ‘I’m busy,’ she’d say whenever I went to see her. ‘We’ll catch up another time.’
Even when I popped round with Maddison, Victoria didn’t want to know.
When me and Alan split up, she ignored my calls. In the end, I gave up trying.
She barely saw Mum and Dad, either. ‘You were always so close,’ Mum said miserably when I popped by. ‘You even dressed the same as kids.’
‘I know,’ I sighed.
‘I just hope you become close again,’ she fretted.
‘We’re twins, nothing can stand in the way of that.’
But two years after they’d got together, Victoria and Lewis married. I didn’t even get invited!
It was tearing Mum to pieces. Our family was falling apart. I’d
just have to work hard at patching things up…
Then, one day, two police officers came round. ‘Melanie Lucy?’ one asked. I nodded. Oh God, had something happened to Victoria? Were the girls okay?
‘We’re arresting you on suspicion of arson,’ the officer continued. ‘Your sister and brother-in-law have accused you of setting their car on fire.’
Right… sorry… was this a joke?! Sadly not.
Next thing I knew, I was having to call Mum, asking her to look after Maddison while the police took me to the station!
For 16 hours, I was held in a dingy cell.
‘Your sister says you went to their house earlier today to drop off birthday presents for one of her daughters,’ an officer explained. ‘When she turned them down, you got angry. Next thing, their car was on fire.’
I hadn’t even been to Victoria’s house that day. ‘I was having a garden party,’ I told them, calmly. ‘I’ve got 10 people who can tell you I was 30-odd miles away. I haven’t seen my sister for weeks.’
‘We have to follow up every lead,’ came the reply.
True. I didn’t blame them… but I was seething with my twin! I couldn’t believe the person I should’ve been closest to in the world could’ve done this to me.
Finally, I was released on bail until police decided what to do. After 15 months, I was charged.
I was actually going to have to go to court, could end up in jail, being separated from my little girl – all because of my sister’s say so.
Another year and a half dragged by, while I waited for a trial date.
By the time my trial came around, I was a nervous wreck. Would Victoria look at me in the courtroom? Would she break down and confess it’d all been a lie?
No. She didn’t even show up.
It took a jury 30 minutes to find me not guilty of arson at Snaresbrook Crown Court in May.
It was also revealed investigators hadn’t checked the car properly, failing to rule out an electrical fault. The case was dropped.
But the damage was done. I used to think I could forgive my sister anything, that we’d always look out for each other. I guess blood isn’t always thicker than water.

•  Lewis Birch said: ‘The court case is over and we want nothing more to do with it. We’ve done nothing wrong and we’re getting on with our lives.’
• Victoria Birch declined to comment.
Melanie Lucy, 30, Dagenham, Essex