‘I’ll see. I forgot to tell you, Ramona was beaten up, I’ll have to go home and check on her first. I’ll come over later.’
‘God, I’m sorry. I can cook something. And get wine.’
‘Going to your place feels .?.?. weird now, as though we’re being watched.’
It wasn’t reasonable but it was true. Marisha’s energy was stalking the place even if she wasn’t there herself.
‘Cassie, please, she’s never set foot in this place, she leaves the kids at the door.’
No, but I bet she wonders about it, thought Cassie. I bet she has a picture of it in her fantasy.
* * *
When Cassie got home, Ramona was sitting up on the sofa, wrapped in a fluffy rug and looking considerably better.
‘About time, I thought you were never coming back. I had a shower and got dressed, but turns out I’m going to have to adjust my colour scheme to tone in with the bruises. They’re turning a lovely greeny-yellow.’
‘You’re unbelievable, Ramona, you don’t have to act tough with me.’ She sat on the end of the sofa and gave her friend’s feet a hug. And filled her in on the Marisha drama, which she loved.
‘Oh God, don’t make me laugh, my ribs ache.’ Behind her bravado, Cassie sensed that Ramona was feeling a lot more vulnerable than she was letting anyone see.
‘It’s a fucking mess. What am I going to do, Ramona?’
‘Honey, look at the state of me. Do I really seem like a good place to get life advice?’
‘You’re pretty good about other people.’
‘Why thank you, I’ll take that as a compliment. Be brave. If you lose the job, so what, get another. If you like this guy, screw her, it’s worth it.’
‘I suppose. Even though that is pretty much the diametric opposite of what my mother would say.’
‘And she’s happily engaged to be married for the second time, whereas I’m lying here thanking God I still have all my teeth, so what does that tell you?’
‘That she’s right. For her.’
‘Exactly, and you’ve got to do what’s right for you.’
Cassie looked around. There was no sign anyone else had visited. No cards, no gifts, no sign of family. Ramona, it seemed, picked up on her thoughts.
‘So, I called the old bird, filled her in on the drama. Turns out she was less than sympathetic, surprise, surprise, but she sent me some cash so, go Granma.’
‘Be honest with me, Ramona, how are you doing? Are you in pain?’
‘I’m fine. Don’t sit here looking sorry for me. Go get laid by what’s-his-name, chief engineer of the Starship Enterprise or whatever.’
‘OK, I’ll see you tomorrow.’
‘Oh and pick me up a pastrami roll from Donnybrook Fair on your way back. God, I love those things. You’ve got something good going. Don’t let anyone trash it.’
And that was the closest Ramona came to being real.
* * *
She’d bought a nice bottle of Pinot Noir. Sod that it was Monday night. In fact, the more she thought about what had happened since that morning, the more it felt like an entire week had passed, and on that basis, it was already at least Thursday. For the first time she let her shoulders droop, and the full stress of the day hit her.
Finn hadn’t taken any chances and had a bottle of white chilling when she arrived.
They sat on the plush sofa, gazing out the window with her head on his shoulder, and didn’t say much for a moment. But the air was full of unspoken feelings, so better to come straight out with it, thought Cassie. ‘Is it all too hard? Is there just too much in the way for us?’
