As the line tries to connect, I remember only too clearly how difficult it was as a kid moving from base to base, rarely able to hold onto friendships. It was on my thirteenth birthday that Mom found out about Dad’s affair. A red Chanel lipstick in Dad’s car was all it took. He confessed and she immediately left him and we settled back in Scarsdale, where my uncle lived, and Dorothy got a job in the newly opened Sweet Dough. That’s where I met Jill Lewis – now Jill Lewis-Huberman – on my first day of eighth grade and my life changed forever. Finally, I had a best friend. A girl who saw me for who I was and loved me for who I was. Jill made my friendship dreams come true. If only I could repay her now by makingherdreams come true.
‘Maggie!’ Finally, Jill picks up and her beautiful face fills the screen. She has a red nose as she adjusts her furry white earmuffs. Huge bare sycamore trees loom tall behind her and red double decker buses file past as she smiles, showing me her row of perfect teeth between her deep, inset dimples. My heart lurches.
‘Hey! It’s so good to see your face. How’s London? You look cold. Where are you?’ I peer close at the small screen.
‘Kensington Gardens. I’m supposed to be making a post for a major vintage brand who are paying me to wear these earmuffs but I can’t seem to fake it today. How did the meeting go? Did you get the promotion? Did she love your lookbook as much as I do?’ Jill’s face moves back from the shaky screen and I immediately notice how pale and gaunt she looks out in the cold English day. A light rain spits sideways, sticking to her auburn hair. Her warm eyes are wide as she awaits my answer.
Jill started off making videos in her bedroom and uploading them to YouTube just for fun, showing off the vintage designer clothes she was finding in charity shops, and it exploded. Now, Jill is a very powerful business woman with over a million followers on @jillsfindsforfun. She’s recently relocatedto London with her lawyer husband, Max, who is opening a new law practice in Kensington.
‘It’s a bit more than I expected, Jill.’
‘Hang on, just let me move out of the wind.’ I see the pavement rush by as Jill seeks refuge and I just can’t help think how much I owe her. As a young girl, Jill saw my crippling shyness and vulnerability, and took me under her wing. She became the best friend anyone could ever wish for. Jill was my instant protector. She stood up for me, sheltered me from the looks the cool girls threw at my old-fashioned wardrobe and wild, untameable, red frizzy curls. She was the one who used to read my short stories and tell me I should become a writer, encouraging me to submit them to writing competitions. I would do anything for Jill and it has completely broken my heart that the one thing Jill is consumed with desire for, the one thing she covets, yearns for and craves, I simply cannot help her with.
A baby.
‘That’s better!’ Her smile is back. ‘Hit me.’ She sits down on a park bench.
‘There is only one promotion to feature writer and it’s between me and Salma. I got offered it first. But Amanda is sending me to Ireland tomorrow all by myself. I’m being commissioned to write a piece on a magnificent castle in County Galway to prove myself, and if it’s good enough she’s considering Castlemoon – that’s the name of this place – as a cover for the double June edition! But I’m terrified, Jill. I said yes, obviously, but I couldn’t sleep a wink last night!’ I barely take a breath as the words tumble out of me.
‘A possible cover? No way! Ireland! Amazing! Listen to me, you’re well able. This is your dream, just don’t overthink it. Step by step, okay?’ Jill tells me.
‘I know, you’re right. Mom said the same. Thank you, it’s all a bit surreal .?.?.’ I pause as I watch her pull a tissue from up hersleeve and dab her eyes, then blow her nose.
‘Surreal my ass, and you have nothing to prove, it’s so overdue! You are an incredible writer, you got this. I mean that, I have every faith in you—’
‘You okay, Jill?’ I interrupt her as I watch the screen like a hawk.
‘Me? Eh, yeah, yeah, fine. Sorry, just this bitter London cold, makes my eyes water, you know yourself.’ Jill plasters a smile on her pale face.
I let that hang for a moment. Has she been crying, I wonder?
‘I do know, Jill. I really do.’ Giving it a beat because I know Jill wants me to change the emotional moment we have just shared.
‘So, what have you packed? What is your actual brief? Spill! I want all the details!’ Jill commands and I do let it go, for now. For her sake.
‘Just warm clothes really. Oh, and Frederick, Amanda’s millionaire property mogul boyfriend – you met him once at a Christmas party at the Royalton – is in negotiations to buy the castle!’ I tell her.
‘Oh, Creepy McCreep. I thought he only dealt in hotel chains?’ Jill says with a downturn of her mouth.
‘Apparently not, he wants to buy Castlemoon but he is keeping it exactly as is, obviously, staff and all. He won’t be changing a single thing.’
‘Hmmm, I’d wonder about that.’ Jill looks genuinely puzzled. ‘The only thing that creep gives a crap about is money. Remember what he said when he heard I worked with vintage clothes?Rich people’s cast-offs for poor people!’ Jill rolls her eyes.
‘I do, and I remember the ear bashing you gave him in return!’ A smile tugs at my lips when I picture Frederick’s face as Jill told him a few home truths about recycling playing a crucialrole in promoting sustainability, protecting the environment and supporting economic growth. ‘But Amanda said something about the owner stipulating that the staff must be kept on. I just have to keep an eye on how the place is being run—Oh, one more thing! I had to tell my lovely pal Ben that we couldn’t see each other anymore. Eliza fancies him.’
‘He was moving out of the friend zone?’ Jill scrunches up her nose. ‘You never mentioned a single spark?’
‘Exactly. Because there were none. I would have told you. Anyway, I want to hear more about London. How are you settling in? Seen any of the royal family out and about yet?’ I joke.
‘I’m pretty sure I saw King Charles at the dentist .?.?.’
‘.?.?. maybe in for a new crown.’ I jump in, spinning around on my chair.
‘Bahaha! Very good!’ Jill cracks up. ‘I miss you so much. But all’s good, sorry I never got back to you last week. I’m such a shit friend right now. I’ve been wallowing a lot.’ Jill gently smacks her free hand against her cheek twice as though to wake herself up.
‘Is Max still in Lisbon?’ I soften my tone.
‘Yes, he left three and a half weeks ago, but who’s counting? I miss him so much too. What am I like? He’s still interviewing and hiring lawyers for the new practice and buying really cool office equipment while I’ve barely posted any content in two weeks.’ Her blue eyes are watery and sad and her pale complexion worries me.
