She looked through her dyed blonde fringe. ‘I’m really sorry about Alan. We all loved him.’
You more than most.That’s what she wanted to say but instead, she quietly said, ‘Thank you.’
Natalie grabbed the large tub and passed it over the counter. ‘I’ll put it on your account. How’s your husband?’ She emphasised the word husband but Mary didn’t take any notice. Kyle co-owned the local pub, the Old Smuggler, with Mary who often worked in the kitchen or behind the bar.
‘Same as, living it up as usual while I do all the hard work.’
‘I saw what you put on that page, on Facebook.’
‘What?’ Mary’s neatly defined brows furrowed.
‘The Remembering Baby Jess page. It’s not the best way to advertise your specials menu. I just had to say, I thought it was heartless.’
‘Heartless! I don’t know what you’re talking about.’ She tucked her hair behind her ears.
‘This.’ Natalie pulled her phone from her pocket and scrolled to the offending post.
Mary grimaced as she read the whole spiel. ‘But… I didn’t do this. I would never do something this horrible. Damn, what must everyone think of me?’
‘It’s your pub. You manage social media and it’s come from your page.’
She exhaled and shook her head. Blotchy pink patches began to spread from her cheeks. ‘Kyle does it now. Damn that drunken prick of a husband.’
‘That post needs to go, especially with it being the anniversary of her death. It’ll be bad for business. It’s in bad taste and I think everyone around here will think so too.’
‘I’m sorry that you saw that, but believe me, I had nothing to do with that post. I’d never post something like that. I’ve got to go.’ She headed towards the door shivering as she gripped the tub of ice cream.
‘Wait. I thought we could catch up.’ What she really wanted was to lure Mary into talking about the things on her mind. ‘How’s Rachel?’ She always liked to talk about her daughter, like any proud mother would. Maybe she’d stay for a chat now.
Mary paused. ‘Fit to drop, hormonal, tired. As to be expected. Anyway, I’m sorry again, about Alan, but I have to get back. I need to remove that post.’
‘Maybe we can have a drink soon. It’s been a long time.’ Her once best friend looked sheepish, but then her shoulders dropped.
‘Kyle’s playing golf on Thursday. Call me later, about nine thirty, the pub should be quieter then and we can arrange to do something.’ With that, Mary was gone.
Natalie opened the Facebook page again and looked at Jessica, her insides gnarling, making her nauseous. With one swift press of a button, she closed the app and popped the phone into her pocket. No sense in dwelling on the past, but then again, there was no sense in contemplating the future either. Alan had gone just like that, and so had Jessica.
She stared out at the harbour again, hypnotised by the stormy waters. The sea was unforgiving of any mistake, no matter how momentary it was.
As she went to lock up, a sandwich board flew across the road outside as a gust of wind caught it. Just like that, the sign had gone from outside the tiny souvenir shop.
Just like that, Jessica had gone all those years ago.
FIVE
KATE
Finally, I pull up on our drive and Millie waves out of the living room window, her coppery waves of hair framing her face.
‘Mummy, why are you wet?’ Rosie asks, as she waits patiently for me to assist her out of the car.
‘I fell in the pool, sweetie.’ My hair is firm against my face and clumped together in a block, like I’m a Lego figure.
‘Are you mad at me?’
I hurry out of the driver’s side of the car and I unbuckle her, then help her out. ‘I’d never be mad at you, my beautiful Rose. Mummy’s mad at herself for being late.’ I bend down to her level and hug her closely. All that panicking was for nothing.
‘Mrs Clay said it was okay. I went back in and made you a drawing. You smell funny, Mummy.’
