‘Writing things down helps with stress,’ Tasha said. ‘I keep a diary, and it helps me sort my head out.’
Jules nodded.
‘I know. I used to write a diary. Got me through some tough times, especially when my dad died.’
She felt the tears begin to well up. She must not cry, not in front of Tasha who would be so embarrassed.
‘How old were you?’
‘Fourteen.’
‘I’m fourteen. The only person I’ve lost is my grandpa. It’s four years now and I still miss him a lot. Granny talks about him all of the time, sometimes as if he’s still here. I’m not sure if that makes it better or worse. Perhaps you ought to write a diary again now,’ Tasha suggested.
‘Maybe you’re right. I filled hundreds of pages after my dad died. I sort of stopped speaking and wrote everything down instead. I used to reply to my mum with notes, if I replied at all.’
‘My mum would be apoplectic if I did that. Did you get in trouble?’
‘No. She was extraordinarily patient. I’ve only just realised that. It must have been very difficult for her.’
Jules gulped and a tear escaped and rolled down her cheek.
Tasha went to the dresser and brought back a box of tissues.
‘Sorry I upset you,’ she said.
‘Sorry I’m crying in your kitchen.’
‘It’s not my kitchen. It’s Granny’s and it’s okay. She won’t mind. I’ve cried a lot in this kitchen. She understands. Mum says I need to get a grip. Says crying won’t get me anywhere. She just shouts.’
‘Everyone has their thing.’ Jules sniffed.
‘Means her mascara doesn’t run and her nose doesn’t go red. She’s got this vertical line between her eyebrows though. It’s like an anger line. She uses these things called Frownies at night to try and make it go away, smooth it out. If she just stopped shouting, it would probably soften all on its own.’
She paused. ‘Or maybe not.’ She looked up at the clock above the back door. ‘She might be back soon. I’d better go home. There’ll be hell to pay if she finds me here again.’
‘Where’s home?’
‘The bungalow behind that building over there. You can just see the edge of the roof. Granny and Grandpa built it to move into when they retired, but then Grandpa got ill and died and we’re still there and she’s still here.’
She placed the jug back in the fridge and took both glasses over to the sink.
Jules stood up.
‘Won’t that house be empty, too?’
Tasha nodded.
‘Yes, but I’ll be all right now.’ She cast a sidelong glance at Jules. ‘I get a bit anxious sometimes.’
‘Were you anxious about me picking you up from The Pottery?’
Tasha nodded.
‘Although I thought you’d be all right if you were a friend of Carrie’s.’
Jules bit her bottom lip.
‘I’ll let you into a secret. I was nervous about it, too. I’m not very good at talking to new people at the moment.’
