‘Not too bad. We’ll need to move fast once you’re back, though.Dan was talking about a new build coming available; he thinks he can afford it – he can’t –but with the inheritance sale we’d have a chance at buying off-plan. Our own place, all mod-cons, no more landlords… our own little piece of paradise. Imagine it, Daisy; a place that’s ours where we can make our lives together.’ Ash’s eyes light up. ‘We could get in there and buy before Dan and his girlfriend snake in on the deal. Oh my God, what I would pay to see the look on his smug little face if we ended up with a place like that – puts us light years ahead.’ Ash cracks open another bottle and pours us both a glass. He laughs,acting victorious already even though we haven’t done anything yet. Or have we?
CHAPTER 12
THE GHOST
I press my nose to the cool window of the airplane. An endless skyline stretches out as far as I can see, and greyscale buildings reach higher and higher into the sky. The plane starts to ascend and soon all that’s visible is this vast expanse of concrete and steel. As we soar into the air, I look down at the city below; floating away like tiny specks of glitter.
‘We’re really doing this! We’re like Thelma and Louise!’ Kayla exclaims.
‘Let’s not try to be like Thelma and Louise, Kayla… unless you want to wind up in a car off a cliff with a trail of devastation behind us. This is a business trip. Strictly business.’
She grins widely before pressing her hands together in delight. ‘Not a chance. I’m going to drink Guinness, dance under the moonlight, swim in the sea and do all the leprechaun-type stuff.’
Kayla is always ready to take centre stage, always dressed to impress. Her dark brown skin and giant curls accentuate her natural beauty, but she also has an amazing style – tattoos on both arms, wild eyeshadow, piercings. She stands out in a vintage pink leather jacket that matches her bold lipstick perfectly, and a pair of black studded boots that lace up to herknees. As always, Kayla is the life of the party, commanding attention wherever she goes. Strong and confident, her head held high and her dark brown eyes sparkling with mischief.
I’ve always envied her courage and ability to be unapologetically herself, but I’ve also always been afraid of the judgement that comes with not fitting in. As Kayla winks at me, I feel a sense of relief settle in me. She may be unconventional, but she’s also fiercely loyal and accepting of others. I’m more the shy type, preferring to stay behind the scenes, peeking out from under my red hair and happiest in ripped jeans, paintbrush in hand.
‘Hey, girl, get ready to have some fun. We’re here for a good time, not a long time.’ Kayla grins at me and I can’t help but laugh. I wouldn’t want anyone else by my side right now, even though Kayla is sure to keep her promises about guzzling Guinnesses and moonlight dancing. I guess I have no choice but to join in the fun.
I nudge her in the ribs, teasing her. ‘Kayla, this is our first trip abroad together! Check us out – all grown up! And this really is a very grown-up trip – serious lawyer-stuff is top of the agenda and of utmost priority…’
‘Oh yeah, sure. You think you’re some kind of high-and-mighty heiress already? Well, let me tell you something: even if you find the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow and become Queen of Innisfree, you will always be Daisy Clarke who drools in her sleep, can’t catch a ball to save her life, makes terrible coffee and has a PhD in people-pleasing. Shall I engrave that on your crown, Your Majesty?’
‘Knew it was a good idea to bring you along, keep me grounded… at 30,000 feet.’
We coast along with fluffy clouds surrounding us, my heart pounding with excitement. I feel as if I’m suspended from reality, not knowing what lies ahead or beneath anymore. Theengines roar loudly as I sink into my seat; there’s no turning back now.
Clutching Kayla’s hand tightly, I consider if I’ve packed all the documents James O’Connor requested. I run through my mental checklist to ensure I have originals of birth certificates, death certificates, IDs, autopsies and police reports. Everything is safely stowed away in the hold, packed carefully in my hard-cover suitcase, double-wrapped alongside all my art essentials so they arrive in one piece. So far, everything is going exactly to plan. Green lights all the way.
Kayla turns towards me, lands her wide brown eyes on mine and engulfs me in her large, soft arms, pulling me close. ‘Daisy! It’s going to be just like old times, sharing a room… remember when I first arrived at the children’s home? And you were the only one who’d share with me because I snored so loud?’
‘Yes, I don’t really think I’ll ever forget your snoring, Kayla. Saying that, it was good training because now I can sleep through anything! Freight trains, fire alarms, screaming sirens.’
‘This is going to be so fun.’ Kayla giggles.
‘Fun! Are you sure about that?’
‘When have I ever not been sure?’ She winks at me, her tongue poking out from between her lips.
‘Hmm. Anyway, I might not be able to catch a ball and I may drool, but I’ll have you know I make amazing coffee. I think you might have stunted taste buds… they’re blocked or faulty… or maybe you just have no taste.’
Kayla waggles her finger and smiles. ‘When it comes to men, at least, I have terrible taste, the worst…’
‘What’s happened?’ I ask. Her love life is something she’s been avoiding discussing for a while.
She rolls her eyes before responding. ‘It’s just another dead end, Daisy. It seems like every man I meet is either taken or not looking for anything serious,’ Kayla says with a shrug. ‘I’m tiredof the games, the swiping left and right, and the endless dates that lead to nowhere.’
I nod sympathetically, understanding her frustration all too well from my own single days. ‘I totally get it,’ I say with a sigh. ‘It’s hard out there.’
Kayla shrugs. ‘I’ve tried everything. I just can’t make it work, you know? It’s like I’m cursed or something. Destined to be on my own forever.’
I shake my head. ‘You’re not cursed. You just haven’t found the right one yet. And you’ve got me so you’ll never be alone, ever, okay?’
Kayla smiles at me gratefully. ‘Thanks, Daisy. You always know how to make me feel better.’
She opens up more about her current relationship woes – or lack of them. ‘So, there was this guy, from the gym… I know, right?’ She shakes her head. ‘And things were going so great. Until he disappeared. Like,poof! Gone.’ She rolls her eyes in disbelief. ‘Ghosted.’ She grabs her phone and begins scrolling through her contacts, showing me all the lovely messages early on, but then her repeated attempts to reach out to him without a single reply. ‘It’s so disheartening,’ she says with a heavy sigh, ‘being just abandoned like that, no word, no warning… after building up what seemed to be a real connection.’
We sit together, neither of us saying a word. By the pinched look on Kayla’s face, I know exactly what she’s thinking, how she’s feeling. Thoughts of heartache and loneliness fill us both, but neither one of us is willing to express it. We’re both well aware that finding love in this day and age could never be easy, but for us, it can feel harder than ever, hyper-aware of the fragility of love and security; the hurt of being left behind and the fear of abandonment still haunts us both. Our pasts weigh heavy on our hearts, threatening to tear away any hope of a happily ever after. I hate that Kayla is going through this. I can’thelp wondering why love can be so fickle, so fleeting and if, in some way, we are to blame for feeling so alone? Are we too broken to love or be loved properly?
