‘Abiton top of you? Jesus, it looks like someone’s been here and trashed the place.’
‘OK, well if it’s that bad you can leave, can’t you?’ Olivia lashed out, throwing her keys down on the table. ‘I don’t need your judgement on top of everyone else’s today, OK?’
Olivia felt shame crawl across her skin. The memories of the day felt like a million sharp insects scuttling over her body. The look on Phil’s face as he helped her into the ambulance. The doctor’s concern when she burst into tears before he’d even asked what had happened. The note he wrote her, recommending she take three months off for her health. The realization that her world had officially come crashing down.
‘Hey.’ Kate slung her arm around Olivia’s shoulder and guided her towards the sofa. ‘There is no judgement here, I can promise you that. Only love and concern, and a little surprise.’ She squeezed her closer. ‘And it doesn’t matter about anyone else; everyone else sucks.’
‘Except it does matter. It’s my job, Kate. It’s mylife.’ Her voice broke and the tears stung her eyes.
‘And you will be back there before you know it.’ Kate sat down and pulled Olivia with her. ‘I know it feels like a bigdeal right now, and you’re angry and upset and feeling all the things … but I think, in the long term, it’s for the best.’
‘For thebest?’ Olivia cried. ‘What’s for the best is that I get back to work and start making amends for what happened, not sit here wallowing in my feelings and taking time off.’
‘Olivia, you passed out because you’re overworked, stressed and totally burnt out. Your little sister passed away less than two months ago, and you didn’t even stop to take a breath. You’ve been nonstop your entire life, taking care of everybody except yourself, and quite frankly you look like shit and need a break.’
‘Wow, and now I feel much better, thank you.’
‘What can I say? Good friends are always there for each other, but …’
Kate smirked, waiting for Olivia to finish the sentence. Their silly childhood saying that had become their mantra in life.
‘Come on … you can’t leave me hanging.’
Reluctantly, and through gritted teeth, Olivia obliged. ‘Only the best ones tell the truth.’
‘Exactly!’ Kate stood up abruptly. ‘Now, here’s what’s going to happen. You, my friend, are going to go and have a nice long shower, because God knows you need to do something about this situation.’ She gestured up and down the length of her. ‘And then you’re going to get into bed and sleep, whilst I sort the rest of this place out and get us some decent food. OK?’
Olivia went to protest – the thought of someone else tidying up her mess was unbearable – but Kate had already begun to frogmarch her towards the bathroom.
‘And no arguing with me, Miss Jackson. For one day only, I’m in charge, all right?’
Through the depths of her exhaustion, and the thickblanket of despair that had wrapped itself around her heart, Olivia felt a surge of affection for her friend.
‘OK, but just for today, all right?’
*
Five hours later, Olivia emerged from her bedroom. The enormity of her pain still sat heavy on her shoulders, but the fog had cleared a little from her mind, and her body felt at least somewhat refreshed after the shower and sleep.
‘Aha, perfect timing! I was about to come and wake you up.’ Kate spun around, her mass of red hair piled on top of her head. ‘I made dinner.’
The intoxicating smell of tomato, garlic and onion greeted Olivia like an old friend, and she could see big bowls piled high with pasta and cheese.
‘This place …’ She stared around at her now immaculate living room. ‘It looks amazing.’
‘No.’ Kate strode towards her, bowls in hand. ‘It looks like your flat normally does when you’re not in the middle of an emotional breakdown. Now, sit and eat this, please.’
‘OK, who made you my mum all of a sudden?’
‘What can I say? Sometimes, evenyouneed to be looked after.’
Olivia didn’t argue, but only because her stomach was physically aching with hunger. She took the food and nestled down into the crumb-free, perfectly plumped sofa.
‘Thank you for this.’ She gestured around the room. ‘All of this.’
‘You’re welcome. Do you feel a bit better?’
‘Yeah, I can’t believe how deeply I slept.’
