‘She’s getting on a bit, so she shouldn’t be any trouble and hopefully will fit in nicely,’ piped up Joanna, adding, ‘unlike the previous owner who never made any effort to fit in, did he?’
‘Only because he was hardly ever here,’ Cassie said. Selfishly, she had enjoyed the owner travelling the world with his work and using the apartment below theirs as a base rather than a home; it meant for the most part it was quiet. There had also been the bonus of being able to use his allotted parking spaces when they had guests.
‘I thought it would be a nice touch to throw a drinks party to welcome the new neighbour to our little bit of paradise,’ Cheryl said. ‘I’ll send out an email and we can settle on a date for when everyone will be around. If the weather’s as good as it is now, we can be outside.’
‘Why not make it a barbecue?’
Cheryl shook her head as though Cassie had suggested they host a lap-dancing party. ‘Oh, I don’t think that’s the sort of thing an old lady would enjoy, do you?’
‘Which rather depends on what kind of old lady the new owner turns out to be,’ said Cassie later that evening to Nina.
With Ben out for his regular basketball evening at the Hills Road Sports Centre in town, and which doubtless would end withhim arriving home and heading straight for the shower while leaving his sports bag just where she’d trip over it, Cassie had invited Nina to join her for a drink on the roof garden and had quickly brought her up to speed on the latest from the Enforcers.
‘I’m half hoping she’ll turn out to be a wild rebel,’ Cassie said. ‘Or better still, one of those upper class born-to-rule types who will run rings around Cheryl and Joanna.’
Nina smiled. ‘Be careful what you wish for; warring neighbours wouldn’t be much fun.’
‘I don’t want an all-out war, but you have to admit, a couple of small battles just to take the Enforcers down a peg or two would be very satisfying.’
‘Why don’t you do that?’
‘Because I’m all bluster and no substance, you know how shallow I am. I just witter on about things and never do anything about it. Look how I constantly complain about Emily’s father, but what do I do about it? Nothing. Absolutely nothing.’
‘That’s because you know it’s the right thing to do.’
‘Yeah, that’s what Ben says.Keep the peace, blah, blah,play nicely, blah, blah. But it’s such a strain when all the time I’m longing to let rip and scream my head off with every known obscenity. Don’t you ever feel like that?’
It was a few moments before Nina responded. ‘Yes,’ she said after taking a sip of her wine, ‘about a hundred times a day.’
‘Really?’
‘You sound surprised.’
‘I am. You always seem so measured and self-possessed.’
‘And in one simple sentence you make me sound so dull.’
Cassie grimaced. ‘You know I didn’t mean it that way. I meant that I’m the irrational one and you’re the opposite, you’re totally logical and—’
‘And there you go again,’ Nina cut in with a small smile, ‘making me sound hideously boring.’
‘Okay, so tell me what makes you want to scream and shout.’ As soon as the words had left Cassie’s lips, she realised the insensitivity of her question.
‘I’m sorry,’ she said quickly, ‘just ignore me and my big mouth.’
‘It’s okay, there’s no need to apologise, but yes, Hugh’s death still makes me want to scream and shout at the unfairness of life. Or more accurately, the indiscriminate taking away of a life.’
‘What do you do when you feel like that?’
‘In the early stages I cried a lot. Obviously. But then when I became sick of having puffy bloodshot eyes, I took up running, something Hugh was always encouraging me to do with him, but I never did. Now, not only does it act as a release when I push myself to punishing point, but I feel connected to him.’
‘Maybe I should start running to sort out my mood swings as well as help me lose weight. You wouldn’t believe it, but I’m supposed to be on a detox regime, and just look at me guzzling wine and scoffing salted almonds.’ She slid the dish of nuts closer to Nina as though that would stop her from reaching for any more.
‘You really don’t need to lose weight,’ Nina said, ‘you’re perfect as you are.’
‘You say the sweetest things.’
‘But seriously,’ Nina went on, ‘you’re welcome to join me for a run some time.’
