She didn’t fight it; there really was no point.
It took an hour, and the house smelled less dusty. Pip had vacuumed while Bailey started the washing and unpacked the groceries she’d brought with her into the kitchen cupboards. It felt normal and so damn good. She felt more of the woman she’d been resurface; it made her smile.
“What?” Bailey asked her.
“I’m just so pleased to be back here with you.” Maggs felt the tears. “I missed you guys.”
“We missed you too. And I’m not letting you off that easy. You haven’t called, emailed, or messaged in months,” Bailey said.
“Sorry, I had a crazy time of things. The months were manic. I decided I wanted to come home, and then suddenly there was so much to do.”
“Months of work?”
“Okay, maybe not months, but you know me. I was never very good at nonverbal communication.”
“True that,” Pip muttered, unpacking another bag of groceries.
“Have you got anything left in your house?”
“Just a few things,” her friend said. “Go and sit, and I’ll bring tea and then you can go to bed. Tomorrow will be soon enough for wine.”
She did as she was told, because suddenly her legs felt wobbly with fatigue.
“So, why are you back?” Pip said the words when they all held steaming mugs and were seated in her living area.
“It was time.”
“Time for what?”
“To come home.”
“Why was it time now?” Pip demanded.
She was the tough friend. The one who asked the questions Bailey thought but couldn’t voice. Piper Howard never took a backward step when going forward was an option.
“Is there a problem with me coming home now?”
“Of course not. We are excited you’ve returned. What Pip is asking is what made you decide to come home now.” Bailey was always the peacemaker. Always the one to smooth troubled waters between her fiery friends. Pip and Maggs had once been alike, both opinionated if they believed in something. They spoke up if it was required. She wasn’t sure she’d ever be strong again.
“I was ready to come home.”
“You’ve lost weight,” Pip said. “And you’re quieter. More subdued.”
Best acting job of her life, she reminded herself. She could tell them, of course, but was reluctant to do so. She’d talked about the incident constantly with doctors since the day it changed her life. Coming home to Ryker had been about putting it behind her, a new beginning, and by talking about it she wouldn’t be doing that.
“Give me a break. I’m tired, and thanks, I needed to lose a few pounds. And there is nothing else going on with me other than I’m exhausted, but very happy to be home.”
“If you say so.” Pip was studying her. “How about that attack you were in. Have you recovered from that?”
“Completely,” Maggs lied.
“That was horrible. We read about it here and saw some footage someone took on their phone.”
Maggs had seen that too, and it had sent her to hell all over again.
“You’re lucky you weren’t hurt. Not sure how you escaped when pretty much everyone else in there got injured or worse,” Pip said.
“It was terrifying, but it’s over, and I hate talking about it. Now will someone tell me what the hell musical chairs for adults is about?”
