I owe you big time, J x
Catherine grinned at the note as if she were smiling at its author. Was this blackmail? Chocolates, IOUs, and feline company, in exchange for something she actually loved doing. Without really knowing why, she slipped the note into her pocket and got to work opening the box and setting the pieces out on the floor.
Juni moved closer to inspect the empty box before crawling inside until he was nothing but two glowing eyes in the shadowy depths. As per the instructions, Catherine constructed the four drawers first and placed them on the bed. Before she made a start on the frame, she went downstairs and fetched herself another Scotch, speaking into the box before she went.
“I’ll be back in five. No eating bras while I’m gone.”
On her way back to the bedroom, she passed the kitchen and scoffed a couple more of those delicious Catalan chocolates. She’d always wanted to go to Barcelona. Tapas, city beaches, Gaudí — to name but three reasons — but she’d never got around to it. She had a sudden vision of herself in linen, sipping sangria by a sandy beachfront.Yes, what a lovely idea!Maybe booking a European trip would be a good way to start spicing up her life? And after that, she could book that trip to visit Mei — she’d always promised she’d visit.
As she got back to work, she hummed a tune, whichafter a moment she realised was the Spice Girls, then before she knew it, she was scrolling in her music app and adding theSpiceworldalbum. She pressed play, turned up the volume and sang along, surprised to find that she knew most of the lyrics to most of the songs.
She didn’t often listen to music; she found it too distracting, but listening now, she realised that was the point. It was distracting in a good way. Music filled the void that your mind would otherwise fill with chatter. She made a mental note of that for a new blog post.
Right here, in a stranger’s flat with a stranger’s cat, she felt more alive and hopeful than she had in a long time.
She stilled when she caught sight of herself in the large mirror propped on the floor beside the bed — her cheeks were flushed from dancing, her usually neat hair sticking up in every direction. And she was smiling — not just with her mouth but with her eyes too.
“I don’t know what’s got into you, but I love this for you.”
The box started purring at the sound of her voice, as if Juni were echoing his agreement.
17
ADONIS
Catherine stirred to a persistent tapping.
She propped herself up on her elbows and turned her head, trying to place the noise.
Tap, tap, tap.It wasn’t coming from above or outside. It was almost as if it were at her front door,but surely not?
The building’s main entrance was wired up with two intercoms; one to each flat, so the person knocking must be her new neighbour. Unless of course they’d returned and left the main door openagain, allowing someone else access to the building.
Another knock sounded, this one more urgent and slightly louder than the last. Catherine glanced at her phone. 7:26 a.m. on a Sunday. The one day of the week she allowed herself a sleep-in. She tutted as she pulled on her robe and padded along the hallway.
Tap, tap, tap.
“Alright, I’m coming,” she said, an edge of irritation in her voice.
Without pausing to think about what she might look like, she unlocked the door — and did a double-take at the woman standing there.
Red hair. Red coat.
How? Why? Am I dreaming?Catherine’s brain jammed with too many questions at once.
“Hi. I’m so sorry to wake you at this time.” The words came out thick and fast in the woman’s Scottish accent. “I just got back and… God,” she clamped her hands around her cheeks, a look of wild panic flashing in her eyes. “I’ve looked everywhere, and I can’t find Juni. I don’t suppose he got out when you left.”
Catherine stood there, probably looking as dumb as she felt.
“God — that was so rude of me. I’m Jules.” She pointed up and smiled. “Your new neighbour.”
And it all fell into place — ‘J’ for Jules, and the smile in the photo being so familiar because it belonged to this woman’s face, and this woman’s face belonged to?—
“You’re Bridie’s daughter?”
Jules flashed a small, bashful smile. “The one and only.”
“Wow! We’ve already met, but I had no idea it was you…” Catherine scrunched her eyes shut and shook her head. “I mean, that you wereyou.”
