A school reunion? I went to school with her at the same time. Do I know you?
No. I live in Mapleton and she used to work with me in a coffee shop a few years ago. The coffee shop is closing and we’re getting together all the staff for a farewell party. I was hoping that Louisa might join us.
As far as I know, she still lives in Mapleton. Although we haven’t kept in touch really.
Juliette decided to bite the bullet.
I’m over your way for a meeting in Derby tomorrow. I was wondering if you had time to chat to me over a coffee.
Juliette headed along the A50 at a steady pace, the roads quite free of traffic for the time of day. The satnav informed her it was an hour’s drive to the address Suzanne had given to her.
Finally, she pulled up outside a row of shops on a tiny high street. From the outside, The Coffee Potlooked small but inviting, especially after a long drive. Inside, she glanced around the few tables. Only two were unoccupied. A woman raised her hand and said her name. Juliette smiled and went over to her.
‘Suzanne?’ she said, offering her hand.
‘Hi, that’s me.’
‘I’ll grab a drink and be right back.’
‘No need.’ Suzanne beckoned a waitress over. ‘What would you like?’
‘I’ll have a latte, please.’ Juliette thanked the young girl and then turned back to Suzanne. ‘Have you lived around here long?’
‘All my life. It’s not so bad if you’ve been born and bred here, but I bet Mapleton is much better.’
Juliette was stuck for words. Whatever she said about the area might offend Suzanne, but equally she wasn’t the type of person who judged people before she got to know them, no matter where they came from.
Once the coffee was brought over, Suzanne got out a small photo album. She flicked through a few pages before turning it around to face Juliette.
‘This is me and Louisa when we were at school.’ Suzanne pointed to two young girls, all smiles and pigtails in school uniform of black pinafores and white shirts. ‘We met when we were in the juniors and became inseparable.’
Juliette could see the affection in Suzanne’s smile. ‘What was she like?’
‘She was the boisterous one, always up for an adventure.We’d often get into trouble because she wanted to push boundaries. But she was sweet. She gave me an identity. I have four older brothers and was a tomboy, but I was shy too. She brought me out of my shell, and she taught me how to be more feminine without trying. I had no real role model and, through Louisa, I learned a lot of how life would be if I moved off the estate.’ She snorted. ‘I never did though. Louisa was much braver than me.’
Juliette frowned.
‘Don’t look at me like that,’ Susanne mused. ‘Leaving this estate to visit Mapleton was like travelling from one end of the country to another if you’ve ever lived in a place like this. Of course, as a child, I wanted to move out. But now, I’m settled and I can never see myself living anywhere else.’
‘Do you have children?’
‘Two boys.’ She pointed to the photo. ‘I married him, Peter. His parents owned the shop two doors down from here. It’s ours now.’
‘When did you lose touch with Louisa?’ she asked next.
‘When she marriedhim.’
‘Richard?’
Suzanne nodded. ‘I barely saw her then, tried to keep in touch but you know how these things go. Once someone isn’t in your life as much as before, it becomes harder to fit them in. I did try to see her, but she was always busy.’
‘How did you contact her?’
‘Mostly by text. I’d ring often but it was never answered. Shortly after that I’d get a reply to say how wonderful everything was and that she would meet me soon. But there was never anything more concrete than that.’
‘What about when Daisy was born?’
‘I saw her once, when Richard played the loving father. But when we were alone, he told me to stay away from Louisa as she was with him now and didn’t need any friends interfering. He’s a control freak.’
