‘All of it?’ he asked. ‘Don’t you want some?’
‘I’ll have a bit, and you can have the rest.’
Nicole took a tiny sip, letting the bubbles fizz on her tongue before swallowing the chilled, sickly-sweet liquid.
‘Here.’ She passed him the almost-full can and he snatched it greedily from her, glugging the drink, only pausing to let out a loud belch, and then draining the rest. He stuffed the empty can in someone’s hedge and burped once again.
‘What we doing now?’ he asked.
‘You’ll see.’
Sixteen
2019
The electric gates are open, so I drive straight through and on down the driveway, all the while wondering what could have made Darcy so upset. I pull up right outside the house. Darcy’s there, in the doorway, her face red and tear-streaked, her hair uncombed. She’s still wearing the same tracksuit she had on yesterday at the boys’ party.
I undo my seatbelt, grab my bag, and slide out of the car. ‘What’s happened?’
‘I sent all the staff home,’ she says. ‘I couldn’t bear anyone nosing into my business. I didn’t want them to see me like this.’ She blows her nose into a soggy tissue.
I reach into my bag and pass her a fresh one. ‘What happened, Darcy? Is it Tyler? Is he okay? Where’s Mike?’ I put my arm around her and lead her inside, pulling the door closed behind us. I spy a cosy looking sitting room off the entrance hall and guide her in there. It’s some kind of snug, with a squashy u-shaped sofa and a deep-pile rug. We sit side-by-side on the sofa.
‘Ty’s fine,’ she says. ‘No. It’s Mike.’
I wait for her to continue. She stares at me, her blue eyes pooling with more tears.
‘We got in a fight last night.’
‘A fight?’
‘What about?’
‘Oh, it’s been building for a while. We… we haven’t been getting on.’
‘I’m so sorry.’
‘We barely spoke to one another at the party, and then… when we got home. He said…’
I take one of her hands in mine. It’s cold and damp. I give it a squeeze, to try to comfort her. To let her know I’m here for her.
She sniffs and continues. ‘He said he was leaving me.’
My mouth hangs open for a second. ‘Oh no. Darcy, I’m so sorry,’ I say, meaning it. ‘Is there anything I can do?’ I really thought they were a close-knit couple. But, now I come to think about it, they’re friendly with everyone else, yet I’ve hardly ever seen them talking to each another.
She shakes her head. ‘He’s gone. He’s left me,’ she whispers. ‘He stormed out last night. Said he was going to stay at one of his apartments and he didn’t know if he was going to come back. What am I going to do, Louisa? I love my husband.’ She grabs one of the scatter cushions and clutches it to her chest.
‘I really am sorry. I’m sure he’ll come back, though. After a night’s sleep, he’ll realise he’s—’
‘He won’t. You should have seen him. He was so detached. So cold. He doesn’t care about me… He doesn’t love me any more.’ Now, she dissolves into tears. Silently sobbing.
I can’t believe that Mike would want to leave his beautiful, vivacious wife. He always gazed at her with such affection. But I must have misinterpreted things. ‘What can I do?’ I say. ‘If there’s anything I can—’
‘Nothing,’ she says. ‘There’s nothing you can do. I’m just so glad you came. I’m so glad I can count on you as a friend. I feel like I can trust you. I just… I didn’t know who else to call. Everyone else I know would take pleasure in my misfortune. They’d gossip and the news would be all round school by lunchtime. I know you won’t go blabbing to any of the other moms.’
Heat burns my cheeks as she gazes at me. Only thirty minutes ago I was slagging this woman off to my sister. I was so way off the mark. It would seem that Darcy really does like me. And the fact she trusts me more than her other friends – I didn’t realise.
‘Of course I won’t say anything to anyone,’ I reply. ‘And I’m totally here for you. Whatever you need, just say the word.’
