The Gift of Friends

by Emma Hannigan

  ‘I won’t be able to focus on the agenda,’ Maia said, swatting her away. ‘Alcohol and battle planning do not go hand in hand.’

  ‘Spoilsport,’ Pearl said, smiling at her. ‘I’ll make you have some when we’re done.’

  ‘Thanks for doing this, Pearl,’ Nancy said. ‘You’ve really gone to too much bother.’

  ‘This is the most important meeting we’ve ever had,’ Pearl said. ‘I’d do anything to ensure we knock this CPO thing on the head.’

  Nancy smiled. ‘Well, as I said to Betsy, we must be prepared for disappointment. The meeting with the council didn’t go well, and they aren’t budging an inch.’

  ‘We’ll see,’ Pearl said. She looked around. ‘In fact, where is Betsy? She’s always early.’

  ‘I’ll text her,’ Maia said. She was just typing out a message when the door to the sitting room opened and Betsy came in looking flustered.

  ‘Oh hi everyone,’ she said, sitting down and catching her breath. ‘Tommy let me in, Pearl, I’m so sorry I’m late. I’m all at sixes and sevens at the moment.’

  ‘Is everything okay?’ Pearl asked.

  ‘Everything’s great,’ Betsy said, smiling at them. ‘You won’t believe this, but Tasha upped and left today. Back to Australia. Dumped Graham and Arnie, stole my jewellery and cash, and left a note to say we won’t see her again.’

  Pearl stared at her in disbelief, and Maia, Nancy and Danielle were obviously shocked into silence, too.

  ‘Sorry, Betsy,’ Pearl said, ‘did you say stole jewellery?’

  Betsy nodded. ‘I did. The selfish little madam helped herself to a pile of stuff. Left me a note saying she had to in order to buy her plane ticket. I feel so sorry for Arnie, but I’m glad to have seen the back of her, I can tell you. Australia’s welcome to her.’

  Pearl burst out laughing. ‘Oh I’m sorry, Betsy, but I did not see that coming. I can’t believe she stole stuff on the way out the door. Talk about cheek! You’re right, better off without her. I think having a mother who resents being your mother would be worse than no mother at all, if you know what I mean.’

  Betsy nodded. ‘That’s my thinking as well, Pearl,’ she said. ‘We’ll pull together and make it work.’

  ‘If my Zach ever brings home a girl like that,’ Maia said, shaking her head, ‘I’ll brain him.’

  ‘Anyway,’ Betsy said, ‘I don’t want to take up any more time, so let’s get talking about the protest.’

  ‘Okay,’ Maia said. ‘Well, the good news is that I’ve got the radio station sending a reporter to talk to us and – drumroll, please – my friend in PR I told you about, she has got us Channel 1. They are sending a cameraman and reporter as well, so it will go out on the six o’clock news tomorrow night.’

  ‘So it’s all happening tomorrow?’ Nancy asked.

  ‘Yes, we are good to go for eleven o’clock tomorrow morning,’ Maia said. ‘Zach and Zara leafletted the wider area, so I’m hoping for a good turnout. There are local elections in a few weeks, so I’ve encouraged people as a chance to vent whatever frustrations they have about how things are being run around here. Lots of people are frustrated with the council, for various reason, so that works in our favour.’

  ‘I’ve made a pile of banners,’ Pearl said, ‘thanks to help from Tommy and Drew. And we made one large, long one that we can walk behind, with Nancy centre-stage behind it of course.’

  ‘Excellent,’ Maia said. ‘How about your progress, Betsy?’

  ‘Yes,’ Betsy said, ‘I have all members of our Residents’ Association coming along, plus I petitioned the associations of the surrounding districts, any within ten miles, and there’s definitely some interest there. Like you say, Maia, there are a lot of misgivings about the council, so they see it as a chance to fight back.’

  ‘Great stuff,’ Maia said, ticking things off the list in front of her. ‘And Danielle, any news for us?’

  They all looked in Danielle’s direction, but she was staring into space, oblivious to the conversation. Pearl had felt she’d been acting strangely ever since she’d arrived. She was sort of there and not there. Danielle suddenly realised they were all looking at her.

  ‘What?’ she said, looking startled.

  ‘Are you alright?’ Nancy said. ‘You’re miles away.’

  ‘Fine,’ Danielle said.

  ‘I was just asking if you’d made any progress,’ Maia said. ‘With the legal end of things.’

  Danielle shook her head. ‘No, I’m sorry. The CPO is perfectly legal, and the council have the law on their side. It’s possible to appeal, but I haven’t been able to figure out any grounds on which an appeal might be successful.’

  ‘Oh well,’ Maia said, ‘we’ll just have to rely on people power then. Is there anything else?’ She looked around, and everyone shook their heads. ‘Right, then we’re ready. We’ll assemble in Nancy’s garden at 10 a.m., so we’re sorted before everyone else arrives. Are you all good to go at that time?’

  The ladies all nodded.

  ‘Kingfisher Road goes to war,’ Pearl said with a smile. ‘Who would have thought?’

  ‘It’s not the first time,’ Betsy said. ‘There was a couple many years ago fought the council because they disagreed over the boundary line. That was in your house, Danielle.’

  Pearl looked over and, again, Danielle looked like a zombie, tuned out and lost in her own thoughts. I wonder what’s on her mind, Pearl thought.

  ‘And what happened?’ Nancy asked.

  ‘It went on for months, but eventually the council was forced to agree. I mean, they had the map with the title deeds, so it was silly for the council to take the position it did. In the end the land was added to the end of the garden of number ten and that was that.’

  ‘We’ve got a good case, I think,’ Maia said. ‘And they’ll hate getting bad publicity, so hopefully they’ll listen to us.’

  ‘I appreciate all your efforts so much,’ Nancy said quietly, ‘but please don’t be upset if we don’t succeed. We’ll kick ass tomorrow, but it might not change anything, okay? We need to be ready to accept that.’

  ‘I’m accepting nothing,’ Maia declared. ‘That’s your home.’

  ‘We’ll just see how it goes,’ Pearl said. ‘Now, how about that glass of wine, Maia? And can I tempt you, Betsy?’ She began pouring out glasses and relished the prospect of a glass herself, too. She’d share one with Tommy later as well. She was looking forward to curling up beside him in bed. It was the highlight of her day.

  ‘So . . . how was the Johnston party?’ Maia asked. ‘Zara was mad about the photos you sent.’

  Danielle looked like she was going to cry. ‘Fine,’ she said, and didn’t elaborate.

  ‘Well that’s informative,’ Maia said, looking put out.

  ‘How are your plans coming along for your party, Maia?’ Pearl said, eager to change the subject and take the attention off Danielle. There was definitely something wrong there and Pearl felt sorry for her.

  ‘Fantastic,’ Maia said, her eyes lighting up. ‘The marquee has been made now, and I’ve everything sorted, I think. The RSVPs are flooding in, the world and its mother will be there. Freddie will have a seizure when he gets the bill, but it should be an anniversary to remember.’

  ‘I can’t wait,’ Pearl said. ‘It should be great fun.’

  ‘And Betsy,’ Maia said, ‘do tell Graham he’s very welcome, and he can bring Arnie too.’

  ‘Thank you,’ Betsy said, looking pleased. ‘He could do with getting out more. I’ll tell him that.’

  Pearl tucked her feet under her on the sofa and took a long sip of wine. This was just lovely. She loved these women.

  ‘And do you know who I’ve booked as the band?’ Maia went on, talking excitedly. ‘Do you remember . . .’

  She was interrupted by the door to the sitting room suddenly swinging back on its hinges with force. Seth stood in the doorway, glaring at them.

  ‘What’s going on, Pearl?’ he asked roughly. ‘It’s
Wednesday, it can’t be a supper club night.’

  Pearl felt like she’d been slapped in the face. She was staring at him, but no words came out. Why the hell was he here?

  ‘Good evening,’ he said, looking at their neighbours. ‘I was hoping to get some dinner, but it looks like I’m interrupting.’

  ‘I wasn’t expecting you until Friday,’ Pearl managed to stammer. In her head, she was making a quick mental map of the house, trying to picture if anything was out of place anywhere. The idea of Seth finding out about Tommy made her feel nauseous.

  ‘Yes, well there was a change of plan and I was rerouted,’ he said. ‘Perhaps when you’re finished here, you could rustle up something for me to eat.’ He tried to smile, but it looked like a grimace.

  Pearl was utterly mortified. He was behaving so badly in front of her friends, making her feel like a servant.

  ‘We’re just finishing up an important meeting,’ she said. ‘Won’t be long.’

  Seth’s eyes moved to the glass in her hand and he sneered. ‘Wine and gossip, by the look of it,’ he said. ‘You don’t know the meaning of important meeting, Pearl.’ He rolled his eyes. ‘Is this the sort of nonsense you spout when I’m not here?’

  ‘Okay,’ said Maia, standing up. ‘I think we’ve overstayed our welcome. Apologies for ruining your homecoming, Seth. And thank you, Pearl, that was an enjoyable evening. I’ll see you in the morning.’

  ‘Sure,’ Pearl said, and her voice sounded weak and thin, like that of a child who was in trouble. He was only back two minutes and she already was no longer herself. How did he do that to her?

  The others all gathered their things and stepped past Seth on their way out to the hallway.

  ‘We’ll need all hands on deck tomorrow, Seth,’ Betsy said. ‘Nancy’s been threatened with eviction, so we’re protesting outside in the morning.’

  Seth looked at her with distaste. ‘No offence, Betsy, but that sounds like a woman’s way of tackling the problem. A waste of time. You need to find a rational solution.’

  Pearl wanted the ground to open up and swallow her. She could see that Betsy was working to contain her anger.

  ‘Neighbours support one another,’ Betsy said curtly. ‘If you’d like to be supportive, you’re welcome to join us. If not, please don’t insult our efforts.’

  Pearl could see Maia grinning at this, no doubt delighted that Betsy had put the boot in, but Pearl’s heart sank. Seth had spent the past few weeks being obeyed by everyone, all yes sir, no sir, and here was an insubordinate in his own sitting room. Someone was going to pay for that, and Pearl feared it would be her.

  ‘Goodnight everyone,’ she called.

  She shut the front door behind them and turned to face her husband. His jaw was set in a hard line.

  ‘I’m tired and hungry,’ he said flatly. ‘I expect you to be ready to receive me on my return. That’s hardly too much to ask of my wife.’

  ‘I didn’t know you were coming back,’ Pearl said quietly. ‘I would have had everything ready if I’d known.’

  ‘You should always be ready,’ he replied. ‘Now please fetch me some hot food while I have a shower and change. I’ll be ready to eat in twenty-five minutes.’

  ‘No problem,’ Pearl said.

  Seth stalked off upstairs and she walked into the kitchen, her shoulders sagging, her spirit already broken. He was like a dark shadow suffocating everything in her life, obliterating all that was good. She wanted to sink onto the floor and cry, but she knew that red-rimmed eyes would get no sympathy at all, quite the opposite. She looked at the warm light glowing in the mews, where Tommy was reading to Drew. Both of them would be devastated when they found out Seth was home. She and Tommy had become closer than ever lately; it felt like their relationship was shifting into something even more intimate, even more loving. Not being able to be together would kill them both.

  She felt like her heart was actually breaking apart in her chest. She felt jagged and breathless. She gripped the edge of the counter to steady herself. I don’t love him, she thought, and she gasped at the truth of it. She’d never let herself go that far before, but she couldn’t help it now. The last weeks had been blissful, so happy, and just by stepping into the house, Seth had destroyed it all. What was she going to do when this was her everyday reality? She stared at her reflection in the kitchen window. I’m going to go insane, she thought.

  Chapter 20

  MAIA LEFT PEARL’S HOUSE FEELING MURDEROUS. She could throttle Seth for his horrible manner, especially when he aimed it at Pearl. She was such a dote, so keen to help others, and he treated her like the paid help. It made Maia’s blood boil. Every time she was near him, she could feel her skin prickling with irritation. She’d tried to give him the benefit of the doubt over the years, but really, he was just a nasty piece of work. If Pearl had any sense at all, she’d divorce him and kick him out of her life.

  ‘Night everyone,’ Nancy called. ‘I’m off to bed.’

  ‘Me too,’ said Betsy. ‘It’s been some day. See you all in the morning.’

  Danielle was ahead of Maia going down the driveway, still with that faraway look on her face. There was something going on there, Maia thought.

  ‘Hey, Danielle,’ she said, walking faster and falling into step beside her. She put her hand on Danielle’s arm and made her turn and face her. ‘Don’t give me any lies now. What’s up? Are you okay?’

  To her astonishment, Danielle’s face crumpled into tears. ‘Oh Maia,’ she said and practically fell into Maia’s arms, sobbing.

  ‘It’s alright, love,’ Maia said, rubbing her back. ‘A good cry will do you the world of good. Your hormones are probably going mental. Don’t be afraid to just let it out.’

  ‘I think I’m losing Justin,’ Danielle sobbed.

  ‘What?’ Maia hadn’t expected that. Trouble in paradise. ‘Okay, come on with me,’ she said, linking arms with Danielle and guiding her along. ‘Come over to mine and we’ll have a cup of tea. Come on.’

  Danielle allowed herself to be led like a tired little child. Maia’s heart went out to her. She was so young, and she was taking on so much. No wonder she was feeling overwhelmed.

  Maia knew Freddie would still be at work, so she brought Danielle into the sitting room off the kitchen. It was small and cosy in there. She sat her down on the sofa and Danielle leaned back and rested her head.

  ‘There now. You just chill out there for a minute and I’ll make a pot of tea.’

  Maia went out to the kitchen and flicked on the kettle. She found some chocolate biscuits that Freddie hadn’t horsed into and arranged them on a plate. She put them on a tray with the milk jug and sugar, cups and saucers. She looked at her arrangement, then took off the cups and saucers. They were bone china and gorgeous, but she felt this chat might call for mugs. She pulled two big mugs out of the cupboard and put them down as well.

  When she carried the tray through to the sitting room, she found Zara in there sitting beside Danielle.

  ‘Oh, I didn’t know you were here,’ Maia said, kicking herself for not checking and making sure no one disturbed them. She didn’t think Danielle would want anyone to see her crying.

  ‘I came in looking for my phone and found Danielle,’ Zara said, looking a bit awkward. ‘I was just asking if she was okay.’

  ‘She’s a bit hormonal,’ Maia said. ‘Why don’t you hop on and I’ll take care of her.’

  ‘I don’t mind Zara being here,’ Danielle said. ‘I’m tired of hiding stuff and pretending to be what I’m not.’ She sat up and looked at Zara. ‘Zara, I’m actually pregnant, my in-laws-to-be scare the life out of me and his mother warned me not to tell anyone about the pregnancy, I messed up my dream of college by getting pregnant, I adore Justin and want to marry him, but right now, I think he might be over me.’ She collapsed back onto the sofa.

  ‘Right,’ said Zara, looking a bit taken aback, ‘that sounds like it covers everything.’

  Danielle smiled. ‘Now you know
me.’

  Maia poured her a mug of strong tea and Danielle wrapped her hands around the mug.

  ‘Did you and Justin have a fight?’ Maia asked. ‘I bet his mother’s involved somehow if you did.’

  ‘It was such an awful night,’ Danielle said, shaking her head. ‘From start to finish, Celia-Ann made me feel like a piece of horse crap she’d stepped in. When we arrived, she referred to us “the girl and her mother”, and it pretty much went downhill from there.’

  ‘What a cow,’ Zara said. ‘You both looked fabulous anyway. She couldn’t diss your outfits.’

  ‘No she couldn’t,’ Danielle said, ‘thanks to you two. But she was determined to make me feel like I had no place there. She had this . . . This . . . girl there, Mallory. She looks like a supermodel and it turns out she’s Justin’s ex. He’s never even mentioned her. But she was there, trying to wrap herself around him at every opportunity. I couldn’t even begin to compete with her.’

  ‘Mallory Beauchamp,’ Zara said, her eyes wide.

  ‘Yeah, Mallory, that was her name,’ Danielle said. ‘She was so sexy and beautiful. I mean, no dress in the world could make me look like that.’

  ‘Don’t make that mistake,’ Maia said. ‘You’re not competing with anyone. He has to love you, and if he does, he wants you exactly because you’re you. This Mallory one could look like Jessica Alba, but if she hasn’t got your personality, your quirks, then he’d never be happy with her.’

  Danielle sighed deeply. ‘That wasn’t even the worst bit,’ she said, hunching over even more.

  ‘It’s not?’ Maia said, wondering what could beat a supermodel ex.

  ‘His mother took me and Mam into a separate room,’ Danielle said, her voice very quiet, ‘and she offered me the house and fifty grand to get out of his life.’

  ‘Jesus Christ,’ Maia breathed.

  ‘She said his future is to be with Mallory in this amazing life and if I loved him, I’d let him go live that life. I’m so confused,’ Danielle said, starting to cry again.