The Quiet Dead by NJ Mackay

Author:NJ Mackay
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Hera Books
Published: 2023-03-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER THIRTY

Have you had breakfast? Cat.

The bluntness of the message, written as though it was fifteen years ago and we were discussing ditching science, makes me smile. Where we’d lived in London, I had had two really good girlfriends who I’d known since infant school. Initially, we’d stayed in contact, but eventually, the phone calls dried up, and I couldn’t be bothered to keep writing. Three is always a crowd, isn’t it? Maybe we’d have grown apart anyway, but my absence made the decision of who would get cut out fairly easy. I toyed with the idea of looking them up when I was at Nancy’s, but I was on the other side of the river and, besides, what would I say?

I missed them badly when I first moved to Thamespark though, and when Gabriel introduced me to his girlfriend, I was pleased to start up with her and we gelled fine. At first, it was as though we’d always hung out. Gabe was at the sixth form college, but she was in my year at school, and most of our classes overlapped, we wore the same size clothes and shoes and liked the same bands. I was grateful to have someone to show me around and sit with at lunch, and, despite being on good terms with everyone, Cat didn’t have any close friends at school other than Ryan, who ‘got on her nerves’. She’d hung out with him, Danny – who lived on her road – and Gabe for years and still tended to do stuff with them at weekends. I think, to start with anyway, she was glad of some female company. By the end of the summer though, I knew she had the hump about my getting stoned with Gabe at night, and I’d seen her look at Danny with a longing he was oblivious to.

I text back, Not yet, are you offering?

I’m still a shit cook, I’ll pick you up and we’ll go out yeah?

I send a thumbs up.

Her car is a large people carrier. The car that, in New York, would be the preserve of the soccer mom. I guess she is Surrey’s equivalent. I let out a low whistle as I step into it. She shakes her head. ‘Yeah, looks lovely, but we can’t really afford it any more.’

I say, ‘Gabe said he couldn’t find a contract.’

She nods. ‘You met for a drink?’

‘Yes.’ I add, ‘He invited me.’ Surprised at how quickly I can slip back into this role. Although our friendship had started off well, he fast became a sticky issue between us. I recalled her being quite jealous about Gabe and possessive. Though she had no need to be where I was concerned.

‘Yeah, he said.’ She puts the radio on and we listen to that while she drives. I sneak glances at her. In America, I’ve known my ‘friends’ a lot longer than I knew Cat. But she knows more about me. Basics like who I actually am for a start. She doesn’t look so very different.

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