The Loyal Friend by A. A. Chaudhuri

Author:A. A. Chaudhuri
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Hera
Published: 2022-07-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Six

Natalie

Sunday, 22 July 2018

It’s two p.m. and I’m sitting on a train to Southampton. Facing forward in a two-seater row, my bag my only companion, my gaze scarcely leaves the window as the changing scenery flies by, ranging from lofty high-rises and dense clusters of houses to sparser, greener landscape, while more passengers get on and off at various stops: families out on day trips, noisy teenagers moving in packs, solitary travellers like me – some chatting with strangers, some with their noses buried in books, some listening to music, some just staring into space. The latter is also me, as I contemplate my purpose in trekking seventy-odd miles to visit Jade’s former flatmate, Megan Stanley. I know they lived together for nine years, first as students, then having landed their first teaching jobs following a gap year spent travelling. Jade soon after realising that teaching wasn’t for her and retraining as a fitness instructor. But that’s all I know, and so I’m hoping Megan can tell me more, fill in some gaps.

I think back to, maybe, six weeks ago, when Jade came round to mine after a Friday-night class and we’d ordered a Chinese. She’d told me then about Megan, with whom she’d shared a flat in a development near the waterfront overlooking the River Itchen. She’d even given me her address. I’d thought it a bit strange at the time, seeing as that part of her life was behind her, but she’d said that Megan was a friend she could trust and that if I was ever in trouble and something happened to her, I should call Megan. It makes me wonder whether, even back then, there was something bothering Jade. I wonder, did I fail to spot the signs? Did I mistake Jade’s curtness with me for something else that was weighing her down but which she couldn’t risk telling me about? Did I fail her as a friend?

‘But why would anything bad happen to you?’ I’d asked, feeling a bit scared.

Jade had given me a reassuring smile. ‘Course it won’t, there’s no reason why it should. I just wanted to tell you about Meg, in case. Say I have to go away, or something. Don’t take this the wrong way, but I sense I’m the only one you can rely on. Your brother is dead, you have no other living blood ties as far as I know, so it occurred to me, if ever you were in need of a helping hand, you should know about Meg. I lived with her for nine years and she’s a good person. A very private, discreet person you can trust.’ She’d grinned. ‘I’ve told her about you, you know.’

‘You have?’ I’d said, at the same time feeling ashamed about the pang of jealousy that had struck me on hearing Jade speak so fondly of Megan. Someone who’d known her far longer than I had; someone with whom she’d no doubt shared many secrets and wonderful moments.

‘Of course,’ Jade had smiled.

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