by Clare Lydon
Geri heard voices in the corridor, the gentle brush of the stair carpet, the creaky stair that was two up from the bottom. A pause, then the front door closed and the sound of feet running up the gravel of the drive, onto the path, Darren laughing at some joke Stu had just told him. The boys were off for a morning run and she felt a pang of envy – she wished she’d brought her running gear. It would have been a fine way to say goodbye to the cliffs, the sea, the breeze tickling her ears.
There was nothing stopping her walking it, though. Geri made the decision and jumped out of bed, throwing on her clothes, eager to take in as much sea air as she could. Within hours she’d be back to the rough smog, congested crossings and black bogeys, after all.
***
Vic heard Geri get up and rolled over to check her phone. 8.12am. Her mind flicked forward to the day ahead and she knew they should get moving. Beside her, Stevie was snoring gently. Vic left her wife to dream and padded down the stairs in her pyjama bottoms and T-shirt.
She went into the kitchen and poured herself a glass of water. It wasn’t quite cold enough but she drank it anyway. Hadn’t she read somewhere that lukewarm water was better for your system than cold?
She opened the fridge and surveyed its contents – cherry tomatoes, six bottles of beer, fizzy water, margarine, milk, jam. They’d run down their supplies smartly, so today’s breakfast would be continental – all the basic food groups so long as you weren’t a stickler for the rules. She popped a couple of tomatoes into her mouth and they exploded on her tongue, juicy and sweet.
This morning, Vic felt renewed, alive, victorious. This Easter weekend, Jesus wasn’t the only thing to have risen from the dead – her marriage had, too. Easter could well become her favourite holiday from now on, seeing as you got two days off work and no pressure from your family to visit. It was a mystery to her why it wasn’t lauded more.
Vic wriggled her butt cheeks as she leaned on the side and thought about last night, grinning. She was back where she belonged – rather, love had lifted her up where she belonged. She let out a snort as she realised she was quoting cheesy song lyrics to herself. Way to go Vic, way to go.
Out of the corner of her eye Vic saw something scurry across the floor. She tiptoed over towards the back door and saw a tiny mouse sitting next to the white skirting board. It looked up at her, wondering what she was doing in its kitchen.
Vic took a step forwards, pushing her glasses up her nose. However, the mouse wasn’t taking any chances, shooting left through an unseen gap and away. Vic let out a long breath.
At home she’d be freaking out, already planning where to buy mouse traps, disinfecting everything in the kitchen. But somehow, in this rural setting, mice seemed acceptable, almost as if they should be here. There was an almost poetic quality in Vic’s mind about Minnie Mouse paying a visit. She smiled to herself as she put the kettle on.
***
“So, did she text you back?” Stu asked.
“Yep – midday, she reckons.”
“Did she say anything else?”
Geri shook her head. “Not really – it was brief. She’s seeing a doctor this morning, that’s it. After that, she can go.”
“Okay. Well, we’ve found her car keys, so we’ll go get her and drive her back. I take it you’re still getting the train?” There was toast stuck to Stu’s front teeth but Geri didn’t point it out.
“Yep, you know I can’t do long car journeys without vomiting. But I’ll definitely come to the hospital with you and make sure she’s okay. And I want to be out of this house before TJ and Grace turn up to get the keys and play happy families.”
Stu nodded. “Roger that.”
Beside him, Darren’s cheeks were still glowing from his run, his hair freshly washed. Even Darren, the city boy, was making noises about being sad to leave Devon this morning. It was only Geri who seemed happy to be heading east and not staying put.
“Shall I toast the rest of this bread – anyone interested?” Stevie got up from the table, freshly showered and perky. She got enough mumbled interest and so set to work darkening squares of bread, slotting them into their caged straightjackets. This morning looked like their last of the long weekend, everyone imbibing carbs, their possessions stacked up on the end of the table as if they were getting ready for a car-boot sale.
“So, are we doing this again?” Laura’s face was coming along nicely, her bruising a fresher shade of purple and yellow this morning.
“I hope so, I really like this jam,” Darren said, studying the label.
“Ignore him, Laura, I do.” Stu rolled his eyes. “He’s had far too much fresh air this weekend. You were saying?”
“Are we going to do a 30th? Or a 25th? Did we decide in the end last night?” Laura sipped her coffee.
“I think we were going to but then your news kinda trumped it,” Stu said, stroking his bald head.
Furrowed brows all around as the contents of the last 20 years of their joined lives spilled onto the table in front of them, bouncing around like those tiny rubber balls Geri used to buy so many of when she was a kid.
Geri sipped her tea and spoke first. “I seem to recall we all agreed we love these times – they’re original and dramatic, to say the least.”
“The very least,” Darren said.
“So I think a 25th would be a good idea. Silver anniversary. We can buy each other silver rings and swear allegiance to our gang by chopping the tops of our thumbs off,” Geri said, smiling. “It’ll be just like Stand By Me, but with less leeches.” She paused. “Only I’m not sure it’s wise for Kat to come along – her track record isn’t the best at these events.”
“There is that,” Tash agreed. She looked far more relaxed than this time yesterday. “But who knows what’ll have happened by the time five years have elapsed? Let’s wait and see. It’s not like we have to plan it tomorrow.”
“You’ll be married by then for one thing – have you set a date yet?” Stevie said.
All eyes turned to Tash and Laura.
“Not yet,” Tash said. “We’re going to take our time – set a date, then tell the girls and our families. So this is top secret till then. Nothing on Facebook, okay?”
Murmurs of consensus all round.
“That includes you Darren,” Laura added.
Darren feigned shock, but mimed zipping up his lips and throwing away the key.
Vic got up and slotted another capsule into the Nespresso machine. She was definitely going to see how much they cost when she got home – she’d fallen into coffee love.
“I still think we should agree to another meet-up in principle,” Vic said, rolling her neck. “I know we see each other in between times, but this is a commitment to this. It’s important to me at least.” Vic pointed at her chest.
“Agreed,” Geri said. “All those in favour say ‘Aye’!”
Geri held up her mug towards the centre of the table. All seven of them slowly, deliberately raised their mugs, Vic having to lean over the table, letting her gaze creep around the group. They weren’t to be put off, they were coming back for more.
“Aye!” they said as one.
“I knew you couldn’t resist,” Darren grinned.
***
Laura was wiping down the kitchen sides and doing a final tidy-up when Darren walked in, glass of water in hand. He stopped, thought about walking out again, but then decided against it. He wasn’t going anywhere, she wasn’t going anywhere, so maybe it was time to sort this out. Try to for now, at least.
“Hey you.” Awkwardness settled on him as he washed up his glass at the sink and set it down in the drainer.
“Hi.” Laura’s face told Darren she was about to bolt.
“Look, Laura.” Darren cleared his throat. “I really am sorry about the other night – I didn’t mean to make things worse for you, my mouth just ran away with me.” He held out his hands, palms upstretched.
“It’s a famili
ar story for you, isn’t it?” Laura was giving him nothing.
Darren sucked it up. “True. But look, I’m not going anywhere here. Me and Stu… we’re… something. So I just thought we could… try to make amends.” He paused. “Or rather, I could try to make amends.”
Laura looked at him questioningly. “Is this an apology?”
“And a truce,” Darren said. He held out his hand to her. “What do you say?”
Laura studied Darren for a moment, but then gave in and took his hand. They shook on it.
“I was half-expecting you to have one of those electric shock toys attached to your finger then,” Laura said, snatching her hand away anyhow. You couldn’t be too careful.
“They’d sold out in the shop,” Darren told her, winking.
They smirked at each other as he dried up his glass.
So Long, Farewell
Wardrobe doors slid on their runners, opening smoothly, shutting abruptly. Toothbrushes abducted from their temporary homes, silently screaming. Shampoo lids tested once, twice. Wash bags zipped. Shirts halved, quartered, laid. Doors open, left ajar. Hallway walls scraped. The bump of suitcases on the stairs. Final drinks, a temporary feel in the air, of closure and of new beginnings.
Darren and Stu were the last down the stairs, Darren with his Louis Vuitton bag over his shoulder, Stuart with his Debenhams case on wheels. Darren had changed his top since breakfast, Tash noted. He jumped the last two steps and landed theatrically in front of the group, the noise making Geri look up from her phone.
“Shall we have a last picture? Out in the garden?” Darren asked.
He was the only one looking enthusiastic.
There was no way Stevie was traipsing all the way around the house and back again right now. She’d had her final wee, she was ready to go. Besides, it’d been raining.
“Let’s just do it at the front of the house instead, shall we? We haven’t got any there yet.” Stevie was using her best teacher’s voice so nobody would argue. It worked.
They all dutifully trooped outside the front door. As they did, the sun was just peeking through the clouds and a rainbow was presenting itself in the sky above.
“Will you look at that!” Darren beamed upwards.
A warmth spread through the group as they all looked up and then around, smiling at each other.
“It’s a sign – God loves the gays!” Stu hugged Geri tight as he said it.
“Rainbows are so beautiful. Just like my wife,” Vic said.
Geri and Stu both made retching sounds.
“Please!” Geri said. “Just because you were up half the night getting laid.”
“It’s true, that was cheese on a stick,” Stevie told Vic.
Vic simply shrugged and smiled.
Darren insisted on taking the picture, so they all squeezed together in front of the porch, the sun’s rays slanting directly into their eyes.
“One, two, three, blue vein!” Darren cried.
Everyone grinned widely.
When they looked back on this photo in five years’ time, they wouldn’t remember Darren’s puerile joke. They’d just see their huge grins and think about that long weekend in Devon, time sanding the edges of emotion so that all that was left were black-and-white emotions, no room for hangovers, sugar spikes and tiredness. They’d all think they must have had a good time judging by their faces. All apart from Kat, who was elsewhere.
“It’s a good one,” Darren said. “I’ll post it on Facebook later along with all the others. I thought we’d wait till we showed Kat first.”
Stu shot him a surprised but impressed look, dangling Kat’s car keys in his right hand. He walked forwards and lifted the boot, inserting first his and then Darren’s bags inside.
There was a chorus of slamming boots and then they reconvened and formed a huddle on the drive.
“Same time in five years, then?” Laura said to nobody in particular.
“Yep,” Geri agreed. “But we’ll see you at that lezza night next month first, right?”
Laura nodded. “Promise – we really will make it this time.”
“Yeah, yeah!” Geri waved a hand. Laura and Tash had been promising for the past six months.
“We’ll definitely be there, whatever.” Stevie leant in to hug Geri, squeezing her friend extra-tight.
Vic followed suit, her pat on Geri’s back light.
Tash, Laura, Darren, Stu. Kisses one cheek, two cheeks, lips.
“Drive safe, sweet cheeks!” Laura told Vic, pressing firmly on her back.
“You too, fiancée,” Vic smirked.
Laura stuck her tongue out at her as she walked towards her car.
Vic ran back to the porch to leave the keys, realising they were still in her pocket. Then she dashed back to a waiting Stevie, already drumming her fingers on the dashboard.
“Let us know how Kat is – drop me a text. Tell her I’ll give her a bell tomorrow,” Stevie shouted towards Kat’s car.
Stu waved his acknowledgement back before disappearing into the driver’s seat, Darren getting into the back with Geri riding shotgun.
“Wagons roll?” Stu asked.
Geri settled in her seat and turned to grab her seatbelt, which Darren was already thoughtfully holding out for her. Geri gave him a strange look.
“Wagons roll,” she replied.
The Final Chapter
Geri waited at the station, looking up at the departure board: her train was due in two minutes, bang on time. She was glad she’d upgraded her ticket to First Class on the way back – it was only an extra tenner and after the weekend she’d had, it seemed a wise decision. She felt like she’d been away on Mars and was looking forward to catching up with the world on her way home.
To her left on the platform were a family – mum, dad, two small boys. The kids were carrying buckets and spades, both with a small rucksack on, while the parents were weighed down with cases and bags. Their faces were flared hot.
To Geri’s right, a young woman with far too much fake tan was staring intently at her iPhone, scrolling with her thumb. She was wearing blue suede shoes, though, which impressed Geri. Just along from her was a man in his early 20s, an archetypal surfer dude. His blond hair was tussled and his stubble was a few day’s growth. He was also wearing shades, presumably to cover tired eyes.
Has his Easter been as eventful as mine? Geri doubted it.
The announcer told Geri the train was due and she saw its grey hulk hoving into view, sliding along as if propelled by magic. She watched the First Class carriages slide by and began walking down the platform in their direction, matching or bettering the train’s speed. Geri’s bra cut into her body as she walked. She’d have to double her running schedule this week.
The train hissed as it halted and Geri picked up her pace, slinging her holdall over her shoulder and arriving at the door of her carriage just as the train doors opened. She made her way to seat C14 and found it was on a table of four, the other three mercifully empty for now. She hoped it stayed that way.
She lifted her bag with both hands, slotting it onto the overhead metal railings. She took off her leather jacket, smoothed back her brown hair and sunk into her First Class seat, tapping her pockets to check for phone, wallet, tickets. Check, check, check.
Geri sighed as she relaxed for what seemed like the first time today. She heard the train doors lock, felt it lurch and within seconds they were out of their concrete surrounds and dropped into green fields, the train unzipping them at nearly 100mph.
Geri’s mind meandered and it arrived at Kat.
When they’d arrived at the hospital, Kat had been waiting on a bench like she’d just finished a work shift. Stu had insisted he drove home and she’d given in fairly easily, still looking drained from her ordeal and lack of sleep.
They’d agreed Kat would move in with Geri for a bit, just until she got back on her feet. Well, Stu and Geri had agreed, with Kat frowning at t
he plan.
But tonight, Stu and Darren would drop Kat back at her flat and stay until Geri came to get her later. None of them wanted to leave her on her own, despite Kat’s protestations she’d be fine. Recent behaviour suggested otherwise.
Kat had just rolled her eyes and got in the back seat, before closing her eyes.
And now here Geri was, determined to make the most of her last time on her own, leaning her right ear on her headrest. It was that weird almost carpet-like material they seemed to favour for train and bus carriages – it made her ear itch and she rubbed it absentmindedly.
Geri closed her eyes and a semi-naked TJ popped into her head. She opened them immediately and shook her head in a bid to erase the image. It half worked.
The buffet car was in the adjacent carriage, so Geri got up and headed that way, looking out through the window as the South West countryside flew by. Near the door was a man in his thirties reading his Kindle, which meant Geri couldn’t do any in-depth analysis on his character, one of the snags of the Kindle generation. He was wearing a Ralph Lauren shirt and loafers, so she decided he was probably reading some high-powered business biography.
Geri pressed the illuminated button on the doors at the end of the carriage and stepped into the next one, eyes down and not looking where she was going. Consequently, she walked into a woman just leaving the buffet car.
“Sorry,” Geri said, flicking her eyes upwards.
“No problem.” The woman flashed Geri a smile that made her stop in her tracks.
Geri thought she recognised her, but then she didn’t. Geri frowned, then smiled.
The woman gave her an amused look.
Geri’s heart sped up and she could feel her face turning scarlet.
The woman was holding Geri with her eyes, almost willing her to say something else – but Geri was lost for words. The woman’s deep blue eyes were penetrative, her smile electric.
“Sorry again,” Geri muttered, blushing and squeezing past her in the narrow aisle. She heard the woman press the button, heard the doors hiss open and then shut. Geri shook her head. She always hoped that when she met an attractive woman these days, she would act differently than she had when she was 25. Apparently not.