To her surprise and pleasure, her friend had seemed positively cheery, despite the recent death of her beloved pet. Unless of course, it was all show.
Jessica had straightened up. Even in just her thick red woollen socks, she was much taller than Edie.
‘Good, thanks.’ She’d smoothed her tousled hair, coiling it round her fingers before setting it free to tumble over her shoulders once more. ‘I was gutted when I got the news. You saw what a state I was in?’
Edie had nodded.
‘But I’ve made my peace with it now. I told you I bounce back quickly.’
She’d sounded so upbeat Edie was almost convinced, but had looked her friend in the eye to be sure. Happily, Jessica’s small, clever, bright blue eyes had smiled back.
‘I think you’re amazing,’ Edie had said, meaning it. ‘You’re so brave. Much braver than I would be. You must be kind to yourself, though. You’ve had a big shock. It might come back and hit you again when you’re least expecting it.’
Jessica had touched Edie’s arm and given a sympathetic sort of smile, rather as if she were doing the comforting, instead of the other way round.
‘Now, I want to meet your friends,’ she’d said. ‘And Dilly, of course.’
Right on cue, they’d heard a volley of barks and the sound of Dilly’s claws scratching ferociously at the door.
Edie had made to let her out, but Jessica had stopped her.
‘I’ll do it. She’s in here, right?’
Without waiting for a reply, she’d marched towards the kitchen and Dilly had soon hurtled out, leaping up Jessica’s legs, yipping wildly.
‘She’s gorgeous.’
Jessica had bent down to pick up the little dog and stroke her back and ears before picking her up and carrying her purposefully into the sitting room, while Edie followed behind.
‘Hello! I’m Jessica!’
The others had paused their conversations to look at the newcomer.
‘Right, that’s sorted!’ Jessica had gone on cheerfully. ‘No more introductions needed for me! Now, what about you?’
Her bold, confident manner had seemed to put everyone at ease and soon they were all sitting down, glasses in hand, talking and laughing. Even Mac had lightened up and he forgot to have sly digs at Hannah, who’d settled beside Jessica and Ralph on the rusty-coloured sofa. Mac had chosen the armchair opposite.
While the chatter flowed, Edie had popped into the kitchen to check on the food. She’d been thinking Jessica was a revelation; she could be nerdy, scary, bossy, quiet, grief-stricken or, as it turned out, the life and soul of the party. At least Edie hadn’t needed to worry her guest would find today’s company boring.
The meat was cooked, so Edie had removed it from the oven and left it to rest on the side. The peas were almost done, too, and she’d used some of the boiling water to make gravy, adding the reserved meat juices, along with flour, stock, salt, pepper, herbs and a splash of her secret ingredient – sweet Madeira wine.
When everything was ready, she’d summoned in the visitors, who’d settled round the big circular table, which she’d already laid, leaving Ralph to sort out the drinks.
Jessica, who’d already removed her baggy sweatshirt, had pushed up the sleeves of her slim black polo neck and launched into a discussion about her next sporting challenge – a triathlon involving running, open-water swimming and cycling.
‘I’m not a particularly strong swimmer, so I need to focus on that,’ she’d said, unfolding her napkin and placing it on her lap. ‘I did thirty lengths in the pool this morning and I was a limp rag by the end. Exhausted!’
She’d pulled a face and everyone had laughed.
Ralph had moved round the table, filling up the glasses with red wine.
‘How far do you run each week when you’re training for an ordinary marathon?’ he’d asked, pausing momentarily over Jessica’s shoulder to listen to her answer.
‘Ooh, between thirty and forty miles, maybe, spread over three or four days. For a half-marathon, twenty-five should be enough. It all depends on your fitness to start with, of course. Obviously, you need to start slowly or you might get injured.’
Ralph had nodded. ‘There’s a half-marathon in June I’m quite keen on doing. It looks like a lovely route round West Sussex and the South Downs.’
Jessica had sipped some wine before responding. ‘Go for it! You won’t regret it, so long as you put in the work first.’
