Becky thanked her, not mentioning that she’d worn this particular black tourmaline pendant to shield her from any weird or unwanted energy. For all she knew, she’d just agreed to share a house with four energy vampires; a little grounding and protection was necessary.
‘So, you’ll be sharing with Beth, this week,’ Erin informed her. ‘I’ll help you up with your bags in a sec.’
‘Sorry? This week?’
‘We move rooms,’ Erin replied, grinning. ‘It’s a little unconventional, but it works. Also, you’ll buy your own food, but we all split washing powder, Fairy Liquid, etc. No point having five of the same things. Fiver a week in the jar on top of the fridge.’
‘Sure, makes sense.’
‘We keep the same wardrobes but get a basket for your toiletries and makeup. Makes it easier when moving rooms.’ Tara added. ‘Although we end up just sharing each other’s shit.’
‘And bysharing,’ Beth interjected, ‘Tara actually means breaking the third house rule and just helping herself without asking.’
‘Jesus, it was a bit of perfume,’ Tara whined. ‘You’d think I’d borrowed your boyfriend.’
Everyone laughed as Beth threw a pillow at Tara. ‘It was Chanel! I’d rather you borrowed Paul, he costs less. Oh, house rules are on the fridge by the way, as well as the bathroom rota. Don’t worry, you’ll get the hang of it.’
‘Beth is like our house matron,’ Erin said. ‘She’ll keep you right… are you OK? You look a little bewildered.’
Becky nodded. She’d spent a year in student accommodation before this, so she’d been used to sharing. However, hardly anyone spoke to each other in halls, and the friends from her course were all happily flat sharing already. But this setup was an entirely different ballgame. This was like a rather chaotic family gathering.
‘Sorry, I’m good,’ she replied, ‘It’s just, you’re all so relaxed with each other! Did you know each other beforehand?’
‘Nope,’ Alex replied. ‘We all met here. Tell us about yourself then! Any arrests we need to know about?’
Becky laughed. ‘Nothing they could charge me with, and there isn’t much to tell, to be honest! I’m from Derry, studying philosophy and I’m a Taurus.’
Tara started to giggle. ‘Philosophy, horoscopes and crystals,’ she said, her eyes fixed back on Becky’s pendant. ‘I bet you’re vegan, too.’
‘Vegetarian,’ Becky corrected.
‘Then you’ll get on well with Alex; she’s a new-ager.’
Alex rolled her eyes. ‘Ignore her, I bought some incense cones last week and she’s convinced I’m now about to whip out a headscarf and a crystal ball.’
‘Crystal balls are overrated,’ Becky replied. ‘Mirrors are much better for scrying. I have one with me if anyone wants their fortune told?’
The room fell silent.
‘You’re kidding, right?’ Beth said.
Becky laughed. ‘Maybe a little. OK, I think I’ll get settled in,’ she said, looking over at Erin. ‘This Ouija board won’t unpack itself.’
Alex started to laugh while Erin helped her upstairs with her cases. As she reached the top landing, she heard Tara say, ‘She’s obviously mental and I for one am fucking delighted.’
It took Becky exactly three months of living with Erin, Beth, Tara and Alex to know that these weren’t just her housemates. They were her sisters.
In 2.2 kilometres, turn left.
‘All I’m saying is that some people struggle to let go of previous relationships,’ Christine said. ‘And not just romantic ones. Christ, dealing with this particular issue is probably ninety percent of my job.’
Becky nodded.
‘And obviously it’s a shame about your friend’s husband. To be a widow at thirty-two must be quite daunting, especially when you’re in the public eye. I mean, it’s perfectly understandable not to want to go through the grief process alone, but I’m just not entirely sure that reviving dead friendships is the best way to deal with a dead husband.’
‘Did you really just say that?’
Christine didn’t respond. She just turned left and continued until Becky saw a glimpse of Loughview. It was at that moment that Becky regretted asking Christine to join her. Instead, Becky wanted to politely ask her girlfriend to get out of the car so she could run her over.
You have reached your destination.
