CHAPTER29
‘So, what was all that about?’ Aiden asked. ‘Last night, with Beth? I thought you were going to start throwing hands!’
‘Ah, she’s just so bloody judgemental sometimes,’ Tara replied, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes. ‘Even at uni, it was like living with a small Welsh mother, who would disapprove every chance she got. Like smoking within five hundred feet of her, or when you’d accidentally switch off the microwave and she’d have to reset the clock. Nightmare.’
‘Sounds like you two didn’t get along very well,’ Aiden remarked. ‘I guess that happens sometimes.’
Tara looked at him like he was daft. ‘Nonsense!’ she exclaimed. ‘Why ever would you think that? We got along swimmingly, she’s an absolute star.’
‘But you just said—’
Tara sat up in bed, plumping her pillows behind her. ‘Look, if you expect perfection from friends, you’re going to have a very lonely life,’ she told him. ‘None of us are perfect but I don’t think I’d change a single thing about any of them. Hmm, maybe Becky’s new look come to think of it; I never thought I miss seeing someone’s feet so much.’
‘So, if they’re all so perfect, why didn’t you all stay in touch?’ Aiden asked.
Tara paused to consider this question, like she had many times before. ‘Initially we did,’ she replied. ‘For the few months after graduation, we’d text and chat loads. Then the messages became fewer, less frequent. Everyone got busier… got older. People moved, stopped updating their social media… Some of us just wanted to become someone else.’
‘Have you told any of them about rehab?’
Tara kicked the covers off and walked over to the bedroom window. The morning sun was already warming the room. ‘Nope. I mean, you heard the way Beth droned on about feckin’ vaping, can you imagine if she knew that I sniffed half of Colombia up my nose?’
‘That’s true,’ Aiden agreed. ‘But she’s only one person.’
She pushed open the dormer windows and took a moment to admire the view. In the morning light, the lough had never looked prettier.
‘As soon as they know this about me, everything changes. I’m no longer just Tara. I’m Tara the druggy. Tara the trainwreck.’
‘You know, someone once said that “If you expect perfection from friends, you’re going to have a very lonely life.”
She glanced over at Aiden and smiled. ‘I guess it’s easier said than done.’
* * *
Having weather warm enough to sunbathe at 9am was a rare and unusual occurrence in Ireland but one that Becky was planning to immediately take advantage of. Her tanning level was slightly-done-toast, a sandy beige colour which never quite blossomed into a full brown. She did, however, enjoy the freckles which dotted her face during summer.
‘Can you put suncream on my back?’ she asked Christine who, still half asleep, sat on the edge of the bed. ‘I’ll do yours too if you like? Little Sunday morning tanning sesh?’
Becky was happy she’d cleared the air with Christine. Even after last night’s argument in the garden, Christine has remained quiet and judgement free. Of course, she hadn’t apologised for her behaviour, but it was a start.
‘No, I think I’ll just go for a run,’ she replied. ‘I’m too pale to sit directly in the sun for long periods.’
Becky had never seen Christine with a tan, but it was understandable. She had extremely pale, porcelain skin which looked like it might char like cigarette paper if left anywhere near a high heat. As much as Becky loved the sun, a beach holiday was not Christine’s idea of a fun break. They had been on holiday together twice, once to Norway, which was beautiful but very mild weather, and once to Madeira which she loved but it rained for the whole week. She had seen the Northern Lights in Norway so it wasn’t exactly a hardship, but just once she’d like to lie in the sun by a pool with her girlfriend.
Christine applied the cream to Becky’s back before applying some to her own arms and face. She then threw on her running leggings, T-shirt and white cap. Even her running clothes were smart.
‘Are you having breakfast first?’ Becky asked, fixing her hair bun. ‘I’m starving.’
‘No, I think I’ll run fasted. I’ll grab something later.’ She leaned over to kiss Becky, pausing close to her face. ‘You look nice,’ she said. ‘Rested.’
‘Thank you!’ Becky replied. ‘You too.’
As Christine gazed at her girlfriend’s face, Becky smiled. She didn’t often feel seen. These moments were so rare.
‘You have a lot of broken veins around your nose, you know.’
Her words almost made Becky flinch. ‘Sorry, what?’
‘Broken veins,’ Christine repeated. ‘Little red ones.’
