‘You don’t need to be. I told you, by the time you get back later tonight, it will be over. Come on. I’ll take you.’
‘Remember that when you come home, around nine, as we discussed, you’ll have to let yourself in,’ I tell Holly as we get in the car. ‘I probably won’t be home yet.’
God, I cannot wait for this day to be over. I feel sick to my stomach.
‘But you also have to pretend that I’m here in the house, in case anyone sees you.’
‘I know,’ she says. ‘You told me already.’
‘Holly, this is not the time to be flippant, okay? It’s really important. Just remember. I want you to walk home. You have to be alone when you get to the house, all right? So don’t let Scarlett’s parents offer to drive you home.’
‘They won’t offer. Trust me. They’re weird.’
‘All right.’ I don’t ask her to elaborate. ‘You open the front door. The light will be on. You have to talk to me loud enough in case anyone happens to be walking past, so they’ll assume that I’m home. Do you understand?’
She fiddles with her seatbelt. ‘I can’t believe you’re doing all this. It’s like we’re in a spy movie.’
‘I don’t want anything to go wrong. Can you do that?’
‘Yes! You just asked?—’
‘Hey! Kate! Hi!’
We both jump at the knock on the driver’s window. It’s Teri, dressed in gym clothes, her face free of makeup, her hair in a bun.
I plaster on a smile and wind the window down, my heart pounding. ‘Hey!’ I turn to Holly. ‘Holly, this is Teri.’
‘Hello,’ Holly says dully.
‘It’s nice to meet you, Holly,’ Teri says. ‘I love your jacket.’
Holly looks down at herself. For once, she’s not wearing her enormous black hoodie, but a denim jacket with a faux-fur collar. She’s still wearing her baggy tracksuit bottoms and unlaced high tops, though. Some habits are hard to break.
‘Thanks,’ she says.
I turn back to Teri. ‘How are you settling in?’
‘Great! Almost done. I’ll have you and your family over soon, once I’ve spruced the place up. So like, in a year or two.’
‘A year or two would be nice,’ I say. I’m so focused on keeping it together, it takes me quite a while to realise she was joking. I add in a laugh. It sounds perfectly fake.
‘Anyway, I meant to drop by and invite you for a cup of tea,’ I say, before remembering she was only here yesterday, ‘but I’ve been so busy.’
‘Oh, God. Me too. But we should do it soon.’ Then she adds, ‘Maybe later today? I could spruce the place up enough to offer you a drink. Is your husband home?’
I stare at her, that smile still plastered on my face, my brain a blank. I cannot find the words. I cannot think of what to say. It’s Holly who leans forward to reply.
‘He’s gone away.’ Then she nudges me. ‘Kate? Can we please go?’
‘Yes,’ I say, the spell broken. ‘Good idea.’
‘Where are you guys off to?’ Teri asks.
‘I’m taking Holly to hang out with her friend this afternoon.’
‘Oh! Nice. Does your friend live far from here?’ she asks Holly.
‘Not really,’ Holly says.
