‘Do I need to count it?’
‘Do whatever you like,’ I say, taking hold of the door handle and pulling it shut.
‘Hey! Can I get a lift?’ she says, hands on her hips.
I open the window. ‘I’m not going home. I have to pick up Holly.’
She lifts the battered shoebox in her hand. ‘What am I supposed to do? Hobble home on my cane with this sticking out from under my armpit?’
‘I don’t care what you do, Teri,’ I say, rolling up the window.
‘One week, Kate!’
I drive off.
26
I am still shaking with anger when I pick Holly up from her piano lesson. I’m gripping the steering wheel in frustration. I even slam it once. When she opens the passenger door, I’m ready to explode.
She looks exhausted, which mollifies me somewhat. The skin under her eyes is tinged purple, almost bruised. I have a sudden urge to pull her into my arms, tell her everything will be all right, but that part is being drowned out.
‘You never told me that Teri recorded you.’
She gives me a look and clicks her seatbelt in.
‘Why didn’t you tell me, Holly?’
She shrugs. ‘You never asked.’
‘Of course I didn’t ask!’ I snap. ‘How am I supposed to know? I can’t guess something like that.’
She whips her head around, looking worried. ‘Why? What’s happened?’
I stare straight ahead. ‘You should have told me.’
‘Okay! Whatever! I didn’t think, okay? What does it matter? She only did it to protect me.’
I close my eyes, my hand on my forehead. ‘No, she didn’t,’ I say wearily.
We drive home in silence. Holly sits next to me, arms crossed, seething. I can’t think straight. I can’t even talk right now.
Once we get home, I check the garage. I don’t know why – it’s not like I’m going to open it. I guess I just want to make sure I really unplugged the freezer. Not that you’d get something like that wrong.
Then I tell Holly I have a headache and I have to go to bed, which is actually true. But I really need to be alone right now. I need to think about how the hell I’m going to get this money together.
‘Will you be all right getting your own dinner?’
She gives me a look as I open the top freezer. ‘I’m not five, Kate.’
‘I know. There’s chicken with mushrooms.’ I pull out the ready meal to show her. ‘Or you can order something if you prefer.’
‘No, chicken is good.’
‘Okay.’ I start up the stairs. ‘Don’t go to bed too late.’
‘Kate?’
I turn around. ‘Yes?’
