Home > Liars(2)

Liars(2)
Author: Anita Waller

You should see my tan. I wish I’d brought more hot pants but me and the other girls who I share with, they’re called Molly, Jen, and Helen by the way, swap clothes all the time and next weekend we’re off to the market to spend some of our hard-earned wages on new stuff. I’ve taken some photos but it might be a while till I get to the end of the roll. When I get them processed I’ll send you one. It’s a bit of a performance apparently because there’s only one shop that develops film and it’s in the next town and quite pricey.

Right, that’s enough about me. I want to know all about married life, oh and will you send me a photo of us at your wedding? Did they come out nice? I can put it in my album with the ones of us growing up. I was a teeny bit homesick when I got here. I think that was down to exhaustion from the journey, but looking at our old photos made me feel better. I’d like one of me in my chief bridesmaid dress and you looking glam and virginal in your posh frock (yeah right).

So, come on, dish the dirt, do you have wild sex every night now you’ve got a place of your own and you don’t have to bonk Mike in the back of his van? Have you turned into a domestic goddess? Does Fanny Craddock have competition? It seems so weird to think of you being wed, all serious and grown up. I honestly thought you and I would carry on being best friends forever and ever, and nothing would change which is so stupid. I know you were upset when I said I was leaving but I still think it was the right thing to do. Three’s a crowd and all that, and let’s face it, I’ve never been your Mike’s favourite person so maybe it was time for a change. No matter what, you will always be my best friend, never mind how far apart we are.

Get me being serious and soppy.

Have you seen my Aunty Sue? Has she rented my room out yet? It wouldn’t surprise me if she has. I wrote her a short note that I’ll post with this but I don’t expect she will reply. It was just to be polite and let her know I got here and so she can’t throw it in my face that I didn’t bother. You know what she’s like, the grumpy old cow. The only thing she’ll miss about me is the rent money. She was pissed off enough when I turned sixteen and the social stopped paying out so I suppose she’ll have to get a lodger in, or cut down on the booze and fags. Serves the old witch right.

If you see anyone from school, make sure you tell them that I’m living it up in France and getting laid by sexy posh boys. When I send the photos you can show them how gorgeous it is here, and I’ll try to get one of Harvey and his mates cos I swear they look like they’re in Supertramp and everyone will be SO jealous.

It’ll certainly shut them up when they find out that Nell Bradshaw from the estate has done okay and their sarky comments about me being from the children’s home didn’t stop me from having an adventure and getting away from that shithole town. Show the girls from the factory too, especially that bitchy Beryl. Has she had her sprog yet? I hope she looks like the back end of a bus and it’s like squeezing a watermelon out. I’m never having kids; I’m going to see the world and wear hot pants and miniskirts till the day I die. Well, not quite but you know what I mean.

So, are you going to stay at the factory now you’re legally wed or will Mike want you to be a kept woman? I realise he hates you working there. Perhaps he likes the idea of his domestic goddess waiting for him when he gets home!

Don’t forget, tell me about your honeymoon and your house and how you’ve decorated it. I want to know everything, like what you’ve had for tea and about the weather and the latest gossip from the factory. Just because I’m not there anymore doesn’t mean I can’t be in your life. It’s going to be hard being apart, that’s the truth of it. We can’t wipe away fourteen years, best friends since the sandpit, but I know we will survive. You’ve got Mike and I’ve got to get on with being a super hippy!

I know we made tearful promises before I left but that might have been the Babycham and Cherry Bs, we did drink a lot that night. I truly meant all of mine. You will always be the sister I never had, the best friend I could’ve wished for and no matter where I end up, I’ll be thinking of you. You never let me down, not once. You stuck up for me and took care of me when I had nobody (apart from Aunty Sue who is worse than useless even on a sober day) and I will be forever grateful. The miles can’t part us, not in our hearts.

I hope you will be really, really happy with Mike and married life is everything you wished for. If it isn’t you can run away, leave the laundry and Mike’s socks, sod making shepherd’s pie and hook up with me. The offer is always there.

I’ve gone soppy again so I’ll sign off and get this in the post. I hope you appreciate that I have to cycle three miles to La Poste (see I’m almost fluent already) but you’re worth it.

Please write back really quickly.

Love you lots, miss you more. Your best friend forever,

Au revoir,

Nell x

 

 

2

 

 

Wendy sensed Mike’s reluctance in handing over the letter, and she wondered what she could possibly have done wrong this time. It was a letter, for God’s sake, not a bloody court order or something. She reached across, and he gripped it for a second too long.

‘Mike!’

He let go, and stared at her. ‘I thought we’d heard the last of her, as she’s taken herself off to France.’

Wendy had, of course, recognised the pretty envelope, decorated with flowers, and knew he wouldn’t be happy. She had deliberately chosen a distinctive stationery set as a leaving gift for Nell, hoping she would take pleasure from using it and write with details of her new life; she simply wanted them to not lose touch.

‘Mike,’ she said slowly, ‘Nell and I have been friends since we were five. We’re hardly going to write each other off because she’s temporarily left the country.’

‘I thought it was a permanent move.’

‘I don’t think so. She’ll be back, she likes to try new things at times, and that’s all this is.’

Wendy placed the envelope by the side of her plate, and instead of opening it, she picked up a piece of toast.

‘You’re not opening it?’ It came out as a growl.

‘Later. When I’m on my own.’

‘When you’re on your own? I thought we were married and shared everything?’

‘Do we?’ Wendy could feel the anger building. Mike had changed so quickly in the three months of their marriage, and she had decided to stop biting her tongue and become confrontational, or he would feel he could totally dominate her. Nell’s letters, and Wendy hoped there would be many, would be her private domain.

He said nothing more. He picked up his lunch and newspaper, and stomped out of the kitchen. She heard the slam of the front door, and watched as he passed the front window heading towards his car.

She finished her toast and still she waited. She wouldn’t have been surprised to see him return; he wasn’t used to insubordination and it would prey on his mind.

 

The long finger clicked on the twelve telling her it was ten o’clock, and finally she picked up the letter. She hadn’t wanted him to see the contents. She knew it would be Nell in despair. It had been a crazy idea, swanning off to France to find herself, and Wendy hadn’t wanted Mike to get any hint of that. His sarcasm when Nell had told her of her plans had bordered on vitriolic, and there was no way she wanted him to have proof that his thoughts had been correct.

Hot Books
» House of Earth and Blood (Crescent City #1)
» A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire
» From Blood and Ash (Blood And Ash #1)
» A Million Kisses in Your Lifetime
» Deviant King (Royal Elite #1)
» Den of Vipers
» House of Sky and Breath (Crescent City #2)
» Sweet Temptation
» The Sweetest Oblivion (Made #1)
» Chasing Cassandra (The Ravenels #6)
» Wreck & Ruin
» Steel Princess (Royal Elite #2)
» Twisted Hate (Twisted #3)
» The Play (Briar U Book 3)
» The War of Two Queens (Blood and Ash #4)