‘Sorry to disturb you, Louise, but it’s important. Could I have a word, please.’
As soon as I caught sight of the sympathetic look on his face, I knew. I could read that expression, and I understood in that moment that the worst had happened and I would never be able to speak to my friend again.
A flicker of fear rises in me at the thought of confronting these long-buried feelings. Does Amy know what she is doing, what emotions and behaviour she might be unleashing amongst our group? What if the others are holding on to secrets too?
Amy’s voice interrupts my thoughts.
‘Theo and Jade will be here to balance us out, be the voice of reason.’
Kat and I exchange glances.
‘If Jade is even coming …’
‘She is, isn’t she?’ Amy asks. ‘I was looking forward to seeing her.’
‘I hope so,’ Kat says. ‘Can I finish this coffee?’
Face closed, shoulders stiff, she pours the remaining coffee from the cafetière. I recall the cigarette she smoked outside, the hungry way she sucked at it.
‘I spotted you having a sneaky cigarette earlier,’ I say. ‘I didn’t know you’d taken up smoking again. How come?’
She gives me a quizzical look. ‘Are you spying on me?’
I laugh; I wasn’t expecting her to sound so serious about it. ‘I saw you from upstairs, when you arrived.’
She shrugs. ‘I have one when I feel like it, more of a social thing. And you know me – I don’t like rules.’
I can’t see what was social about the cigarette she had earlier, but something about her tone warns me not to pursue the matter. I switch subjects. ‘What’s Daisy doing with the children?’
‘Apparently her parents are having them for the weekend,’ Amy says.
‘What’s wrong with Sam, the lazy bugger?’ Kat folds her arms. ‘Why can’t he look after them?’
‘I gather he’s got some important work to finish off.’ Amy looks at her. ‘Have you seen them recently?’
‘I haven’t seen Sam since university, but I spoke to Daisy after I got your invitation. She was having problems settling Teddy into school, so that took up most of the conversation. She said she was looking forward to getting away from work and family for a bit.’
Amy’s mobile vibrates and plays the sound of an old-fashioned phone ring.
‘It’s Daisy,’ she says, and answers the call. I take my cup and deposit it in the sink. ‘She’s almost here. Let’s go and meet her.’
A cab turns into the road as we step outside. Daisy jumps out and waits for the driver to remove her suitcase from the boot. Her long blonde hair is pulled into a loose knot and her sunglasses are propped on her head. She looks relaxed in jeans and a pastel lemon jacket, her face and nails immaculate.
I remember the first time I saw her on campus. I didn’t know her then, but she had a presence, stood out with her unique personal style. Heads turned when she walked by, and she glowed with the knowledge.
She flashes a radiant smile at us.
‘Thank you so much,’ she tells the driver.
‘I don’t suppose …?’
‘A photo?’
Kat grins and raises her eyebrows at me.
‘Would you? It’s for my wife. She was gutted when your character left Appleside.’
‘Of course,’ Daisy says, posing with the driver as he holds his phone aloft.
‘Any chance you’ll be coming back?’
‘I couldn’t possibly say.’ She smiles mischievously. ‘But the door was left open, so never say never.’
The driver waves out of the window as he pulls away.
‘She’s still got it,’ Kat says.
Daisy wheels her case over. ‘It’s nice to be appreciated,’ she says. Playing Jessie in the nation’s favourite soap was her breakout role, and although she stopped work for a while to raise her family, I’m sure she’ll be back on our screens again soon.
‘It’s lovely to see you all,’ she says, her pretty face lighting up. ‘What fun this weekend is going to be.’
Chapter Seven
‘This is fabulous,’ Daisy says in her melodic voice, looking around the pizzeria. There are only six tables, all empty bar one: six women wearing sparkly dresses, one of them sporting a tiara. A hen party; just our luck.
‘Isn’t it?’ Amy says. ‘I found it by chance. I’ll cook a meal at the cottage tomorrow, but I wanted you to see this place.’
The chef pounds dough in the open kitchen at the back of the restaurant, twisting it with his hands and slapping it back down before kneading it again, arms working vigorously. The opportunity for me to speak to Daisy alone hasn’t arisen yet, but she hasn’t been unfriendly to me, so maybe she’s over our last meeting. The group of women in the corner erupts with laughter. A waiter approaches with some menus.
‘Let’s order straight away,’ Daisy says, before the rest of us have time to protest. ‘I haven’t eaten since lunchtime, which was hours ago.’
I scan the menu and make my choice, and the others follow suit. Once the pizzas are ordered, we choose a bottle of red and one of white, and an apple juice for me. I’m sitting next to Amy and opposite Kat.
‘Have you got any work lined up?’ Amy asks Daisy.
‘I’m reading a couple of scripts my agent sent me, both television dramas. Now that the boys are in school, it’s a lot easier.’
Daisy threw herself into her career after the loss of her first baby, and worked steadily, becoming one of those actresses people recognised, especially once she landed the role of Jessie in Appleside. It was several years before she got pregnant again, and now she has two boys. Motherhood suits her, and her face lights up when she talks about her children. Has she really forgotten?
‘It’s a shame Sam can’t come on Saturday,’ Amy says.
I nod in agreement, looking sympathetic, as if I share her sentiments.
‘He is coming,’ Daisy says. ‘I put my foot down. It’s ages since we’ve had any time away from the kids together, and it will do us good.’
I grab my glass of water to hide my confusion. I’d just got used to the idea of him not coming.
‘That’s great news,’ Amy says. ‘How is he doing? Apart from working too hard.’
‘He’s good. His business is doing well. He’s just finished working on Stacey Greene’s house in Hampstead.’
Amy looks blank. ‘Presumably we should know who Stacey Greene is?’
Daisy rolls her eyes. ‘She’s a fashion designer. I thought everyone knew that.’
‘Not me,’ Amy says. ‘But then I hardly ever watch TV. Except for when you’re on, of course.’
‘If you need your cottage redesigned, Amy, Sam will give you a good price.’
‘I don’t know what I’m doing with it yet,’ she says.
I doubt any of us could afford Sam’s rates; he has worked hard to build up his interior design business, and Daisy sends some good contacts his way. Unlike the rest of us, she never had to worry about getting a job in the supermarket in the evenings to supplement her income while she was at uni, but she never rubbed our noses in it and was always generous.