As she reached the front door, she took a moment to take in the mature gardens and perfect weed-free block paving, and the large silver feature balls that shone under the security light. She walked around the gleaming Mercedes, consciously making an effort not to allow her bag to brush against the silver paintwork. A scratched car wouldn’t get her back into Kerry’s inner circle. She rang the bell and waited. Glancing across she saw the little camera next to the bell and smiled. Was Kerry watching her? Making sure she wasn’t a dangerous intruder. She gave a little wave just in case. Her once best friend neared the door. Cass could just make out her outline through the narrow strip of glass. Smile, she thought.
She gripped her bag, then held it more casually. Don’t look so tense, Cass.
‘Cass, hi. Thanks for coming over. Lovely to see you after all these years. Sorry but I don’t think I’m much company at the moment.’ Kerry’s streaked blonde hair fell over her shoulders. The light shining through it showed the many shades that made up the overall honey tone. Her large green eyes and petite features seemed wasted on the pink track bottoms and the oversized T-shirt she was wearing.
This wasn’t the Kerry she recognised from her Facebook photos sporting flawless skin and fitted clothing, always showing off her slender figure. At school, Kerry always owned and wore the newest of trends and had the most stylish of haircuts. She was everything the other girls at school aspired to be. Now, without her make-up, she looked so ordinary, if not slightly pockmarked. Maybe they had more in common than Cass thought.
‘Cass, are you okay?’
She realised she’d been staring. ‘Sorry, yes. It’s just been such a long time.’ She reached into her bag. ‘I thought you might need this.’ She held the bottle of bargain rosé wine up and smiled. Instantly, she wondered if she should have spent a little more on the wine, not getting the bottle from the fiver basket. Kerry was more of a vintage woman, she guessed.
‘That’s lovely of you. Well, don’t stand on the doorstep all night. I best get the corkscrew out.’
Cass knew there was no need for a corkscrew. She followed Kerry through the large hallway with its reception sofa and wide central staircase. Underneath stood a large white plinth containing a vase full of dying carnations, the same ones from the wedding reception centrepiece.
At twenty-five, Kerry had everything. There was no way Cass could ever invite her to her scruffy flat. She would bet everything she had that the corner of the bathroom, or should she say bathrooms, wouldn’t have a regularly recurring patch of mildew spores reaching for the lighting. She could also guarantee that Kerry wouldn’t need to place a collection of buckets around the house during rain showers. She wanted to slap herself. Kerry was her friend and her soon-to-be best friend. She couldn’t envy her. Envy was an ugly trait, one she wished hadn’t plagued her so readily.
Kerry led her through the double-door entrance into a large open plan kitchen and dining room with a table that seated around twelve. She grabbed two wine glasses from a cabinet and sat on a chair. ‘Well, sit down. Take your coat off. Get comfortable.’
Cass smiled as she undid her Primark coat. She would also bet that Kerry didn’t own any clothing that had come from Primark.
‘Hearing from you reminded me of back then. I won’t lie, it’s been a bad few days. None of us can believe what happened to Holly.’ Kerry poured them both a glass of wine and stared at the pink liquid.
Cass was sure she could see a bubble of water building up in the corner of Kerry’s eye. If there’s one thing she’d learned over the years it was to listen to people and never look shocked. Always keep a straight but friendly face and people would spill out their secrets and thoughts. ‘I’m so sorry about what happened and I know we haven’t spoken for a long time but we’re friends and I’m here for you.’
Wiping a tear away, Kerry half smiled. ‘I treated you badly at school. I can’t believe you’re here now. For years I thought about you. I thought you might never want to speak to me again. I was just a stupid kid. That’s no excuse, I know, but I want to make things right. Losing Holly like we all did has made me realise how precious life is. I didn’t want you to go through life hating me.’ Kerry sniffed as she wiped her eyes.
‘As you said, we were just kids. It doesn’t matter any more. How are you coping?’
Kerry shrugged.
‘It’s okay, we don’t have to talk. We can just drink.’ Cass took a long swig of the wine and almost pulled a face. It was as sour as anything. She wished she’d picked the Zinfandel instead of the house wine but money was an issue. She didn’t have everything and she definitely didn’t have parents that propped her up financially, like Kerry did. ‘So, where’s the new husband?’
Kerry shrugged and poured some more wine. ‘Who cares?’
‘Oh, I’m sorry. I really should mind my own business.’
‘You weren’t meant to know. I bet you think I’m such a loser now.’
‘Of course I don’t. I mean, I’m the loser. Look at you, you really have your life together. Me, I’m stuck in a damp flat with a job I hate.’
Kerry walked across to a wooden unit and opened the door. ‘Here, let’s properly drink to us both being a pair of losers.’ She placed two tiny shot glasses down and poured a couple of Sambucas. ‘We never got to drink together as teens. We missed out. Let’s make up for all those missed times. Drink.’
Cass stared at the glass. She’d never really done shots. The drinking culture had missed her out during her teen years. The most she’d had was a bottle of wine and Elvis had to carry her home from a friend’s house. She swore she’d never get into that state again as she’d spent the night on their bathroom floor with her head leaning over the toilet bowl. She sipped the liquid and coughed as she watched Kerry down the shot in one.
‘What’s your fella like with you?’
Cass shrugged. ‘He’s okay, I think. Sometimes I’m not so sure. I don’t know where he is half of the time but when we’re together, he can be lovely.’
‘So you’re not sure if he’s the one?’
She shook her head. ‘No. He’ll do.’ She giggled a little to lighten the mood. ‘How about you? Is Ed the one?’
‘I married him.’
‘That’s not what I asked.’ Cass took another sip of the Sambuca. ‘I’m sorry. Elvis always tells me I’m too nosy.’
Kerry flicked her hair over her shoulder. Cass noticed the clip in strands beneath her layers. Those beautiful lengths of silky hair weren’t all hers.
The smile on Kerry’s face dropped. ‘I don’t trust him. He’s cheated on me before.’
Cass coughed as she almost choked on her drink. So much for keeping a neutral expression.
‘I know, I know. I thought things would change when we committed. Do you know what I mean?’
‘Yes.’ Cass knew exactly what Kerry meant. Her relationship with Elvis had changed immensely over the past few months. He’d gone from all over her and completely turned on as soon as they were in a room together to meh, I’ll do it if I have to. However much she craved his attention, she knew she could never marry him. Forever was a big commitment; one which Kerry and Ed were already failing at. ‘If I’m honest, I know Elvis isn’t the one. I just like being with him at the moment. I bet that sounds horrible. I think he might be seeing someone else though.’ There, she’d said it. Now Kerry might say something if she’d heard any gossip.