‘So, you lot know each other?’ quizzed Hannah.
‘I wouldn’t say that. We just happened to be getting out of our cars at the same time at the service station yesterday,’ said Rachel.
‘It’s Ross, by the way.’ He introduced himself to the group.
‘Hi, Ross.’
‘So, you girls were on your way to a hen do then? Your hen do, in fact.’ His hand was now resting on Rachel’s shoulder. It felt like a friendly gesture, nothing more.
‘Yep.’
‘One lucky guy.’
‘He sure is,’ said Eve, proud of her friend.
Soon a few of Ross’s mates had joined the group and there was more chat and laughter. They were keen to know where the girls were from and what they all did. Ross, it turned out, did garden maintenance; mostly bigger jobs like lopping tree branches, cutting back shrubs, mowing large lawns, he explained.
‘Yeah, I’d been to Glasgow that day to pick up a new ride-on.’
Several of the girls raised their eyebrows at that, with a giggle bursting forth from Eve.
‘Lawn mower,’ he added, shaking his head but grinning all the while.
It was all harmless fun and added to the jollity of the night. But after one more round of drinks, which the local lads insisted on buying, Rachel spotted Eve sidling up to Ross and batting her eyelashes, getting a little too up close and personal. Now that really wasn’t like Eve at all. What was she up to? She was definitely starting to look a little the worse for wear, wobbling on her high-heeled shoes too.
‘Time to go, Eve,’ Rachel called out, moving in to steer her away from Mr T. The others were already popping on their jackets anyhow, deciding it was time to head back to the lodge.
‘They were a nice bunch of lads, weren’t they?’ said Rachel.
The girls were crammed in the back of the Land Rover, chatting away on the slightly bumpy ride home along the winding lane to the cabin.
‘Yeah, pretty cute too,’ chipped in Kirsty.
‘Hah, well, we’d only be looking. We’re all married – or nearly married – ladies, after all,’ added Charlotte.
‘Hmmm, absolutely,’ Eve said a little drowsily.
‘Well, I only have eyes for Tom. Honestly, I couldn’t even imagine wanting anyone else, ever.’ Just thinking about him made Rachel feel all warm and fuzzy.
‘Well, that’s a good job, seeing as you’re getting married on the fourth of July,’ added Hannah.
Eve was unusually quiet, sitting a little slumped in the seat next to Rachel. ‘You okay, hun?’
‘Yeah,’ Eve’s voice was a whisper. ‘Think I might need a bit of air.’
‘You’re not going to be sick, are you? Shall I shout on Mum to stop?’
‘No, no, I’ll be fine, honest. Just a bit woozy …’
‘Anybody got a carrier bag as insurance?’ added Kirsty wryly.
The hens got sleepier on the last mile back, the winding road and effects of the alcohol lulling them. Eve rested her head on Rachel’s shoulder, and Rachel stroked her friend’s hair gently.
Half an hour later, after a brief nightcap back at the lodge, Hannah and Kirsty had given in and headed to bed, followed soon afterwards by Charlotte and then Eve. Jill, who still remained sober, started clearing the glasses into the sink, and gathered up a handful of confetti from the floor. ‘Oh …’ She suddenly stopped in her tracks.
‘What’s up?
‘Oh nothing … well,’ she burst into a daft grin, ‘I didn’t realise they did willy-shaped confetti, I must say!’
‘Hah, nor did I.’ Rachel scooped some up from the table top, taking a closer look.
‘Bloody hell, it is too. I’d better warn them not to bring that to church, the vicar would have a fit.’
They had a good old chuckle.
‘Don’t worry about the washing up now, Mum. We can do that in the morning.’
‘Well, I am pretty shattered,’ admitted Jill. ‘It was a great night though.’
‘Yeah, it was … and thanks again for driving.’
‘No worries … and at least I won’t have a thick head in the morning.’
‘Night then, Mum.’
‘Night, love.’
Rachel headed over and gave her mum a kiss on the cheek and a warm hug. ‘I’m glad you’re here with us.’
‘Me too. Sleep tight, pet. Hope the bed bugs …’
‘… don’t bite,’ they chanted together, with a shared smile. A saying from Rachel’s childhood.
It was all dark in the room that Rachel and Eve were sharing. Rachel decided not to blast the light on, as Eve should be all tucked up in bed, but strangely things just didn’t feel right as Rachel entered.
‘Eve?’
‘Ah … huh,’ the answer didn’t seem to be coming from the bed.
Rachel moved forward cautiously and fumbled for the bedside lamp. She clicked the switch. ‘Oh, Eve … are you okay?’ Her maid of honour was splayed out, still fully clothed, propped on the floor at the foot of the bed. ‘What are you doing down there, hun?’ Rachel started to sober up amazingly quickly.
‘I … I don’t know …’ Eve looked about her, seemingly as surprised as Rachel was to see herself at floor level.
‘Okay then, hun. Let’s get you up and into bed.’ Rachel helped hoist her friend up onto the mattress and proceeded to help her off with her clothes, leaving her with bra and knickers on, then tucked her in under the duvet. She seemed extremely tipsy, which wasn’t like Eve at all, as she could usually hold her drink better than Rachel.
‘Right, I think I’ll fetch us both a big glass of water. Help clear our heads a bit,’ said Rachel, hoping to stave off the hangover from hell the next morning. ‘Stay there then, hun.’ To be fair, Eve didn’t look as if she was going anywhere.
‘Hmm,’ was all her friend could utter, whilst clinging on to the duvet cover as if it were a life raft.
Rachel hoped Eve wasn’t about to be sick. Thinking quickly, she moved the waste-paper bin across to Eve’s side of the bed – better safe than sorry. She headed for the kitchen and was soon back with two large glasses of water, making her friend take a few big sips before glugging down her own. Soon in her PJs, Rachel slipped into bed, turned off the lamp and then whispered, ‘Night, Eve.’
‘Nigh … Rach …’ There was a pause and then a whisper sounded in the darkness. ‘Rach?’
‘Yes, hun?’
‘I can tell you anything, right? You … you can keep a secret?’
‘Yeah, of course. Eve, I’m your best friend.’ Rachel waited for her friend’s voice again, holding her breath. Silence. Well, except for a little puffing, snoring sound.
Rachel sighed. She was sound asleep, bless her. But what ‘secret’ did Eve want to share? And, Rachel reflected again, she had behaved a little out of character that night. It was also unusual for Eve to have drunk so much. Still, Rachel mused, we could all have our moments and let our hair down just a little too much. Oh yes, Eve had looked after her more than a few times as a teenager, she remembered fondly.
But Rachel felt a bit unsettled. She vowed to keep an ear out through the night, and make sure her friend was all right.