But how?
Pinned by the collective gaze, Jessie looked panicked. ‘Yes, okay, yes!’ She sounded exasperated. ‘Caterers. Sometimes. So what? I’ve five children, I run a business, there are only so many hours in the day and –’
Cara stood up. ‘I’d better go to the hospital before I fall out with every one of you. Come on, Ed.’
‘Hey, Cara, do you really like my new hair?’ Eighteen-year-old Saoirse sounded wobbly.
‘Don’t ask me that!’ Cara said. ‘You know how much I love you.’
‘That means it’s bad?’
‘Oh, sweetie. That fringe makes your face look like the moon.’
At Saoirse’s devastated expression, Cara said, ‘I’m really sorry, Saoirse, you shouldn’t have asked me … But it’s only hair, it’ll grow back. Come on, Ed.’
‘Cara, before you go?’ Liam leant forward, his eyes narrowed. ‘Did you really think that massage I gave you was … What was the word you used? “Dreamy”?’
‘I hated it. Forget being a masseur. You are terrible.’
‘Hey!’ Nell jumped in to defend her husband. ‘He’s doing his best.’
‘Why are you bigging him up?’ Cara asked.
Suddenly, Liam was scrambling to sit upright. He smelt blood. ‘Why wouldn’t she back me up? Tell us, Cara, come on, tell us.’
‘Cara, come on.’
‘No, Cara.’ Nell’s voice was sharp.
‘Bridey!’ Jessie was urgent. ‘Take the kids up to my room. Put on a movie. Go!’
Even as TJ, Dilly, Vinnie and Tom were being ushered out by Bridey, Liam was demanding, ‘Tell me.’
‘Don’t!’ Nell said. ‘Cara, it’ll come back on you too.’
‘Tell me,’ Liam’s tone was urgent, ‘why my wife wouldn’t stick up for me.’
‘No. I’m not saying any more –’
Nell suddenly spoke up. ‘Liam, stop it. I was at Johnny’s flat today.’
‘Doing what?’ Johnny sounded scalded.
‘Meeting Ferdia.’
‘Unbelievable!’ Johnny exclaimed.
‘Hey!’ Ferdia yelled at him. ‘I saw you too!’
‘Where?’ Now it was Jessie’s turn to sound panicked.
‘Mum, I’m very sorry.’
‘Hold the fuck on,’ Liam croaked. ‘Nell? Nell, you were in that flat with … him?’ He threw his head at Ferdia.
Jessie was still addressing Ferdia: ‘What did you see?’ Her face was the colour of parchment.
‘Johnny and Izzy,’ Ferdia said. ‘Coming out of the flat. I’m sorry, Mum.’
‘Nell?’ Liam asked again, his voice deadly calm. ‘What were you doing with that little prick?’
‘You can’t be angry at Nell.’ Saoirse was in tears. ‘I know about you and Robyn.’
‘What?’ several voices demanded.
‘Is it true?’ Ed asked Liam, who shrugged in irritable assent.
‘She’s a teenage girl!’ Ed exploded. ‘Almost a child.’
‘She’s no child.’
‘Johnny?’ Jessie seemed on the edge of tears. ‘Were you really in the flat with Izzy?’
‘It wasn’t what it sounds like.’
‘Cara,’ Ed interjected. ‘Why were you at the flat?’
‘I thought it was empty.’
‘But why were you there?’
‘I needed to eat. Chocolate. Then … you know.’ Her scratchy irritability faded to nothing.
‘I see.’ Ed sounded calm. He stood up. ‘Well, that’s that.’
AFTER
* * *
Friday Night/Saturday Morning
I don’t belong here, Nell thought. I never belonged here.
Everyone was caught up in different crossfires of accusation and defence.
Most horrible of all was Liam and Robyn. She was so painfully young, only a kid. Not that Liam’s cheating balanced out Nell’s. She felt doubly ashamed: as if she were also to blame for his behaviour. Or perhaps for not noticing.
Suddenly Nell’s survival instinct kicked in: she needed to leave, pick up Molly Ringwald, clear all of her stuff out of Liam’s apartment and find a place to sleep tonight.
Ferdia was tensed in his chair, watching her. Meaningfully he glanced at the doorway into the hall.
Discreetly, she slid from the room, Ferdia following. ‘We need to get your things out of his place,’ he said. ‘We need to go now.’
‘It’s better if I do this alone. If we left together this – this would escalate like crazy. Everything’s gone insane. Can we just … take a moment? Let everything calm down. See how things are tomorrow.’
‘But where will you stay tonight? Who’ll help you to pack?’
‘I’ll call my mate Garr. It’ll be okay. Please, Ferdia. If we both disappear now, it’ll make everything extra-crazy. I’ll message as soon as I’m sorted.’
He was reluctant to let her go and panic was rising in her. ‘I really have to go,’ she said. ‘I’ll be okay. And, Ferd, don’t let anyone put the guilts on you. Nothing happened with us.’
‘It would have if Cara hadn’t arrived.’
‘But she did.’
Outside she hailed a taxi and found her phone. ‘Garr. Serious shit has gone down. I’m leaving Liam, like right now. Any chance you can –’
‘I’ll meet you there.’
‘I hate to ask but can I … Just for tonight?’
‘Stay as long as