glimpse of the photographs on the shelf. Jim’s chatting away to Gloria outside, telling her how he’s taking a ‘mate’ to the airport as a favour. Gloria asks if he wants dinner when he returns. He declines, but not without praising her cooking, which does smell delicious, zesty spices filtering from the kitchen. The photos are mostly from a wedding on what looks like a beach in Bali, the couple a bit older, as if they’re perhaps getting married a second time around.
And there’s Jim.
A teenage Jim with that strange blend of puppy fat and gauntness around the face, but so clearly Jim. His messy curls have stuck around for twenty odd years and he’s doing that one-sided smile, unsure about committing to being happy or not. He’s pictured with three other boys of a similar age, maybe brothers, but more likely to be cousins or friends. One, with jet black hair, is holding a guitar up in the air. They aren’t in Bali. That photo looks like it was taken in a British pub.
‘Zara,’ Jim’s voice shouts. ‘Ready?’
I roll my damp clothes into a tight ball under my arm.
‘Ready.’
Jim hugs Gloria again, and she points to her cheek indicating her desire for a kiss.
‘Tell your mama I say hi,’ she says.
‘Will do, Gloria. Thanks.’
‘How is she?’
‘She’s been better, but she’s also been worse.’
Gloria brings her hands to her heart and gives Jim a slow, sympathetic nod and all I can do is wonder. What is wrong with Jim’s mom?
‘Hop aboard,’ Jim says.
‘Really?’ I ask.
He’s lugging my suitcases into the back of a vehicle that isn’t one of the sports cars or SUVs. Instead, the back doors to a minibus fly open, the back seats pushed down.
‘We’re going to London in that?’ I ask.
‘Not good enough for you, your highness?’
‘Don’t start that again.’
‘Come on, girl, I can’t go more than seventy in this thing so we better get a move on.’
I wish I could be subtler, but like magnets, my eyes are drawn to the array of cars standing motionless to my right. I don’t even care for fancy motors, so why am I giving off the air that I do?
‘You don’t even have to sit by me,’ Jim says, climbing into the driver’s seat. ‘Take your pick, get some kip, spread your legs … I mean put your legs up. Sorry, love.’
‘Are you blushing, Jim?’
‘Get in the bus.’
I laugh and open the passenger door, settling beside him up front.
‘This is the only thing I’m insured on,’ Jim tells me.
‘Oh, of course. I don’t care.’
‘You do.’
‘No, I don’t.’
‘You wanted a lift in the Audi TT.’
‘I don’t even know what that is.’
‘Sure you don’t, princess.’
‘You know what, don’t start the engine yet. I think I will sit in the back.’
‘Be my guest.’
‘Ha,’ I huff. And I clamber between the passenger and driver’s seat, taking the double seat on the second row. ‘I’ll get some sleep. Wake me up when we get there.’
But strangely I don’t feel tired. Hugging my knees to my chest, I stretch my pink sweater over them, the zebra print stretching. My mom always told me off for doing this, for ruining my clothes.
‘I like your unicorns,’ Jim says, looking at me through the rear-view mirror.
‘They’re zebras.’ I’m shocked he’s noticed I changed.
Jim fiddles around with a few leads, takes out his phone and plugs it in, keeping it on charge. Sensible. At least one of us now has a means of communication. It was kind of Jim to offer to get my phone back earlier and I didn’t react graciously, I know. But I’m glad he didn’t get it; there’s no way I could have allowed him to venture over there again. A lost phone is nothing compared with what I’ve actually lost today, and besides, who do I need to contact? Katie, so she can gloat and tell me she told me so? Trawling through social media will depress me: far too many people relishing in gin o’clock and Nick’s favourite word; Fri-yay. And I bet Abi has unlocked my phone by now, anyway, her supportive girlfriends all plying her with white wine, telling her again and again what an ugly whore Zara Khoury is. Oh, how the photos of her husband’s cock will shock them all.
As we drive away from Jim’s house, the electric gates open to begin our journey, and Jim’s phone rings. He puts it on loud speaker and continues to drive.