‘Well, that was exceptional as usual.’ Isaac smirked and scraped the dining chair along the tiled floor, standing with his cigarettes in hand.
‘It’s a shame Penny wasn’t feeling too well.’ Cherie knew that was a lie, but Marcus hadn’t wanted Christian and Joanna to know about their argument.
‘Bloody drama queen,’ Isaac muttered. ‘Do you mind if I pop out for a cigarette?’ His intense stare meeting Cherie as he awaited an answer.
Cherie had barely touched her food. Each time she’d placed the slimy pasta in her mouth, it cloyed in her throat, and now the moment that was causing all her angst had finally arrived. ‘Of course not. Go ahead.’ She threw her serviette to the table. ‘I might join you for some fresh air.’ She wafted her top. It was time to talk. ‘It’s warm in here, what with the cooking.’ She glanced at her water glass next to all the empty wine glasses. If there was a time she really needed a drink, it was now – desperately.
Christian began collecting the dirty plates, dutiful as always. ‘I’ll clear up and get dessert plated while we take a break. I’m stuffed at the minute.’ He patted his belly, then he smiled and carried on, not suspecting anything was amiss.
Cherie knew that everything was amiss and for once she was glad that the kids had gone to stay with Christian’s parents for the night. He’d reminded her that the kids could enjoy a little Halloween fun without her weird behaviour ruining it for them. Also, something was brewing and it wasn’t good.
Marcus had seemed deep in thought as he’d pushed his pasta around the plate and Isaac had kept nudging him under the table as if to say, calm it down. Then Cherie had caught herself staring at Marcus. Isaac had also appeared to be deep in thought and had occasionally snorted through his nose as if suppressing a laugh. Cherie had felt the table judder as Marcus then kicked Isaac under the table. Tensions were definitely simmering over.
Joanna began collecting used serviettes from the table, passing them to Christian. ‘So, how are the kids?’ Relief washed over Cherie. She could leave Christian and Joanna talking while they all went into the garden.
Isaac grabbed his old bomber jacket and left the room with a cigarette dangling from his mouth, looking like he didn’t have a care in the world. That was typical of him. Cherie always said that he never took anything seriously.
Marcus almost fell over the door frame.
Christian left the plates for a moment. ‘You okay, mate?’
‘I… I think so. It’s the wine. I should have taken a leaf out of Cherie’s book and stayed away from it. Nothing a bit of fresh air won’t sort.’
Cherie’s heart boomed away. She knew Marcus wasn’t okay. Her so-called friend was getting too wasted. They’d all known each other a long time and Cherie could sympathise with Marcus. This was typical Penny – save it all up until it needed to escape in such a way that a trail of destruction had been left. It was the same when Penny told Marcus that she’d been sleeping with a colleague. He’d badgered her until she just blurted it out at a family party in front of his grandmother, but all that had happened years ago. Marcus had forgiven her and they’d moved on. ‘Come on, Marcus.’ Cherie grabbed his arm. ‘Let’s get some fresh air and have a catch up.’
‘Good idea,’ Marcus said as he wiped the sweat from his brow, just under his bleached hairline. ‘Wait.’ He leaned over and pulled a spliff from his pocket. ‘I think this will lighten the tension around here. It will for me, anyway.’ He began to half-stagger past her.
‘No, it won’t.’ Cherie nudged him, hoping that Christian hadn’t heard. The little smoke was something they’d always done when they’d got together as a reminder to each other that their secret had remained in the box for another year and that they all depended on each other’s silence to keep it locked away. ‘Put it away. You need your thoughts on Penny at the moment. What if she calls and you’re stoned?’
‘What’s going on?’ Christian leaned in as he walked across the kitchen holding the tiramisu. ‘Is everything alright with Penny? I thought it was just a twenty-four hour thing.’
‘It is. Penny’s having a hard time at work too. Stress.’
Christian gave a sympathetic smile. ‘Send her our love.’