‘Something’s very wrong, isn’t it?’ Sophie watched Amy as she walked towards the toilets. Even her posture was different. Before, she had walked like a ballerina, with her head held high and her beautiful, long neck poised and elegant. Now, her head was stooped and her shoulders rounded, as if she was trying to fold herself away. Trying not to be noticed.
‘It’s him,’ Emily replied, her dark eyes narrowing. ‘I knew he seemed too good to be true. Have you seen that he doesn’t stop ringing and texting her? He’s constantly checking up on her. And yet he’s the kind of man who tries to have sex with his wife’s friend just weeks after she’s had a baby? I know Melissa was in the wrong but at least she’s got the excuse that she was probably off her face. I bet he’s at it all the time.’
Sophie nodded, wanting to scoop Amy into her arms and tell her it was all going to be OK. But that would be a lie. Things were clearly far from OK.
‘I think she should stand up to him more – tell him to piss off and stop checking up on her.’
‘Hmm.’ Sophie gave Emily a rueful look. ‘That’s just not her, though, is it? She’s not like you and me – she’ll do anything to avoid a row.’
Emily shrugged. ‘I suppose you’re right. But the irony is that if she was to stand up to him, he’d probably have more respect for her and treat her a bit better.’
‘Yes, but that’s why he went for her and not either of us.’ Sophie shook her head sadly. ‘All that money… that lovely house. But even though it’s a struggle sometimes, I wouldn’t swap my life for hers, would you?’
Emily shook her head vehemently. ‘No way.’
‘You know, Melissa always said that too.’
‘Did she? When?’
‘Probably after he’d tried it on with her a few times. She used to say she wouldn’t mind the money but she definitely wouldn’t want the marriage.’
‘She’s surprisingly insightful sometimes.’
Sophie smiled. ‘She is. Thanks so much for inviting her this weekend, Em. It’s really made my birthday celebrations complete. Do you honestly think Amy will be OK with her?’
‘I’m sure she’ll be fine.’ As Emily spoke, Amy came back into view. She was pushing her phone into her handbag and her eyes looked damp. ‘Well, she’ll be fine about Melissa,’ Emily added under her breath. ‘Whether she’s fine about being married to an arsehole is another matter.’
‘Shall we go back to the hotel?’ Amy said as she reached the table, her upbeat tone at odds with her miserable appearance. ‘We told Melissa to meet us there.’
The hotel they were staying at stood on a white cliff above a wide, sandy beach. The views were spectacular – on a clear day like today they could even see the Scottish coast – and the suite Sophie had booked so that they could all share was vast and luxurious. Sophie opened the door to the balcony and stepped out into the late afternoon sun. It never got really hot here – there was too much of a breeze blowing off the Atlantic Ocean stretched out before her – but it was certainly warmer than she had ever known it. What a perfect week it had been and Melissa coming would be the icing on the cake. She was aching to see her.
As she looked out over the sea, she was reminded of their weekend in Whitstable, when she had confided in Melissa that she was pregnant with Emma. She had felt so scared, so confused and her emotions were in turmoil. This time there was no turmoil – only delight. She ran her hand over her stomach and smiled to herself. The bump was rounding nicely. She didn’t even care that she would be losing her hard-fought flat stomach. She could get it back again afterwards. It would be worth every extra ounce of weight she put on to have the chance to get it right this time. To enjoy the new baby, instead of feeling nothing but abject terror and loneliness.
Just then a small red VW pulled into the car park below her. Even before the car door opened, Sophie knew it was Melissa.
As she stepped out, Melissa looked up and caught Sophie’s eye. For a fleeting second, a shadow of worry passed across her face and she bit her lip nervously, her eyes sliding away from Sophie’s.
‘Melissa!’ Sophie yelled, waving frantically. ‘You’re here!’
Melissa’s face melted into a wide smile. ‘It was supposed to be a surprise!’ she shouted back.
‘It is! It’s the best surprise I could have had – get yourself up here right now!’
Within what seemed like less than a minute, Melissa was hammering on the door. As Sophie swung it open, Melissa flung herself into Sophie’s arms and burst into noisy sobs.
Sophie hugged her tiny frame. ‘No, Melissa! No tears allowed on my birthday weekend!’ Although in truth she was fighting them back herself.
‘Sorry,’ Melissa hiccoughed, wiping her hand across her eyes. Sophie took the opportunity to examine Melissa’s face. Even allowing for the tears, she looked a lot better than the last time they had seen her. Her skin was clear and her eyes were less bloodshot.
‘Hello, you,’ said Emily, coming forward to give Melissa a hug. ‘It’s lovely to see you.’
‘You too, Em.’ Melissa disengaged herself from Emily’s embrace and looked anxiously around the room. ‘Where’s Amy?’
‘I’m here.’ Amy emerged from the far corner of the room, where she had been sitting furiously texting ever since they arrived. She looked at Melissa evenly. ‘I’m glad you’re here. We all are.’
Relief flooded Melissa’s features. ‘Amy… I just want to say—’
‘It’s fine,’ Amy interrupted, in a tone of voice she rarely used but which brooked no argument. ‘Really.’
Melissa hesitated and made as if to reach out her arms towards Amy, before seemingly changing her mind and just nodding instead. ‘OK.’
There was an awkward pause, before Sophie clapped her hands. ‘Right! Let’s get this party started…!’
‘Don’t get your hopes up too much, Liss,’ said Emily. ‘It’s only you and me drinking.’
Melissa frowned and looked from Sophie to Amy, before realization dawned. ‘Oh my God! You’re both pregnant? That’s amazing news – congratulations! And Emily, I hate to rain on your parade, but I’m afraid I’m not drinking at the moment either. I’m… well, let’s just say I’m trying to “work through my issues”.’ She made quotation marks with her fingers as she spoke.
Emily put her hands on her hips and sighed. ‘Well, that’s just great, isn’t it? Oh, sod it! There’s no point in drinking on my own. Looks like it’s a teetotal weekend for all of us then.’