Where are you? texted David when she was almost home. She smiled, knowing how keen he was to set off and get out of London. At this time on a Friday evening it was a three-hour drive to Dorset, although they both knew it was worth every minute. It had been love at first sight when they’d viewed the cottage on that late September weekend in Lyme Regis. At first she’d wondered if it was an impulse buy, a reaction to everything that had gone on over the summer. Six months previously, a weekend cottage had seemed an indulgence. Not any more. Work to live, not live to work.
Popping to Tesco Express to get some snacks for the journey, she texted back. Why don’t you pick me up outside?
She ran into the shop and gathered up an armful of crisps, fruit and drinks, then stood on the pavement to wait for her husband and daughter.
At first she didn’t recognise the young woman coming down the street towards her, flanked by other girls around her age. She looked different. Her hair was shorter, her summer tan had faded, and she was dressed in the winter uniform popular in this part of town: coat, skinny jeans, sneakers, a beanie hat pulled low over her ears.
Their eyes met and Josie stopped. Her friends peeled away and disappeared into a popular bar.
‘Josie.’
‘Hello, Amy,’ she said, clutching her handbag a little tighter.
Amy smiled to relax the mood. ‘What are you doing in this neck of the woods?’ She’d meant it as light-hearted conversation but regretted asking the question almost as soon as the words left her mouth. She didn’t want Josie to think she was checking up on her.
Josie shrugged. ‘It’s my friend’s birthday. Bunked off work early to get to the pub. It’s Christmas, after all. Every night is a Friday night this week though I think I might have overdone it a bit.’ She grinned.
‘I remember what those days were like,’ Amy said, remembering her twenties, when she and Juliet had marauded from party to party for pretty much the whole of December. She’d thought those days of fun and friendship would last for ever. ‘So how is everything at Genesis Media?’ she asked.
‘You know Douglas is leaving?’ Josie’s tone was mischievous.
‘I didn’t know.’
‘It was announced today. He’s going to head up special projects at the company’s German headquarters.’
‘Germany?’ said Amy with surprise.
‘He likes to call it a promotion, although he’s the only person who thinks it is.’
They both laughed.
‘How are you, Josie?’
‘Good. I’m working for Denton Scoles now, although I don’t want an admin job for ever so I might start looking for something else in the new year. And the therapy is going well, thank you.’
Seeing Josie regularly had been too painful for Amy, dislodged too many conflicting emotions, but she was glad that she was paying for a weekly session with a highly recommended counsellor who specialised in self-harm.
She put her hand in her bag and pulled out a business card.
‘Send me an email tomorrow so I’ve got your up-to-date details. You’ll find something, don’t worry. I’ll make sure of it.’
‘Do you mean that?’
It was a loaded question, but Amy chose to deflect it light-heartedly.
‘Of course I do. You must keep in touch.’
Neither of them spoke for a few seconds. A cold gust of wind reminded them that Provence was a long way away.
‘How’s Juliet?’ Josie asked.
‘She’s walking again. With a stick, but apparently she’s doing well. Peter’s been incredible. Her rock. How’s your mum?’
‘Got a new man. He’s really cool. One of the good ones.’
The door of the bar opened, and for a moment, music flooded the dark street, only to be swallowed up by the building again when the door swung shut.
‘I wish we could start all over again. You and Mum. Me and you,’ said Josie quietly.