The Long Weekend (8 page)

Abby had spotted Kat about midway through the evening, leaning against the marble bar and checking out the talent. She’d been wearing black trousers with ruby red brogues, a smart shirt and a well-cut black jacket, which on closer inspection turned out to be Ralph Lauren. She’d also been adopting the well-worn lesbian stance of one hand in pocket, one eyebrow raised, exuding an air of nonchalance to all around her.

Abby hadn’t been fooled.

Kat’s short dark hair was longer at the front and kept falling into her eyes – she spent an inordinate amount of time pushing it back off her face. Their eyes had met across a crowded room in the manner of a million Hollywood movies, only this was on a wet Wednesday in the City.

In a matter of moments Abby had gravitated towards Kat’s side, introduced herself and bought Kat a second vodka martini – Abby favoured bubbles. They’d chatted all night and Kat had impressed Abby with her sense of humour, her pert rear and her confidence. She was clearly a woman used to these surroundings and supremely at home within them.

That was then.

Six months later and here they were, with Kat having lost interest in most things, including food, sex and life. The only thing she seemed to maintain a passion for was drinking.

Abby heard the toilet flush and closed both eyes, pretending to be asleep. She wasn’t sure why. Abby pictured Kat staring at her reflection in the mirror, sticking out her tongue to gauge her health. The door to the bathroom opened and Kat got back into the bed as silently as she could manage. Abby responded by rolling over and gathering up her girlfriend, feeling her bones through her grey pyjama top.

“Sorry, did I wake you?” Kat whispered, not turning around to look at Abby.

Her girlfriend kissed the back of her neck. “Probably time I was awake anyhow.” Abby’s voice was croaky, not lubricated sufficiently yet. “How you feeling?”

Kat arched her back and stretched.

Abby could sense her turning over the question in her mind, trying to work out what answer to offer up.

“Bit of a headache but okay,” was the outcome. “My tongue looks a bit manky, though.”

Abby smiled, despite herself.

“What you smiling about?” Kat asked, rolling over to view her lover’s grin.

“How’d you know I was smiling?” Abby’s smile widened.

“I just know.” Kat narrowed her eyes.

Abby leant forward and kissed Kat once, twice, three times. Kat’s skin was hot beneath her and Abby’s blood rushed down her body to her very core. She ignored it, knowing it would go nowhere today.

Surprisingly, Kat ran a hand absentmindedly up and down Abby’s side, caressing her body lightly.

“So.” Abby sensed Kat was in a relaxed, receptive mood. “Are we going to talk about
It
?”

Kat looked her directly in the eye – she could hear the capital letter at the start of the last word.

“It?” Kat was stalling for time and they both knew it.

Abby curled her lip. “You know damn well.”

Kat lowered her gaze and sighed. “I know,” she said quietly. “I’ll tell them today.”

“But why didn’t you just do it last night?”

The question hung in the air.

Kat waited for the thud as it landed but it never happened. There was only silence and the sound of their breathing.

Abby went for the slam dunk. “You had the perfect opportunity and you just took the funny joke. I don’t get it. You were made redundant, it’s not something shameful. You weren’t caught fucking the office intern like some people I could mention.”

“I know, I know.”

Abby threw her head back on the pillow in exasperation and stared at the ceiling. “I know this is difficult, but you have to at least tell them you’re unemployed. Then you can lead on to the fact you’re not feeling that great. But you have to tell them the first bit to begin with.”

Kat’s face had turned the colour of concrete.

Abby took her hand and kissed it. She then kissed the top of Kat’s head and felt her draw in breath, then her body shook slightly and she knew the tears had arrived, the ones that arrived most days now. Abby hugged Kat towards her and kissed her head again.

“This will get better, but you have to want it to,” Abby said as she stroked her girlfriend’s back. “And you might want to can the tears unless you want to go down to breakfast looking like you’ve just gone six rounds with me. For one thing, your mates might beat me up…”

Kat made a sound like a wounded animal underneath her, then shifted her body away. She lay still on her back and stared upwards before rubbing both eyes with balled fists.

“I know you’re right and I will tell them today,” she whispered, peeking out from under her knuckles. “Promise.”

Abby smiled her winning smile. “Good enough. Now go and freshen up and don’t forget to take your pills.”

Stevie

Stevie opened her eyes just after 9am. She’d managed just five hours of unbroken sleep. Not even the wine had been enough to knock her out – she bet Kat hadn’t had any issues after the amount she’d drunk. Stevie knew they all worried about Kat, but maybe she had it right and
they
all had it wrong. Maybe the world was just that bit easier to deal with if you were sedated enough.

Beside her, Vic slept on. Stevie knew change had to come. She’d truly willed it yesterday, but she’d been waiting for it to come naturally – and the Tash and Laura sideshow hadn’t helped.

Stevie realised now that just waiting for something to change was wishful thinking. She was living in real life, not some marshmallow land where fairytales came true. If Stevie wanted this one to have a happy ending, she knew she had to make the first step. After all, the power was with her and had been ever since Vic threw such a curveball into their lives.

Stevie winced again as she thought about it – time was dulling the hurt and betrayal, as was Vic’s relentless congeniality. But what never seemed to change was the utter futility of her actions. A college intern and as Vic was just approaching 40? Vic had sleepwalked into being such a cliché it made Stevie gasp at times. But something had to give in order for sanity to prevail and Stevie knew she held the trump card. Plus, Vic’s constant graciousness and apologetic gestures were frankly getting on her tits.

Stevie decided on a run to shake herself into the right frame of mind for the day. She eased herself out of the bed, being careful not to wake Vic, and pulled her running gear from the case. Then she slipped quietly down to the kitchen which was still home to the debris from the night before, the port glasses and cheese plates perched on the counter top. Vic and Kat had been putting the world to rights last night over some Stilton and Tawny port, leaving no subject unturned.

After a glass of water, Stevie headed back out into the hallway where their coat collection was hanging like a still-life painting, shoes neatly lined up underneath along the skirting board. She pulled on her trainers, clicked the front door shut and strode up the drive, turning towards the sea, glistening and infinite.

Her shoelaces weren’t quite tight enough, so Stevie squatted and retied, then rolled her neck from one side to the other, flexing her hips into the bargain, then stretching her arms. She arched her back, looking into the sun until its glare made her squint. Should she go back for her sunglasses? She could squint it out this once
.
She set her training watch to 00:00 and slowly began to run.

Stevie never thought she’d become one of those running types, but that’s exactly what had happened. She had a best time for a 5k and a 10k but was yet to go for more than that – she worried her knees might cave in if she did. For her, running wasn’t about doing a marathon or competing with others – she just loved having the time to herself, thinking about her life, running through her day.

Throughout this whole sorry mess, running had been her constant companion, even more so than before. It cleared her head and had stopped her from strangling Vic on more than one occasion.

This morning, as she ran round the back of the house and towards the coastal path, she stopped to take in its majesty. As far as the eye could see, cool blue water shimmered in the morning sun, its surface dimpled by the wind. But although it was sunny it was still April, and the wind needled at her legs, wrists, neck.

Stevie took a deep breath and set off to her right, the dusty path kicking up as her feet connected. The air was incredibly cleansing here, so removed from London. What was it she breathed in at home? In Devon, the air was packaged with an extra shot of freshness, the faint hint of manure coating it.

As she ran on, daffodils lined her route and blossom spilled itself in the heady breeze. She grinned as she felt her stride click in, her body begin to settle and her mind was finally released. Today, she recalled the day after Vic’s infidelity, the hurt she’d felt. Not even three years married, but nearly ten years together and this was what they’d become.

***

When she’d found out, Stevie had fled back to her native Liverpool, back to the family home, and had lain in her mum’s spare room, wondering why her, why now? She’d have stayed there too if her mum hadn’t made her get up and face the problem head-on. Mrs Wright was not one to pussyfoot around.

First, Stevie’s cousin Dave had appeared and dragged her out for a night on the town, trying to get her to snog random women in a bid for revenge – but Stevie was not one to play games.

Then, while she suffered through her hangover the next morning, her mum reminded her she’d taken an oath. For better or for worse, she was now committed to Vic, come what may. Had her mother brought her up to throw in the towel so easily? She had not.

So, after letting Stevie wallow for a few days, her mum had given her a stern talking to and packed her bags for home, with instructions to talk and sort the sorry mess out. But it hadn’t been quite that easy.

***

Stevie’s body glided as her thoughts spun. Today, her trainers were coated in magic dust and she was flying. She felt gracious, unbeatable. Perhaps it was a sign. Perhaps today was the day to take the plunge, to fully reconnect with Vic. Yes, she’d found it hard to forgive. But the bottom line was she didn’t want to be with anyone else, so perhaps it was time to get back to being with the woman she loved.

Stevie raced on in her body, letting her thoughts settle this time. If there was one thing she was sure of, it was that she wanted to sleep with Vic – she missed her so badly. She grinned at the prospect and ran on, feeling invincible.

Yes, today she could tackle anything. Stevie picked up her speed and angled her face into the sun. Today, she’d decided to run home.

Tash & Laura

Laura woke with a sore head and sore thigh muscles.
How much had Vic and Stevie heard last night?
She pulled the duvet up over her head and closed her eyes.

On the light blue pillow next to her, Tash screwed up her face and wiped some dribble from her mouth, before grunting and turning the other way.

Outside, the sea was grinding against the shore, the sun trying to peer in through the gaps in the curtains. It looked like another sunny day with another walk on the agenda. From the sounds drifting up the stairs, someone was already up and getting ready.

Laura stuck her tongue out of her mouth.
Furry.

Laura turned her head to the right. Had she had the forethought to bring a glass of water upstairs? She had not. She stared at the empty space on the bedside table. Her chest felt claggy too, like she’d smoked 20 Benson & Hedges.

“Why are you awake?” Tash asked without opening her eyes.

Laura turned her head, smiling. “I thought I was being quiet.”

“You don’t even blink quietly.”

In response, Laura moved a foot to her right until it connected her to Tash’s body. She rubbed it up and down her leg and felt the press of her lover’s lips on her head in return.

Whenever Laura was awake and in bed with Tash, she liked some part of their bodies to be connected. In winter, she wrapped herself around Tash like bindweed, clinging to her very own human radiator for warmth. In the summer it was just a foot, a hand or a hip, before sleep took her and she rolled away. But whenever they were both awake, her first thought was always to touch Tash.

Laura hoped their relationship never ended because she knew she could never just be friends. The compulsion to touch Tash and kiss her had been ever-present since the moment they met inside that dank, depressing flat. Laura didn’t imagine it was something that would change anytime soon.

Laura moved closer to Tash and shifted her arm to just above her head, the cue for her girlfriend to lift her head and settle into her arm nook.

Tash duly obliged.

“So how much do you think the house heard last night?” Laura said, kissing Tash’s fiery ginger hair.

“Enough to make them jealous as hell?”

Laura broke into a wide grin, looking pretty pleased with herself.

Tash shifted her face back onto Laura’s shoulder and breathed in her lover’s morning smell, kissing her bare neck. “And I don’t know what you did to me last night, but my calves are really tight.” Tash reached down to rub them.

“I don’t recall any complaints last night.”

“None here, no ma’am,” Tash said. “If anyone asks, I’ll recommend you without hesitation.”

“Good to know.”

“Beautiful, sexy, great line in multiple orgasms. Almost illegal tongue skills. How’s that for a personal ad?” Tash flicked her eyes up towards Laura, who tilted her head to consider the question. “Also, wicked spot forming on chin,” Tash added.

Laura frowned. “I was just adjusting to my stud status and then you had to go and spoil it, didn’t you?”

Tash reached up and kissed her girlfriend. “I love you and I love your spot.” She placed her lips against Laura’s and pressed with passion.

“Aren’t I the lucky one?” Laura replied, once Tash had moved away.

“Well, yes, since you ask.” Tash paused, propping herself up on her elbow.

Laura lowered her gaze to Tash’s naked, pale breasts, now on view as the duvet dropped. She reached out a hand to caress them – she couldn’t help it, it was an automatic response.