Page 39 of The Last to Know

She glanced around the kitchen. Everything was tidy, clean, and ready for a new day. Leaving the room, she switched the light off and then did the same quick glance around the lounge.

Everything was in its place, just how it should be.

At the bottom of the stairs, she looked up before letting herself finally release the pent-up tension in one long breath. This had not been the day she had planned, and yet, in a lot of ways, despite the sadness that lingered for them both, it had been nice.

Her left foot raised and she took the first step, climbing each one until she was at the top, standing in the silence on the landing. She listened for any sign that Grace was in any discomfort, but when no evidence came, she turned and walked into her own room.

Without turning the light on, she pulled her clothes off. Feeling for the towel that hung on the back of the door, she pulled it around her body and quickly stepped back into the hallway and then into the bathroom.

One long shower later, teeth brushed, and her hair pulled into a loose bun, she pulled on her pyjamas. Raising the duvet, she slid into bed and got settled.

Dreams drifted in, but the inevitable need to pee woke her up a few hours later. Tossing the duvet back, she was grateful for the thermal pyjamas, but she still shivered as her feet hit the carpet.

Ablutions sorted, Caz was about to enter her bedroom again when she heard it—the soft whimpering. She crept back along the landing and stood outside of Grace’s door, listening.

Her hand rested on the door handle and she let her forehead land softly on the door. The urge to rush in and comfort being held back by the fear of being told to get lost.

Logically, she knew that wouldn’t happen out of any malice, but maybe Grace didn’t want her running to her rescue every time she was upset. That was the conclusion she was coming to when the weeping quieted, and she hoped that maybe, Grace had fallen asleep. But in the next breath, an almighty sob rang out and Caz could hold back no longer.

She pushed down on the handle and the door sprung open. Without a word, she padded barefoot across the room, not waiting for an invitation. She lifted the covers and climbed into the bed, pulling Grace towards her and wrapping herself as closely around her friend as she could.

“It’s okay,” Caz said between shushing noises. Her body rocked them both and Grace’s fingers gripped the front of Caz’s pyjama top while the sobs continued.

“I really…I really thought…” Grace stuttered out, her breathing ragged as the tears fell and her chest heaved in air. “I…the…I really thought…”

Whatever it was she thought, Caz never got to the bottom of.

“Don’t leave…me,” Grace said, tightening her grip.

“I won’t. I’m not going anywhere,” Caz promised.

Chapter Twenty

June 2025

Caz lounged on the sofa in nothing more than boxer shorts and a vest. Even at eight o’clock, it was still hotter outside than Mount Vesuvius. A fan blew and moved slowly as it oscillated one way and then the other. The bowl of ice sitting beneath it had helped to create a bit of air conditioning, but it was still fidgety hot.

From the kitchen, she could hear Grace singing to herself as she went about creating a salad. Caz hoped there was some chicken, too, from the smell that was drifting in. Her stomach rumbled to confirm the desire.

“Do you need a hand?” she called out. Her head twisted to the side so she could hear Grace, but she needn’t have worried as her friend swanned into the room carrying two bowls.

“No, all done, but I left you the washing up.” Grace smiled and handed down a bowl. “Shift up,” she said, already preparing to perch herself onto the couch beside Caz.

“This smells awesome.”

“It does. I tried that new meat rub you bought—the lemon and fennel.”

“Beats going out any day.” Caz harpooned a cherry tomato with her fork and shoved it quickly into her mouth. “I think…you’re the best salad maker I know.”

Grace scoffed. “It’s just salad.”

“Nope, it’s notjustanything. You put things in it I’d never think about.” She moved her fork about and hit a chickpea, raising it as evidence. “Like this, and the dressing. You always make amazing dressings.”

Grace sat back a little further and leaned against one of Caz’s bent knees.

“You’re just so easy to please.”

Caz nodded. “I guess, but equally, you are amazing.”

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