Page 146 of Good Sisters

‘Okay, let’s look at it from a different perspective,’ Julie said, desperate, as always, to make things better. ‘Why don’t you use this incident as a sign that you need to take some time off? You’ve had a really tough year with Mum and Marco and all of the things that have happened.’

‘I have a mortgage to pay and a daughter to raise.’

‘I know that, but come on, Louise, you could take a few months off. You have plenty of savings. I think it would be good for you,’ Julie insisted.

‘I think you should have your own show, likeJudge Judy, or you could be the new host ofThe Apprentice,’ Marion said.

‘I don’t think so.’ I fiddled with my cup. This was bad. A video of me eviscerating a junior on my team was not a good look. Damnit, why hadn’t I controlled my temper? She had been niggling me for months and I should have managed her better from the beginning. But I knew I hadn’t been firing on all cylinders in work for the last while. I was not the usual Louise, all over everything, putting out fires and dealing with difficult employees. I had let myself down and now Zoë had the upper hand. I was furious with myself. ‘Before I go home and think this through, distract me with news. How are the triplets? Are they excited about the final?’

Julie filled Marion’s cup with whiskey. ‘Not as excited as their father but, yes, they’re up to ninety. I can’t wait for it to be over. It’s consumed our lives. It’s wonderful, but I’ve had enough now. I don’t want to hear another word about rugby. And, truth be told, I’m also very glad that I won’t have to wear the scratchy hat and scarf ever again and I can leave the WhatsApp group.’

‘How about you, Marion? What’s new in your life?’ I wanted distraction and Marion was usually good at providing it.

‘Actually, my car crash of a life is not too bad at the moment. Greg has paid his child support without me having to chase him for the last two months and … I have a boyfriend.’ She grinned at us. ‘And he’s nice and kind and lovely to me.’

‘That’s great.’

‘A farmer called Seamus,’ Julie said.

‘Where did you meet?’ I asked.

‘He was one of my sex-line callers.’

‘Right.’ I was lost for words.

‘All he ever did was chat about his cows and his sheep, life and nature, and we got to know each other really well. He never seemed to want the dirty talk. Anyway, after six months, he asked me out. So, I met him and he isn’t a hunchback, he doesn’t have a face like a slapped fish or a deformity or erectile dysfunction. He has all his own teeth and a fairly decent body. He’s attractive and seems normal.’

‘He’s mad about her.’ Julie beamed at her friend.

‘Good for you.’ I meant it. Marion was a lot to take, but she’d been through the mill and she deserved happiness.

‘Ah, he’ll probably turn out to be a serial killer and you’ll find my head in his fridge and my tits in the freezer, but for now, it’s nice.’

I fished my phone out of my bag to check the time. I had forty messages, five missed calls from HR and one from Walter. I held it up to show them.

‘It looks like the video has made it into the office. I have to go and sort this out, if I can. Thanks for the coffee.’

Leo burst through the kitchen door. ‘Mum, Louise is trending on TikTok.’ Then he saw me at the counter. He high-fived me, looking very proud, to my surprise.

‘This is gold, Auntie Louise.’

‘What are people saying?’

Leo stopped scrolling. ‘Well …’ he hesitated ‘… it’s mixed.’

‘Give it to me straight,’ I said.

‘It’s not good. People don’t like that you accused her of faking mental-health issues. It’s kind of a trigger word on TikTok. It’s a bit of a pile-on.’

Julie hugged me tightly. ‘Don’t worry, Louise. You did nothing wrong. People will see that. This is just a knee-jerk reaction to the initial post. People will see your side. We’re all Team Louise here.’

‘I think it’s kinda cool. There’s a meme!’ He laughed and turned his phone to show me.

It was me shouting, ‘I am so sick of your bullshit,’ with fire coming out of my mouth.

This was not good. Clients could see it. My headache was getting worse, I needed to go home. I stood up and grabbed my handbag.

Julie walked me out. ‘It’ll be okay. It’s a storm in a teacup. It’ll blow over. Let me know if I can do anything.’

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