Page 2 of Will You Stay Another Day?
Knock Knock.
Who’s there?
Woo.
Woo who?
Woo hoo, I’m excited to see you too!
It wouldn’t hurt to message her friend one last time. For the first few months after Em had passed she’d texted her often, found it comforting, even though she knew she wasn’t around any more. Indeed, the texts had petered off in recent weeks. Lili’s life needed to move forwards, that was what Mum said – and Dad. Them agreeing on anything was a rarity, significant, worth taking notice of. But there was no harm in one little final message, one final goodbye, before tomorrow arrived and life moved into another year in which Em didn’t exist. Lili sat up straighter and shuffled to get comfortable. She took out her phone, swiped away the Vegas message and tapped into texts.
Knock knock!
She added a turtle emoji afterwards. It was a private joke between them. She wouldn’t hear back but that didn’t matter. Leaving the joke open-ended made her feel Em would be chuckling about the message up in the heavens.
Lili got out and went up the drive, towards the terraced house. Em’s parents only lived a few miles away from her cottage in Truro, the one she’d once shared with Em. Colin and Shirl had moved down to Cornwall, from Manchester, after the two friends, who’d travelled abroad in their early twenties, had settled in the southern county famous for its pasties and pirates.
She knocked on the door and it immediately opened.
‘Lili, darling!’ Shirl leant forwards and gave her a tight hug.
‘Let the lass get in from the cold,’ said Colin gruffly. He winked at Lili and took her coat whilst Shirl shut the door.
‘Sorry I haven’t been over for a while. Work’s been hectic and… my trip to London took… How are you… Em’s anniversary… I still…’
Shirl placed a hand on Lili’s shoulder. ‘It’s okay, love. We never know what to say either. Em was such a big part of our everything.’
She’d been the missing quarter of their picture that, up until last October, showed the four of them enjoying sumptuous cream teas together and strolls on the beach. Colin and Shirl had both gained new facial lines and streaks of grey in their hair – the sparkle was gone from the couple, although they’d continued with their beloved Latin dancing. Their latest sexy, rhythmic moves had always caused Em to comically cringe. Whereas Lili had given up the Pilates class she and Em used to enjoy attending.
Colin and Lili headed into the lounge, cosy with well-thumbed books, boardgames, her puzzle books and his football magazines stored in shelves and on a nest of tables. He asked Lili about her sightseeing in the capital. Shirl brought in a tray of coffees and the three of them chatted about the charity shop that Lili managed, Colin’s plans to retire next year and how Shirl would miss her patients too much to leave her job in a care home. There was a resident’s hundredth birthday party on Sunday and she and Colin were helping out.
‘Been up to Manchester lately?’ asked Colin, and he bit into a custard cream. ‘Have to say, Shirl misses the shops and I miss my United season ticket.’
‘I’ll be up in December, staying at Dad’s for Christmas Day and then over to Mum’s the next morning.’
‘And how’s the love life?’ asked Shirl. ‘Met that special someone yet?’
Em would have glared, full of indignation. To be fair, Shirl had lasted a whole twenty minutes.
‘I have, but sorry, he asked me to sign an NDA.’
The three of them smiled and Shirl complimented Lili’s hair. It was blonde and plaited at the sides, and Em used to call it her Game of Thrones look. She wore pumps and jeans and a baggy jumper, a far less distinctive style than her late friend’s.
Late. Silly word for Em. Being on time was one of her things, drilled into her by her well-meaning ex-military grandfather.
Shirl got up the pizza shop app on her phone and they ordered food. Lili accepted a small glass of wine and a few sips in was laughing about a favourite story of when the four of them stumbled across nudists on a beach. Even though the drink was chilled, Lili felt toastie inside. Reminiscing. This was nice. Calm. Reassuring. For the first time in a long time Lili felt hopeful, as if her life had finally moored in steadier waters. Lili was glad she’d visited them today. Facing tomorrow would be easier.
With the pizza eaten and Lili facing an early start the next day, she waved goodbye, the three of them promising to keep in touch more often. As she drove home, there was a ping from her bag. Please, God, not the travel agency again. She pulled up on her drive, yawned and took out the phone. The screen flashed with a text.
Who’s there?
What the actual…? A reply to the Knock Knock joke?
Lili’s hands started shaking. This wasn’t happening. No. Absolutely not. And breathe… Fancy believing that Em had replied. Idiot. She inhaled and turned off the phone. It was just a glitch. She went inside. Lili brushed her teeth until her gums hurt, as if erasing the sight of that message. She got undressed, washed her face and slid between the covers. But as she reached to turn off the bedside lamp, curiosity got the better of her and she picked up the phone and turned it on. The Woo Hoo joke she’d remembered earlier brought to mind another favourite Knock Knock joke of theirs. Without giving herself time to change her mind, Lili typed back:
Boo.
Neither of them would have ever replied with the expected next line – in this instance, Boo who? Instead they’d be clever and go straight for the punchline, something like Don’t cry!
