Page 60 of Such a Good Couple
Finally Conor spoke up. ‘Guys,’ he looked at Maggie and Fionn, ‘relationships in the real world are more complicated. It’s not as simple as Ollie taking a luxury mini-break in south County Dublin. Why shouldhehave to leave his kids? Why does Clara get to stay in her home?’
‘Okay, thanks for schooling us on thereal world,’ Maggie snapped. She’d had enough. ‘I’m sure you learned a lot about thereal worldgrowing up on the mean streets of Foxrock, Conor.’
‘Maggie …’ Fionn held his hands out palms down in a placating gesture, the international sign for ‘calm down’ which had never in the history of the international-sign-for-calm-down successfully calmed anyone down.
‘He’s acting like we were born to all this.’ She gestured at Conor. ‘We come from more normal backgrounds than you do, Conor. Fionn was raised by a single mum, for God’s sake. My parents worked their asses off and still they couldn’t afford to give us any money for college.’ She grabbed her phone. ‘I’m heading out.’ She’d text Annie to meet her down at the swimming place instead – she was truly over the guys at this point. ‘Enjoy the rest of the day,’ she finished sarcastically, and charged into the house to get dressed, aware that storming into her eight-million-euro home on the richest terrace in Dublin was probably undermining her point slightly.
As Maggie made her way down the ramp to the swimming spot, she was surprised to see Annie there already, holding her runners and dipping a toe in to test the temperature of the water. The swimming spot wasn’t a beach; it was, like many bathing areas in the city, a concrete platform surrounding an old Martello tower with steps down into the sea. There were whitewashed stone structures for changing under, and in recent years outdoor showers had been added.
‘Hey,’ Maggie called, waving.
Annie held up a hand in greeting and started towards the end of the ramp.
‘How’re you here already?’ Maggie squinted as the weak sun tried to assert itself in spite of a stubborn cloud cover that had come down over the day.
‘Well, Rachel’s place is only over in Blackrock, remember? And we were out for coffee in the village already, so I figured I’d just head on over. Start psyching myself up for getting in.’ She nodded at the steely Irish Sea that looked inhospitable even in late July.
‘Ah.’ Maggie nodded, laying her towel down and slipping off her long, striped Adriana Degreas kaftan, automatically pulling her stomach in. ‘Listen, not sure if you can sense it on the wind but Conor is still up in our house. So is Ollie.’
Annie gave a shrug. ‘They’re like pubic lice, they get everywhere.’ She pulled off her oversized T-shirt. ‘Well, not Fionn. Sorry.’
‘Since when have you had pubic lice?’ Maggie grinned. ‘In fact, stop, I don’t need the visual!’ Maggie kicked off her flip-flops. ‘Anyway, Ollie is in the worst form I’ve ever seen him in. Like a different person.’
‘Yeah,’ Annie echoed. ‘Clara is even more unhinged than usual.’
‘Oh?’ Maggie sensed Annie was referencing somethingspecific, and from the slightly abashed expression now spreading across Annie’s features, she had not been supposed to say anything.
Annie shuffled her shorts off and snapped the edges of her swimsuit to adjust it. ‘I love your togs.’ She tried to deflect.
‘Na-ah. What’s she saying to you that she’s not saying to me?’ Maggie raised an eyebrow, ignoring the slight prick of hurt that sometimes came when the girls seemed to be leaving her out.Not important, Maggie. You’re a grown woman!
‘Okay.’ Annie rubbed her upper arms where goosebumps had appeared. ‘Do not say anything. She’ll tell you herself anyway. Look, she was chatting to some TV guy on Friday night and he was telling her about some mad show he’s doing about divorcing couples. Basically she said it’s likeLove Islandbut for couples who hate each other. The prize is an all-expenses-paid divorce.’
‘Oh God.’
‘I know,’ Annie agreed. ‘It’s calledDivorce Island. The couples do tasks to help them decide whether to stay together or split up.’
‘She doesn’t actually think this is a real option, does she?’ Maggie felt, somewhat to her surprise, a rising irritation with her friend. After the tetchy exchange with Ollie, she’d been firmly on Clara’s side, but God, she made supporting her difficult sometimes.
Annie looked uncertain. ‘I really don’t know how serious she is.’
Maggie shook her head. ‘This is the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard.I’dpay for her divorce. I’d pay for them to rent another house for Ollie to move into. Ollie was just giving me shit for offering themourhouse to stay in but, like, if the choice is go on a reality TV show or take some money …’ She threw her hands up in exasperation.
‘Maggie!’ Annie looked to be trying to modulate her voice.‘Can you just … not. I think Clara and I have said it enough times at this stage. Money between friends is weird. Don’t you think you constantly trying to pay away our problems is … well … patronising. I know you mean well, but it doesn’t feel good and I would suggest you stop.’
Shame swam through Maggie and she felt a little panicky.Well. They’ve clearly talked about this one between themselves.It was not a nice thought.
‘Okay,’ Maggie said quietly, looking at the large stone slabs underfoot.
Annie slid an arm around her. ‘Don’t get upset, Maggie. I won’t see you for ages. Let’s swim. It’s alright. Clara will cop on and they’ll get sorted.’
Maggie put an arm around Annie as well. ‘What about you?’ she asked as they made their way over to the lapping water.
‘I’ll be fine too.’ Annie reached for the handrail of the steps and Maggie followed behind her, each of them starting to squeal as they lowered themselves in. At the height of summer, the sea was barely warmer than on the coldest day of winter. A lot of Irish people swam all year round – knitted beanie hats bobbing around in the water was not an uncommon sight in the chillier months.
When they were fully submerged, gently treading water and their breathing had calmed, Annie spoke again. ‘I feel a lot better, you know.’
Maggie looked at her but Annie’s gaze was trained on the horizon – in the grey of the day the edge of the ocean made a defined navy line across the bay. Maggie said nothing, giving Annie the space to share.
