Page 63 of Such a Good Couple
Annie: Trifle and Sopranos?
Rachel: Amazing, just tidying up in here.
A minute later, Annie spotted the lights go out in the studio and Rachel, red hair tumbling as always, stepping carefully through the tall grass to the back door.
They settled themselves in the living room just off the dining room. On the TV, Tony and Carmela were having a row while Rachel offered a running commentary between spoons of trifle.
‘Truly, how does she tolerate the breathing thing? I swear, 85 per cent of his dialogue is just rhythmic nasal congestion.’
‘She likes being the queen of New Jersey,’ Annie suggested.
‘This is so good, by the way.’ Rachel raised her bowl of trifle.
Annie shifted around, trying to get more comfortable.
‘You okay?’ Rachel looked over.
‘Yeah.’ Annie picked her trifle up again. ‘I’m just crampy. I feel like PMS used to be the support act and now it’s becoming more of a ball-ache than the actual menstruating part. Period’s not even due till the end of the week.’
‘Poor Annie.’ Rachel found Annie’s ankle amid the jewel-coloured velvet pillows on the couch and gave it a rub. ‘Will I get you paracetamol? Or a hot-water bottle?’
‘Thanks, but I think I’m okay. I’m too clammy for a hot-water bottle.’ She grinned. ‘But, yeah, if you would grab the paracetamol for me, that’d be amazing, I am absolutely wrecked. Who would be a woman?’
They paused Tony and Carm while Rachel went to hunt out the meds and Annie took out her phone for a quick scroll. She tapped the Insta icon and then got a mild jolt as a red-carpet picture of Fionn, Maggie, Dodi and Essie was at the top of her feed.
It’ll never be normal, she thought ruefully, looking at them posing for photographers.
She tapped to expand the caption and see where her friendswere. A premiere for the new Pixar movie. Annie examined the picture more closely and zoomed in. Maggie was wearing a scoop-necked dress. Annie looked at her clavicles, wondering if they had been this pronounced at Donal’s party. Worry crept through her and she took a screenshot.
She opened WhatsApp and took special care to make sure she put the screenshot in her thread with Clara andnotin Slags For Life. This was the minefield that was life in the modern era.
‘What’s the face for?’ Rachel had returned.
‘Oh, I’m kind of worried about Maggie.’ Annie paused, wondering if it would be wrong to tell Rachel the full story, though at the same time, Annie wasn’t sure there was anyone she trusted more. She pulled Rachel down to sit beside her.
‘Listen, Maggie had an eating disorder when we were young. In college. It got seriously out of hand.’ Annie unlocked her phone again and brought up the image of Maggie to show Rachel. ‘Does she look smaller to you? Since we saw her two weeks ago.’
‘Okay.’ Rachel pinched the screen to zoom in on Maggie a bit. ‘She looks … slim,’ Rachel murmured. ‘But,’ she looked up, ‘you’d know better what Maggie usually looks like. And I guess eating disorders don’t always look how we think they’re going to look.’ She handed the phone back. ‘Sorry, I feel like that is no help. Have you talked to Clara about it? Or Fionn even?’
‘Clara … a bit. Not really. It was hard to get a moment alone together in Provincetown. At all times things seemed to be going to shit. I just sent her that pic, though.’ Annie grimaced at the cramps, then continued. ‘I had a few moments in Provincetown when I felt like something was off with Maggie and I did talk to her but she seemed grand. She’s still seeing a counsellor, so that’s good. But we didn’t chat for long and then I suppose everything got completely overshadowed by all the drama. I feel like if I went to Fionn, Maggie would see that as a completebetrayal. Also, I just don’t know how much he is actually around her anymore. Which is obviously a worry in itself.’
‘It’s so grim.’ Rachel popped two paracetamol out of the packet and handed them across to Annie along with a glass of water. ‘They’re really not selling the old “lifestyle of the rich and famous”, are they? The house is insane, though.’
‘It is. Did I tell you she offered it to Clara and Ollie to stay in while they’re copping on to themselves and getting over this stupid divorce idea?’
‘You did. A true testament to how deranged Clara is that she is picking a reality TV show over a well-meaning handout from a friend.’
‘I dunno.’ Annie paused to swallow back the pills, then cleared her throat. ‘Maybe you’d have to experience having two friends become insanely, mind-bogglingly rich to understand. It does something to the relationship. I think if I were in Clara’s position, I’d be the same. No charity from friends. It’s infantilising or something. Plus, in a weird way, this reality show is totally Clara’s kind of thing. She is feckin’ delighted to escape her real life for three weeks. Pretend she lives in a bikini on a Greek island and has no responsibilities. She can take the time off work because they’re renting the house out while they’re gone so that’ll cover the bills.’
‘I’m still shocked that she got Ollie on board.’ Rachel pressed her lips together, shaking her head.
‘Oh, he is still iffy. She’s working on him, been leaning into what an amazing experience it’d be for the boys.’
Rachel snorted. ‘I am sorry butwhat?Surely there’s nothing in the world more toxic than your parents competing for a divorce on national television?’
‘She’s focusing on how travelling to Kos for three weeks will broaden their horizons, yada yada yada. Cuz it’s a divorce show, most of the couples have kids, so the producers have a wholeeducational programme organised to run alongside the filming.’
‘That is smart.’ Rachel pointed a playful finger gun at Annie. ‘So, what is the thing on Saturday about? We’re still minding the boys?’
