Page 64 of Such a Good Couple
‘Yeah. Saturday’s the auditions.’
Rachel frowned. ‘I thought this was all organised.’
‘It is,’ Annie explained. ‘The producer told Clara they were cast but didn’t want anyone accusing him of preferential treatment so they have to go to the casting like anyone else. Also, the show will be recording lots of stuff at it to use in the first episode.’
‘Right.’ Rachel grinned. ‘So, what’ll we do with the boys? Should we just bring them straight to a therapist?’
‘Ooof, yeah.’ Annie winced slightly. She didn’t want to be judgy, especially as she really didn’t have the first clue what Clara’s life was like, but going on a reality show seemed beyond drastic.
An hour later, lying in bed, Annie finally got a reply from Clara about the picture.
Clara: Are we looking at the dress? The kids? Fionn? Jack Black in the background?!
Annie rolled her eyes but then caught herself. Wait, it’s a good sign that Clara’s not seeing it. Annie started typing.
Annie: You don’t think she looks smaller?
Annie waited. She could see Clara was still online, no doubt taking a closer look at the shot.
Clara: She looks slim but not bony or anything like that. I’mnot seeing anything dramatic.
Clara: Then again, we completely fucking missed the warning signs last time.
Annie: I know. And there were a couple of ‘off moments’ on the holiday …
Annie watched ‘Clara typing’ for several minutes before her reply dropped in below.
Clara: That whole holiday was one big long ‘off moment’. The one good sign is that she seems to be in a great mood in the group chat. She’s buzzing about this new play idea –the Medea one. It’s so exciting to hear her talking about creating again. Just checking … Medea is the one where the woman finds out her husband’s leaving her for a hotter, younger woman and she freaks out and kills the kids?!
Annie: Yeah. The Greeks were so extra. But you’re right, it’s amazing to hear her so excited about her work after so long.
Annie put the phone down for a minute. Outside the little window opposite, darkness had descended, but it was only after lunch for Maggie. She might even be in the office she’d set up in the house – the picture she’d sent them showed a tan leather swivel chair and a pale wooden desk placed before double doors leading to the pool area. Annie picked her phone back up and typed.
Annie: I suppose as long as her mood seems good, it’s probably okay, isn’t it? Surely she wouldn’t be working on the project if she was struggling with food again.
Clara replied:
Clara: We can just keep an eye on it. Don’t worry, Annie, I’m sure she’s grand, sure she’s surrounded by people at all times.
This was true, Annie reflected. She was reminded of Betty, the housekeeper. It was great that she was there every day.
The following Saturday, Annie was still knocking back painkillers. Going by her discomfort, her period was imminent. As she got into Rachel’s car to head for the hotel where theDivorce Islandauditions were being held, she was trying to avoid thoughts of how every twist and cramp was a reminder of how not pregnant she was. All she had to look forward to now was menopause. Yay.
Beside her, Rachel was looking summery in a matching gingham top and shorts, and Annie found herself looking down at Rachel’s pale, thick thighs and felt a throb of desire. Unsettled, Annie quickly crossed her legs and pulled on her seatbelt.
I can’t get like that about Rachel.
Annie felt a little breathless. They started up Church Street and joined a queue of cars trying to get onto the main road. She was also suddenly hyper-aware of how close they were in the car. The throb was becoming more insistent and Annie rearranged herself again to try and shut it down. Of course, she’d thought Rachel was attractive, gorgeous even, from the moment they’d met but she’d been so preoccupied with Conor and trying for a baby that she’d never gone there in her mind. And now that they were living together, it definitely wouldn’t be the best plan. Plus, Rachel was straight.Cop on, she told herself firmly. Entertaining a crush on one of her best friends when she was quite possibly on the rebound and living in said best friend’s spare room wouldnot be smart.
At the Elmore Hotel, they parked and followed the signs for Too Real Productions that led from the reception to a long, carpeted corridor that was crowded with couples predominantly in their forties. The atmosphere was noticeably un-buzzy. From what Annie had seen on shows likeThe X Factor, reality show auditions were usually more upbeat, full of optimistic hopefuls believing that, should this one encounter go well, their whole lives might change. Instead,thesepeople all bore an expression of being completelydonewith life.
‘Annie!’ Clara appeared in the melee, waving. ‘Thank you so much for doing this.’ She embraced Annie and turned to Rachel. ‘Are we on hugging terms yet?’
‘Well, I’m minding your kids while you try to convince some TV producers that your marriage is on the rocks … so yeah?’
Clara laughed and gave her a hug. ‘We really appreciate it. Ollie is in there now, then I go in and then they interview us together. The kids are just in here.’ Clara steered them into a large room off the corridor.
‘I’m still unclear.’ Annie followed, frowning. ‘I know they’re doing education stuff but how are you going to manage the actual childcare during filming?’
