Page 96 of Such a Good Couple
‘And me!’ Rachel laughed. ‘Spot the people who never got real jobs!’
‘Real jobs are overrated,’ announced Clara. ‘I hate mine.’
‘Well, you’re a reality star now.’ Danny winked. ‘Sorry! Not to be creepy but I know who you are. Me and my mam didn’t miss asecondof the show. Where’s Ollie?’ Concern flickered across his face. ‘You two are still … together? Please don’t break our hearts now.’
‘We are.’ Clara fussed with the menu. ‘We’re doing okay,’ she whispered, glancing at the kids. ‘He’s doing the marathon. We just saw him off at the starting line. I’m tracking his number on the app so we’ll head to the finish line later.’
‘Gorge.’ Danny smiled. ‘Okay, we’ve got divine specials …’
‘So, tell us about the play, Maggie.’ Beside Annie, Rachel was shaking Tabasco on her eggs.
Maggie smiled. ‘Well, I’ve nearly finished the very messy, shitty first draft. Adapting is easier in some ways because the structure is kind of there. And the producers are already bidding on theatre spaces for next autumn. So I guess it’s real!’
‘Ahhh, it is so exciting! Have you read it, Fionn?’ Clara said, leaning over to squeeze ketchup onto Reggie’s plate.
‘Not yet.’ He flashed a grin and took Maggie’s hand. ‘She wants me to wait for the next draft. Though I’m tempted to over-rule this! I just can’t wait.’
‘Annie says it’s an updatedMedea?’ Rachel rested her elbow on the back of Annie’s chair, a move Annie spotted Conor noting.
‘Yeah.’ Maggie fiddled with her pizza, cutting a thin slice. Annie could see she didn’t seem overly keen to elaborate.
‘It’s a brilliant take,’ Annie said. ‘It’sMedeabut she’s like a Hollywood wife!’ At this, Maggie’s eyes snapped up to meet Annie’s.Was there a warning there?Annie wondered.
‘A Hollywood wife?’ Fionn looked at Maggie. ‘Meaning … what exactly?’
‘Meaning … you know,’ Maggie picked up her pizza, ‘it’s set in Hollywood.’ She took a bite and looked at Annie with something approaching irritation.
Oh shite, Annie thought,she hasn’t told himanythingabout the actual story yet.
Annie looked over at Clara, who was evidently realising the same thing.
‘I see …’ Fionn said slowly.
‘So!’ Clara put her knife and fork together with a clatter and turned to Annie and Rachel. ‘How’s the house plans going, gals? Are you two still looking to rent a massive semi-d in suburbia?’ she asked chirpily, clearly trying to cover for the uptick in tension at the table.
‘We wish!’ Rachel laughed. ‘We realised that we’d have to sell the baby to afford it!’
Gah!Annie squirmed, catching Conor’s frown. Maybe this conversation was not the best route to dispel the tension. They were not in ‘Rachel joking about Conor’s baby’ territory yet – maybe one day.
‘When do you think Ollie will be finished?’ Annie asked, feeling suddenly desperate to be released from the table.
‘Oh, hours yet,’ Clara said looking a touch nervous, no doubt reading Annie’s mind.
‘Great.’ Annie smiled weakly.
‘Let’s look at the desserts,’ Maggie said brightly, pushing her plate away. ‘I booked us in to get our nails done.’ She looked at Conor and Fionn. ‘You guys can handle five kids, right?’
‘They can definitely handle it,’ Clara remarked. ‘I saw Fionn punch a tiger in the face inEndurance 2the other day!’
CHAPTER 23
Clara hastily pulled away from ComYOUnicate and merged with the Monday traffic. It was only 4 p.m. but, given it was late October, it was already night outside. Depressing but inevitable. The clocks had just gone back but the extra hour did little to dispel the sense that every day was spent in darkness. Working overtime meant she was already at her desk by the time it was bright out, and when she was leaving to go to her car, the inky gloom was already back. Even with leaving work early today it wasstillmiserable, black and rainy. She needed to get to the Eurosaver before it closed. It was only five kilometres away but in Dublin you had to factor in that about a million people were also trying to drive somewhere using roads and general infrastructure that was, in the main, a sprawling, baffling mess. Add the drizzle and you were essentially screwed.
She inched the car forward then stopped again, which gave her the chance to pick up her phone and voicy Ollie.
I’m fucked. It’s now raining so obviously people have abandoned all efforts to drive in any kind of sane fashion. And before you say it, I know I’m voicying and driving right now!ButI don’t ever claim to drive in any kind of sane fashion.
She hesitated as she was about to hit ‘send’. Maybe this was a bit too … much? Too chatty or glib?
