Page 34 of The Secret We Keep
Walking to the bathroom, I ignore her as I pass. I brush my teeth and head back to my room, taking a glass of water with me. “Bathroom’s all yours.”
“Nah,” she says from under the covers of the tail end of my bed. “I can’t be bothered to get out.”
“Disgusting.”
She laughs.
“So, what do you have planned for tomorrow?” I climb into bed and get under the covers.
“I’m going to see my aunt up in Scotland.”
I sit up straight. “How long for?” I try to smile, but inside, I don’t want her to leave me.
“A few days. I don’t know.”
We stare at each other.
“Is she okay?” I ask to be supportive.
Holly and I haven’t really spent any time apart while she’s been studying for her master’s degree. She usually stays up late studying, and I’ve struggled to sleep lately. It’s just become habit for us to keep each other company.
Holly flicks back the covers, the rush of air making the loose strands of hair land on her face. “She needs me to help out for a few days. That’s all.”
“Oh.” I deflate like a slow punctured tyre.
“You’ll be fine without me, Morgan. Anyway, sounds like Paddy’s back for longer this time.”
My lungs quickly fill when I rush out, “What do you mean?”
She turns her attention to me. “I mean, isn’t it weird that he never comes home, like, ever. Then, in the space of a few weeks, he’s back twice?” She gives her head a mild shake. “No, something’s different this time.”
“That’s what Fi said,” I confess, remembering that there was something he didn’t want to talk about the other day.
“Hmm,” Holly muses to herself. “I wonder what it could be?”
I lay down under the covers. “You should ask him.”
“I don’t know. You seem to be getting closer to him?”
“Closer to him?” I lift my head off the pillow, looking at her. “I wouldn’t say that. He tried to pressure me into walking his family pet. It was uncalled for.” My head hits the pillow again.
I don’t need to see her face to know she’s smiling. “Okay. Good night.”
“Night,” I say back with a hint of irritation, eyes wide open, sleep feeling a million miles away.
After a restless attempt at sleeping, I can’t stand to lie in the quiet any longer. I roll out of bed, looking at the clock on my bedside table. “Happy birthday,” I tell myself, feeling no different than I did yesterday. I reach for my dressing gown and slide my feet into my slippers.
When I make it downstairs, the air is chilly. The sun is just beginning to rise behind the tree line at the end of the garden, a beam of light making its way into the kitchen.
Moving into its path, I let it hit my face, taking a moment to myself. I wonder if today I should go outside, perhaps walk or even try and go for a run, you know, something different.
With the idea in mind, I boil the kettle and make a cup of tea, turning to see Holly standing at the door.
“Happy birthday, bestie,” she says sweetly.
“Sorry,” I tell her quietly. “Didn’t mean to wake you. Want one?” I point at the kettle.
“No, I’m good.” Holly smiles. “Did you find your gift?” She inclines her head to a small box on the table.
