Page 28 of A Little Light

“Well, we didn’t force the copious amounts of wine down your throat.” Andi winked, wiping the counter down for probably the tenth time since she arrived. She wanted everything to be perfect when she handed the keys over. “Okay, favourite memory here.”

Sally and Claire eyed one another, then grinned. “The day we walked in here to you choking.”

Andi rolled her eyes. “Maybe you could have led with the story first. It just makes you sound like cruel bitches otherwise!”

“I don’t know what possessed you to lie on the floor while Jane dropped Maltesers into your mouth from the mezzanine. What did you think was going to happen?”

“Well, I clearly didn’t expect to choke!” Andi couldn’t help but laugh. Poor Jane had thought she would lose Andi that night. “Remember Jane’s face?”

“I thought she was going to pass out,” Claire said, almost choking on her sip of tea.

“Don’t you start! I don’t want to clean any more than I have to.”

Sally looked over her shoulder. “Clean? The place is spotless.”

“It won’t be if your missus spits her drink everywhere.” Andi rested forward on the island, twisting her cup on the marble. “You know, of all the things I imagined happening, I didn’t think I’d lose her. I knew I would—of course I did—but we go through our lives thinking we’re invincible, don’t we?”

“We do, sweets.” Sally reached forward, taking Andi’s hand. “But think of all the amazing memories you have with her. You two were fortunate enough to travel the world with one another.”

Andi nodded slowly, staring off into space. “The greatest memories.”

“And you’re going to be okay. You have all of us…whether you want that or not.”

“I don’t know what I’d have done without you two over the last year or so.” Andi couldn’t begin to thank her friends for their love and support. She knew they’d be there for her, but so much? And without warning? No, she hadn’t expected that. They all had their own lives to take care of, but they’d come through for Andi time and time again. Before Jane passed away, and every day since. “I really do have the best friends around me.”

“So, what’s the next step?” Sally asked, climbing down from her stool and washing her cup out. “Do you have anything in particular in mind?”

“Not really. I thought the whole Rachel thing could have been exciting, but you know.” Andi shrugged. “I’m sure I’ll find something to occupy my time. Maybe I need to sit down tonight and make a list of what I’d like to achieve next.”

“It’s a real shame about Rachel. Sally was telling me all about you going for dinner together.” Claire eyed her wife. “Be a love and wash my cup out for me.”

Sally rolled her eyes at Claire but took her cup anyway. Andi loved their interaction; they reminded her of her own relationship with Jane. The four of them had been very similar in their mannerisms. “How’s Gemma doing with Alfie?”

“Not bad. Dean is still being the ultimate bastard and won’t look after him. You’d think Alfie landed on this earth out of thin air, the way he treats them. I’ve told her to stop trying. He’s a waste of bloody space!”

It was these moments when Andi only appreciated Sally and Claire more than usual. Here they were, being with Andi on the last day of the loft when Sally’s own daughter was having ex-boyfriend troubles. They should be focused on that, not Andi. “If you need to take care of things or help her out with Alfie, I’ll be fine here.”

“We said we’d be here with you until you wanted to be alone, and we meant it.”

Andi’s phone flashed on the counter, her alarm reminding her that she had twenty minutes until Rachel arrived. “Well, look at that. Right on cue.”

Sally frowned. “What do you mean?”

“I…thought I’d spend the last few minutes here alone. That was my alarm to tell me Rachel would be here soon, so you two should head off for that lunch you mentioned.”

Sally dried the cups and placed them to the side of the sink, offering Andi a smile. “Okay. Come on, love. Let’s give this one a few minutes to do what she needs to do.” She placed a hand on Claire’s shoulder, encouraging her down from her seat. And then she turned her attention to Andi. “If you need us, you call us, okay?”

“I will. But I’ll be okay.” Andi leaned in and hugged them both, following them to the door. “Maybe we could get drinks at the weekend? Or you two could come over to my place. I suppose it’s time I made it look more like a home…and emptied the boxes.”

“You’ll do it when you’re ready. Call me tonight, okay?”

Andi kissed Sally on the cheek. “I will. Have a lovely lunch. And you know, behave yourselves. I know what you two are like. I’ll get a call tonight from one of you saying you’re in a karaoke bar and you’ve lost your keys or purse.”

“We would never.” Sally winked, taking Claire’s hand. “Right, sweetheart?”

“Oh, I can’t promise anything.”

Andi watched them walk away hand in hand, feeling tremendously loved even though she was alone. It was the people in her life who made it what it was—Andi knew that. But on the very odd occasion, she did wish she had someone to call her own again.

---