Page 81 of When The Night Falls

Tyler chuckled. ‘That attenuated the intense debate rather quickly.’

‘Cara is quite similar to a beast, actually.’ Olivia laughed. ‘Feed her her favourite treats and she’ll be placated.’

‘I’m sorry, I’m too opinionated. I just get so engaged,’ I apologised.

‘Never apologise for that, my dear,’ Mary-Anne said. ‘You’re a delight.’

Tyler asked me, ‘Have you considered going into politics?’

I scoffed. ‘No. I imagine I’d have to sacrifice my values on several occasions if I had hoped to get anywhere.’

‘The caustic tone.’ He smiled. ‘Did you vote leave or remain?’

‘Brexit? Remain, absolutely, for an abundance of reasons.’

‘Me too.’

‘Let’s not go into that.’ Olivia shook her head. ‘The whole thing still makes me angry.’

‘I heard you received an offer to extend your placement at Day & Night this summer,’ Mary-Anne said to me then.

If the mention hadn’t immediately reminded me of William, I would have grinned, but instead, a shy smile was all I gave.

‘I did.’

‘That’s something we ought to raise our glasses to.’ She lifted hers.

‘Aaron’s placement at Dentons deserves the same,’ I said.

‘To Aaron and Cara, then.’ She grinned.

‘Meanwhile, my marks didn’t make the cut,’ Olivia murmured amusedly.

‘Hey,’ I said after a sip. ‘Don’t let that bring you down.’

‘I won’t.’ She nodded. ‘I’m honestly overjoyed on your behalf. Knowing how hard you and Aaron work, you deserve it. I wish I could say the same, but I’m much lazier than you. Now I’m paying the price.’

Mary-Anne reached over and squeezed her hand. ‘Never give up. Perseverance is always rewarded in the end.’

Olivia smiled fondly at her.

§ § §

After dinner, I helped Mary-Anne clean the dishes while the others remained in the living room and watched TV. I was thankful for some quietness. My brain was exhausted after today’s exam, and socialising was something I usually found taxing, so I didn’t say much, but that was something I had always adored about Mary-Anne: just like Aaron, she was extremely comfortable to be around. I never felt the need to say something to break the silence because, around her, I always felt welcome to be myself.

‘Aaron told me the exam was tough,’ she said after a while.

‘It was brutal.’

‘And the next one is on Thursday next week?’

‘Yeah. I’ll start revising for it tomorrow. I need a day off.’

‘Understandable.’ She reached over and stroked my arm. ‘I’m very grateful to you, Cara. Aaron’s always been a bit of a loner, but I can tell he’s thrilled with his life at UCL, and I suspect I have you to thank for it.’

I chuckled. ‘Hardly. Between the two of us, he’s the more likeable person. I’ve been told I tend to intimidate people. Aaron gets on with everyone.’

My phone rang in my pocket then. I dried my hands and pulled it out. Jason was calling.

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