Page 117 of Tricky Girls

From the house, I hear the chihuahua bark and a shriek from either Maisie or Taylor. Elly had introduced me to the bunch before dashing off. I offered to go with her but she declined. Hersiblings are a little wild. Dan and Taylor talka lot, following me around as I went to the kitchen, the bathroom, to the shed to get dressed. I had to politely tell Taylor to go do one. Even Maisie, who’s yet to say a single word to me, has all the energy of a diminutive hurricane.

It was overwhelming. I’ve been hiding in the shed ever since.

Looking at Elly now, I wish I just went with her.

‘Tell me what happened.’

She sighs. ‘You can’t go in the bedrooms. You can only visit in the lounge space. I thought maybe she didn’t get my texts about coming so I sent a nurse to get her, but she refused to come out and see me. Wouldn’t even say why.’

‘What the fuck? She owes you at least that much.’

Elly scrubs her face. ‘Yeah. She gets like this. Just wants to shut everything out.’ She barks out a watery laugh. ‘Including me, apparently.’

‘We only came home early to see her.’

‘Yeah, well, what can you do?’ Drawing in a breath, she meets my eyes. ‘How are you getting on anyway? Survived breakfast?’

‘Just.I’m not used to such a crazy house. I like your siblings though. They’re like little talkative barnacles. Apart from Maisie. Does she ever speak?’

‘Yeah, when there’s not strangers around. I was the same way as a kid, if you can believe it. Wouldn’t speak for toffee. My teachers all thought I was thick as shit.’

‘And now look at you. Best uni in the country.’

‘Take that, St Marie’s Primary School.’

Her smile falls after a moment and she goes back to staring at the ceiling.

Leant up on my elbow, I give her head a little rub, amazed as always by how soft her hair is.

Elly glances at me, down to my lips, then closes her eyes with a sigh.

I could do it now. Just lean down and kiss her. Finally get it out of my brain. She’s obviously thinking about it too.

But then I hear scratching at the door, followed by a pitiful whine.

‘Who let the dogs out?’ we say at the same time, cracking up.

Her phone goes off and she scoops it up, obviously hoping it’ll be her mum. She holds it above her face, clearly not caring if I see too.

Haz: Tilda told me. Sorry man. Hope your mum’s okay. Thinking of you.

Haz: And next time tell me fucker so I can help!!

‘There you go,’ I murmur.

Elly gets off the bed, straightening her Christmas jumper. Did she wear that to the hospital? To give her mum some Christmas cheer? Oh, my heart.

She holds out a hand. ‘Ready to face the beasts? You’ve got me for protection now.’

I put my hand in hers. ‘Ready.’

Elly

I hobble to the table to deposit my armload of baking goodies. ‘What even is the fucking day?’

‘Christmas Eve Eve,’ Tilda informs me.

‘Ah.’ I smile. ‘Sweet. Don’t be surprised when Nan plies us with drinks all day.’

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