soft in your old age.â She paused to ruffle the ears of the dogs now standing beside her.
âGuilty as charged,â Steve said cheerfully.
Theyâd always got on well and, like Steve had commented only a few days ago, Tiffany hadnât lost her sense of humour despite losing Todd. Jessica thought that was more about her friend faking it until she made it, though; there was a tightness behind the smile that didnât totally include her eyes. Men didnât tend to be as observant as women with these things, she thought, but Steve was often the exception. Sometimes Jessica wondered if heâd seen Tiffanyâs pain too, and was playing along.
âSome prescription drugs and books and magazines for you, oh injured one,â Tiffany said, dumping her armful and handbag at the end of the table. âNothing like a bit of A-list gossip to keep you going.â She wrapped Jessica in her arms from behind and leant around to kiss her on the cheek. âLooks like someoneâs got a slave,â she said, nodding at the makings of garlic bread.
âTiffany, let me introduce my sous chef,â Steve said, sweeping his arm in Jessicaâs direction after placing a round pie plate with plastic tub of cream on top onto the bench.
âThanks so much for coming,â Jessica said, holding onto her friendâs arms. âAnd for all the goodies.â Jessica tried not to drool at the thought of more Panadeine Forte. She liked the snuggly feeling it gave her â aside from the pain relief â and was probably getting a little too attached already.
âAre you kidding? As if Iâm going to pass up free food â not to mention seeing Steve in his frilly pinny,â Tiffany said with another laugh. But Jessica could read the subtext: anything was better than sitting around in her tiny, drab rental on her own.
âYouâre always welcome when you bring apple pie and double cream,â Steve said.
âYou shouldnât have,â Jessica said in a serious, scolding tone. She knew how tight Tiffany was doing it financially and how desperately she didnât want to have to call on her parents. They had insisted on loaning her a few thousand for the deposit on the rental, and to help with removal costs. Jessica had urged her friend to accept it â pointing out that the offer was as much about them as it was about her; helping was what parents did. Tiffany had compromised by accepting the money as a loan, rather than the originally offered gift.
âSo how was the trial run?â Jessica asked as Tiffany pulled a chair out and sat down.
âGreat. I know itâs nothing flash but, you know, I think Iâm really going to like it there â and not just because of the staff discount. The people seem really nice and itâs a lot more interesting than I thought it would be.â
âThatâs great.â
âWhatâs this about a new job?â Steve asked, taking the finished, foil-wrapped garlic bread to the oven. âWhy didnât I know about it?â
âIâve got a few days at Millersâ Fodder.â
âThatâs great. Well done, you,â he said, giving her a hug.
âWell, itâs just three days for now, and the moneyâs nothing to crow about, but itâs a start,â she said with a shrug.
âIâll drink to that,â Steve said, pouring Tiffany a glass of wine and handing it to her.
âThanks,â she said.
Tiffany and Steve raised their wine glasses and Jessica her water tumbler, and they clinked glasses as Steve gave a toast in his lovely, deep, velvety voice.
âTo good friends,â he declared.
âYes, to good friends,â Tiffany and Jessica responded. And absent ones, Jessica silently added.
âSo whatâs the story with the dogs being inside?â Tiffany had taken a few sips of wine, put her glass down, and was now looking at the dogs snoozing on the
âGuilty as charged,â Steve said cheerfully.
Theyâd always got on well and, like Steve had commented only a few days ago, Tiffany hadnât lost her sense of humour despite losing Todd. Jessica thought that was more about her friend faking it until she made it, though; there was a tightness behind the smile that didnât totally include her eyes. Men didnât tend to be as observant as women with these things, she thought, but Steve was often the exception. Sometimes Jessica wondered if heâd seen Tiffanyâs pain too, and was playing along.
âSome prescription drugs and books and magazines for you, oh injured one,â Tiffany said, dumping her armful and handbag at the end of the table. âNothing like a bit of A-list gossip to keep you going.â She wrapped Jessica in her arms from behind and leant around to kiss her on the cheek. âLooks like someoneâs got a slave,â she said, nodding at the makings of garlic bread.
âTiffany, let me introduce my sous chef,â Steve said, sweeping his arm in Jessicaâs direction after placing a round pie plate with plastic tub of cream on top onto the bench.
âThanks so much for coming,â Jessica said, holding onto her friendâs arms. âAnd for all the goodies.â Jessica tried not to drool at the thought of more Panadeine Forte. She liked the snuggly feeling it gave her â aside from the pain relief â and was probably getting a little too attached already.
âAre you kidding? As if Iâm going to pass up free food â not to mention seeing Steve in his frilly pinny,â Tiffany said with another laugh. But Jessica could read the subtext: anything was better than sitting around in her tiny, drab rental on her own.
âYouâre always welcome when you bring apple pie and double cream,â Steve said.
âYou shouldnât have,â Jessica said in a serious, scolding tone. She knew how tight Tiffany was doing it financially and how desperately she didnât want to have to call on her parents. They had insisted on loaning her a few thousand for the deposit on the rental, and to help with removal costs. Jessica had urged her friend to accept it â pointing out that the offer was as much about them as it was about her; helping was what parents did. Tiffany had compromised by accepting the money as a loan, rather than the originally offered gift.
âSo how was the trial run?â Jessica asked as Tiffany pulled a chair out and sat down.
âGreat. I know itâs nothing flash but, you know, I think Iâm really going to like it there â and not just because of the staff discount. The people seem really nice and itâs a lot more interesting than I thought it would be.â
âThatâs great.â
âWhatâs this about a new job?â Steve asked, taking the finished, foil-wrapped garlic bread to the oven. âWhy didnât I know about it?â
âIâve got a few days at Millersâ Fodder.â
âThatâs great. Well done, you,â he said, giving her a hug.
âWell, itâs just three days for now, and the moneyâs nothing to crow about, but itâs a start,â she said with a shrug.
âIâll drink to that,â Steve said, pouring Tiffany a glass of wine and handing it to her.
âThanks,â she said.
Tiffany and Steve raised their wine glasses and Jessica her water tumbler, and they clinked glasses as Steve gave a toast in his lovely, deep, velvety voice.
âTo good friends,â he declared.
âYes, to good friends,â Tiffany and Jessica responded. And absent ones, Jessica silently added.
âSo whatâs the story with the dogs being inside?â Tiffany had taken a few sips of wine, put her glass down, and was now looking at the dogs snoozing on the
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