Page 100 of Darling Girls

‘Ew,’ Norah said to Alicia, wiping her shoulder. ‘You drooled on me.’

‘Nothing your dogs haven’t done to me before,’ Alicia said defensively.

‘But they’redogs!’ Norah said. She was about to describe all the reasons this was more disgusting, then stopped.

Jessica.

She shot to her feet. ‘Where’s that nurse?’

The nurse had been their lifeline when they’d brought their sister in. Norah appreciated that she hadn’t tried to placate them with false hope, and for this reason trusted her implicitly. The last time they’d spoken to her, she’d told them Jessica was breathing with assistance, but she hadn’t regained consciousness.

Phil had his phone on silent, so they hadn’t been able to reach him until this morning. He was on his way now.

‘Do you think she meant to –’ Norah started, but Alicia cut her off.

‘Absolutely not,’ Alicia said. ‘She would never have done that to us.’

Norah shrugged. ‘Maybe you’re right.’

‘But that’s the problem, isn’t it? She wouldn’t do it tous. She’s always thinking about what other people want, never about what she wants.’

‘Guess who taught her that?’ Norah said.

Alicia looked around for the nurse, but she was nowhere to be seen.

‘Hey,’ Meera said, appearing with a tray of takeaway coffees. ‘I got these from the service station but it should still be better than the stuff they serve here.’

Norah grabbed a coffee, took a sip, then immediately spat it out. It tasted horrible. ‘Thanks, Meera,’ she said. She didn’t want to be impolite.

Alicia took a coffee and kissed Meera on the mouth. Norah wondered if they were dating. She hoped they were. Alicia was different with Meera around. She stood taller. They had the subtle chemistry of people with a deep connection – their movements felt in sync, their words blended artfully.

Norah liked Meera. She’d driven Norah to the hospital, exceeding the speed limit enough to show an appreciation of the gravity of the situation but not so much as to risk more tragedy. She hadn’t offered Norah any baseless assurances. She’d bought coffee (it wasn’t her fault it was disgusting). Norah could handle having her around. She just prayed Alicia wouldn’t fuck it up.

‘Hey, Norah,’ Meera said. ‘Take a look at this.’

She handed Norah her phone, which displayed a news article. Norah scanned the headline.

PRIMARY SCHOOL VICE PRINCIPAL QUITS AFTER PORNOGRAPHY EXTORTION SCANDAL – LEAKED TEXT MESSAGES RELEASED.

Norah looked up. ‘Meera!’

She raised her hand to give the woman a high five, but Meera was unavailable because Alicia was already kissing her. Under the circumstances, Norah let it slide.

‘More to come regarding legal charges,’ Meera added, when she came up for air, ‘but at least he won’t be working around children anymore. He’s still blocked from your phone, isn’t he?’

Norah nodded.

‘Good. Keep it that way, okay?’

Norah nodded again, feeling the tight sensation in her chest loosen for the first time in days.

‘Did you speak to Phil?’ Meera asked Alicia, when they broke apart.

She nodded. ‘He’s on his way.’

‘Great,’ she said. ‘And how’s Jessica?’

‘We were about to go looking for an update.’