Page 55 of One Day at a Time

Orla was puzzled. ‘In what way?’

Keli sighed. ‘Okay, you’ll need to follow me with this one, because it’s one of those small-world coincidence things. Like the fates you’re always going on about. I was telling my mum that you were in the same antenatal class as Maddie, and that she used to share a house with Dylan Bennet, and then my mum told her neighbour that, and then it turns out that the neighbour works with the mother of Dylan’s ex-wife, who then told Dylan’s ex, and then it came all the way back down the chain that apparently his ex – I can’t remember her name – put two and two together and might have made six. According to the story that came back to my mum, who we’re now calling The Daily Gilda because she seems to be spreading news far and wide, they’re getting back together and the prospect of a pregnant skeleton in the closet didn’t please her. Has Maddie said anything?’

So much for the fates being back in charge and on her side. They appeared to have had a small blip already. But then, Maddie hadn’t mentioned it, so… ‘No. I’m sure it’s fine. Anyway, the father of Maddie’s baby is her ex-boyfriend, so the ex-wife has nothing to be concerned about.’

Orla made a mental note to give Maddie a call tomorrow to check on her anyway. They didn’t know each other very well yet, but they’d established a connection that Orla was very much enjoying. In fact, it was one of the best things about the last month. That and the relief that she’d finally confirmed that her husband wasn’t cheating.

‘Ah, that’s okay then.’ Keli sat back, pleased to hear that. ‘In other news, The Daily Gilda has invited you over for Hogmanay dinner. It’s a small affair. Just about a hundred of her closest friends, she’s shutting down the street and she’s applied to the council to have fireworks at midnight.’

Orla grinned as she nodded. ‘And we’d love to come – just as long as we’re still a two and not a three by then.’ Orla did feel the familiar pang of envy that she had when Keli, or anyone else, for that matter, talked about their families. Yes, she had great friends. And it wasn’t that her mum didn’t love her, because she absolutely did, but, as always, she just wished that she was around. Her mum had been supposed to come for Christmas, but their convoy had run into issues when they were crossing some border or another, so she had called to say that she’d been held up for another couple of days. ‘It’s okay, Mam. Just as long as you’re here for the baby being born, that’s all that matters.’

‘I’ll be there for that, don’t you fret. Even if I have to walk there or swim the blooming ocean myself,’ her mum had said.

‘Then I hope you get a rubber ring for Christmas, Mam, because you can’t swim.’

Het mum had been laughing at that when she’d got cut off. Much as Orla was missing her, the baby wasn’t due for another two weeks, so she wasn’t worried. Her mum would get here. She just had to keep believing that and putting that thought out into the universe. Meanwhile, she had to get on with enjoying today’s festivities.

‘Hey Kyle, how are you doing? Merry Christmas.’

Keli was one of the most stunningly beautiful women that Orla had ever met – yet even she had to admit that her friend’s gorgeous facial aesthetic turned into something bordering on sour distaste when Kyle returned to the table holding two drinks.

‘Merry Christmas. Can I get you a drink?’ he asked her,chivalrous as ever. At least, as chivalrous as he was when he wasn’t shagging someone else.

Aaaargh, Orla chided herself.Stop letting your brain go there. It’s done. We’ve moved on. All is now great. Welcome to our shiny future.

‘No, that’s okay,’ Keli said, with the most strained smile, as she slid back out of the booth. ‘I just need to go and have a quick word with Yvie, so I’ll get one myself.’

Orla knew it was because Keli would rather poke her own eyes out with a stick than forgive the man who had cheated on her friend. She appreciated the loyalty, but it was time to let it go.

‘You know, I get such a strange feeling from all your friends,’ Kyle said, as he sat down beside her. ‘Do they know about… what happened?’

What happened?That’s what they were calling it now? She felt bad telling a white lie, but then, he hadn’t felt repentant when he was lying to her for months, so she was just going to have to move past that. Besides, she didn’t want him to feel uncomfortable around her pals. Her circle was small enough already without him having an issue with the few people that were in it.

‘Nope, I didn’t tell them. You’re imagining it,’ she said, with a chuckle.

To her shame, it gave her a tiny tug of pleasure to tell him that, after he’d accused her of imagining every strange thing that had happened in the last few months.

The next hour or so passed in a joyous, festive blur of chat, great food and mocktails. Emmy and her husband, Cormac, had joined them, Keli had returned, and Yvie was popping back and forwards between checking on other guests.

Orla was reluctant to leave the table, but the baby was pressing on her bladder and it was becoming an urgent situation. She was on the way to the bathroom, when she spotted a familiarface standing at the bar. Her urge to pee suddenly didn’t seem so urgent any more.

‘Kimi?’

Aidan’s sister turned around and gave her the widest smile. ‘Orla! Oh my, what are you doing here?’

‘I work with Carlo’s fiancé, Yvie, at Glasgow Central. And you?’

‘I’m dating one of Carlo’s friends, Rico. But please don’t tell my brother you saw me here. We’re all supposed to be at my mum’s house, but I made an excuse of a hangover and told them I’d be late.’

‘Your secret’s safe with me,’ Orla said, laughing, but even as she chuckled, she felt a cold wave of dread. Kimi being here was another coincidence and the last one hadn’t worked out well for her. She shrugged off the negativity. It was fine. Grand. It was all going to be great.

‘Listen, though, I kept meaning to say sorry for everything that happened. That was totally my fault and I felt terrible for ages afterwards.’

Orla appreciated the apology, but there was no need. ‘It’s fine, Kimi, really. You know, in some ways I’m glad I found out. It’s given us a clean slate to start over. I’d hate to have found out years later, when perhaps we wouldn’t have been able to get past it.’

There was something in Kimi’s face, a flinch, a flicker of her eyes, that made Orla’s nervous system go straight to high alert.

‘Kimi, is there something I don’t know?’ It was out before she could stop it.