Sobbing turned to laughter in the crowd. It was a release – like a burst canister it came as a loud explosion and dissipated quickly. ‘Thank you for being you.’

As she moved to walk back to her seat, the crowd stood on their feet and applauded her as though they were at some kind of show. She sat down beside her husband and he held her trembling hand. He was crying. Everyone was crying, but not Molly; she was comfortably numb, and despite being barbiturate- and alcohol-free, the rest of the service was a blank.

Chapter Twenty-Three: Juliet

Chapter Twenty-Three

Juliet

WHEN SHE EMERGED FROM the chapel, Juliet felt small and lost amongst the enormous crowd. She let go of Davey’s hand momentarily and became swept up in the moving tide of people. It was hard to find her way back. So she just stood amongst adults, mostly strangers, waiting for a gap to open so she could burrow her way to safety. That’s when Kyle tapped her on the shoulder.

‘Hiya,’ he said.

She turned to face him. ‘Hiya,’ she said.

‘Saw your gran yesterday, she nearly knocked me down,’ he said.

‘Yeah,’ she said.

He showed her a cut to his elbow as proof.

‘That looks sore.’

‘Della’s here,’ he said. ‘Do you want to say hi?’

She nodded. Della was Juliet’s best friend. The last time she’d seen her was a few days previously when they’d sat together on the school’s football field and Della broached the subject of Juliet moving in with her parents if she needed to. Juliet had not yet come to terms with her mother dying and as her entire family was lying to her about it, the offer came as a bolt from the blue. Overwhelmed, she jumped up and ran, leaving Kyle in her dust. Della had texted a few times as her mother lay dying but Juliet didn’t reply. Now she couldn’t think of anyone she wanted to see more than her except for maybe Kyle.

Kyle pulled her through the crowd of well-wishers; some people stopped them.

‘So sorry about your ma,’ one woman said as Juliet was dragged past her.

‘Thanks very much.’

‘She’s in heaven now,’ another older man said.

‘She didn’t believe in heaven,’ she said as she moved on.

‘Think of her as a bright white star,’ an elderly lady said, and she grabbed for Juliet’s hand.

‘Ah no, that would be weird.’

Kyle pulled her away and towards a gap and fresh air. She stood on open ground and breathed in and out.

‘OK?’

‘Good,’ she said. Della appeared from behind a car and hugged Juliet.

‘Sorry I wasn’t at the wake,’ she said. ‘Mam and Dad had a major row over a credit card bill and it was all a bit dramatic.’

‘It’s OK, I was drugged,’ Juliet said.

‘Shut up!’ Della said.

‘Seriously.’