‘Probably.’ Tara rushes to the window to check if her father’s car is in the driveway then turns to me, teeth clenched, blessing herself before saying ‘Here goes… let’s hope he won his chess game tonight.’ Then we both rush out the bedroom door and down the stairs to where Tara’s dad has arrived in the kitchen.

Roisin, her mam, is already sitting at the table. I call her Roisin because she told me to. Not something that would go down well in my house. My father expects my friends to call him Dr Connolly and my mam to be addressed as Mrs Connolly. My sister’s boyfriend called him James once and Dad spurted the brandy out of his mouth, he was so shocked.

‘Hi girls,’ she says, when we enter the room. Tara is right. Roisin does look tired and her face is very pale, but I don’t want to mention this in case she says she’s sick or something and then Tara decides it’s not the right time to tell them she’s leaving.

‘Mam. Dad. I have some news.’

Tara’s father immediately puts down the kettle that he’s filling with water and turns around with a look of horror on his face. His mouth is wide open but he’s afraid to speak.

‘No, Dad. I’m not pregnant,’ Tara says, bringing a chuckle from her mother.

‘Well what then? What’s wrong?’

‘Jesus, Niall, give her a chance to talk,’ Roisin says, winking at me like she already knows what she’s going to hear. That’s another thing that would never happen in my house. Mam telling Dad to shut up.

‘I’m moving out.’

‘Good on ya,’ Roisin says.

‘What?’ Tara’s dad is in shock. Her mam is happy.

‘We got a house… well, Faye’s dad got us one. It’s close to the college. Just three hundred euros each a month. Two, if we get someone else to move in.’

Tara turns to me and stares. This is my cue to join in.

‘It’s called Huntley Lodge.’

Chapter Five

Now

Last night was the worst. I don’t think I slept for even an hour. Tossing and turning, worrying about what we did. Then this morning, with only half an hour left before I had to get up, I fell into a deep sleep. Typical. Now I’m like a robot that hasn’t been fully charged. Coffee. I need coffee.