‘When’s the old girl coming home then?’ he said, and Judith flinched. Absolutely nothing wrong with the question – it was just the way he called Patricia the old girl.

‘Um, Saturday as it goes,’ she answered, staring straight ahead.

‘Ambulance?’

‘No, I’m booking a taxi.’

The bus pulled away and they sat in silence for a minute.

‘I’ll fetch her home if you like,’ Gareth suddenly said.

‘What, on the back of your bike?’

‘No, you wally. Courtesy car.’

‘Oh, I see.’ Judith was horrified by the prospect. Uncertain as to whether she could handle the stress of Patricia being rude to Gareth, or Gareth reacting to Patricia. ‘Maybe.’

‘Blimey, Lana’s right about you, isn’t she?’ Gareth said with a smile.

‘What?’ asked Judith, trying to hide her annoyance.

‘That you hate being helped.’

‘That’s completely … that’s totally unfair,’ Judith said indignantly, feeling slightly betrayed by her best friend for discussing her like that. ‘I just didn’t want to inflict my mother on you, that’s all.’

‘Why?’ asked Gareth. ‘Does she bite?’ And he looked at her in all seriousness. The image of Patricia snapping like a Yorkshire terrier made her spontaneously laugh. ‘I’ll take that as a yes,’ he said, unwrapping a piece of pink bubble gum and chucking it into his mouth. ‘Wanna bit?’ He offered her the packet.

‘How old are you, twelve?’

‘Suit yourself,’ he said. And they didn’t speak for the rest of the journey.

16

Lana

Applause. The most beautiful sound in the world, she’d often joke. And if there was ever a chance for an encore, then even better. She knew roughly where the gang were all sitting – she’d got them great seats in the middle of the stalls: Judith and Catrin and Gareth and Sol. Looking out into the audience as she took another bow, she tried to catch their eye. But the blinding lights and the dust of the auditorium kept them hidden from view. The important thing was that they were out there. Somewhere. And she knew she’d done a cracker of a performance. She’d smashed it. The buzz was intoxicating.

‘That the guy’s only doing it for some doll!’ And bow and smile. And bow again. And blackout. The show was over.

Lana rushed into the wings and headed for the dressing room, pulling out the hair pins that had secured her little 1940s wedding hat, the crowning glory of her character Adelaide’s costume. All she wanted to do was get changed, get to the bar and meet the gang.

When she walked in, they applauded her again. She saw Catrin first – who rushed forward and hugged her. ‘Oh my God, Larn, you were amazin’!’

‘You made it! Thank you! Thank you!’

‘So proud of you, babes,’ said Gareth, kissing her. And he handed her a glass of wine.

She hesitated, then mumbled, ‘Couldn’t get me a vodka, could you, babe? With soda?’

Gareth looked confused. ‘Since when did you start drinking vodka?’

‘Couple of weeks ago,’ she smiled. ‘Less calories.’