The Girl Before Eve (15 page)

Suddenly, Jenny Milton stood and began clapping. She was immediately joined by Tom. One by one all of the pupils stood and joined in the applause. Then came whistles and cheers. Adam was taken aback as the class of loud-mouthed and leery teens showed their appreciation for his words. He soaked up the positive energy coursing around the room. He was back. And it felt good.

♥♥♥

Lunchtime came around quickly and Adam heaved a long breath of exhaustion as he flopped into one of the squashy armchairs in the staff room. Resting his elbows on his knees and his head in his hands, he closed his eyes. Someone patted his back and sat in the chair beside him. He glanced up into the eyes of Diane Silverman, head of Performing Arts. She was a good friend and had been at the funeral.

“How are you holding up, Adam?” she asked with a kind smile.

He rubbed his face. “I’m shattered. I honestly don’t remember ever being this tired after a morning of teaching.”

She nodded. “I can imagine. You’ve been through a lot. I hear you got a standing ovation during first period.” She grinned.

His eyes widened. He’d forgotten how fast news travelled around school. “Erm, yes. That was a bit of a shock.”

“They adore you, that lot, you know. I’ve lost count of how many times Jenny Milton has asked for your address so she could bring you some soup.”

He pulled his brows into a frown. “Soup?”

Diane giggled. “Yes. Apparently she’s heard that you’re supposed to bring chicken soup to someone in your situation as it will, and I quote,
help to heal your soul
. Bless her heart.”

The lump appeared in Adam’s throat again and he swallowed hard. “Oh…that’s…that’s so…sweet.” His voice cracked as he spoke. He couldn’t quite get over the fact this group of kids, whom most people had given up on, had shown such kindness toward him. He pushed his thumb and finger into the corners of his eyes and bit his lip as his emotions pushed toward the surface once again. He could feel his chin quivering.

Diane squeezed his shoulder. “Oh Adam, I’m sorry, love. I didn’t mean to upset you. Are you okay to be here? I can have a word with the principal.”

He held up his hand and shook his head. “No, no, Diane. Thanks but I’m fine. I
will
be fine. It’s all just a little overwhelming.”

Her hand was still on his shoulder. “Look…if you need anything…”

He covered her hand with his own. “I know.”

♥♥♥

Adam walked through his front door at four thirty. There was a strange silence to the place now. Somehow coming home from work for the first time since Eve was killed was like losing her all over again. He closed the door behind him, slid down it until he hit the floor, and leaned his head back to rest. The emptiness inside him mirrored the emptiness of the pretty little cottage he had shared with Eve. He closed his eyes as his shoulders began to shudder and the tears began to flow.

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. He cleared his throat. “Who is it?” he called up toward the letterbox, his voice breaking.

“Adders, you big cry baby, it’s me,” Lily said as she reached through the slot usually reserved for bills and junk mail and ruffled his hair.

He whacked her hand, making her yelp. “Subtle as ever, eh, Lil?” He pulled himself up and opened the door. She stood with her arms wide open.

“I knew today would be shitty. Come here.” She stepped inside, kicked the door closed behind her, and enveloped him in her arms. He crouched to meet her height and pulled her into him, letting his emotions run free. Once he had calmed down, he pulled away, wiping his eyes on the back of his hands and sniffing.

He rubbed his hands over his face and huffed out through puffed cheeks. “Sorry, Lil. I just can’t seem to stop fucking crying.”

She smiled. “That’s coz you’re a big cry baby, like I said.” She prodded him.

He rolled his eyes at her callous but jovial manner and couldn’t help but smile. “Thanks for that.”

“You are
so
welcome. Who can mock you in your time of need if not your best friend in the world, eh?” Grabbing his arm, she pulled him through to the lounge. “Right, Adders, you have a choice. We either stay in and watch a movie while we eat crappy food all night, or
we go out and get pissed. Now seeing as it’s a school night I’m thinking option one. Whaddya say?” She held her arms out, palms flat.

He thought about it for a few minutes. “Ah…to be honest, Lil, I was just going to do a bit of marking and get an early night.”

“Tough titties. I’m here with the choices. Pick one.”

“Honestly, Lil—”

She stomped her foot and raised her voice. “Pick one!”

He huffed at her like a petulant child. “Oh for fuck’s sake, Lil. Option one then.”

She beamed like a little kid who had just been granted extra pocket money. “Great! Hang on there. I’ve got supplies.” She skipped out to the car and returned soon after with two carrier bags full of junk food.

“I got pizza, popcorn, kettle chips, a huge bar of chocolate, and a couple of bottles of beer,” she announced looking rather proud of herself.

He couldn’t help but smirk at his loopy friend. He wasn’t entirely sure what he would do without her at the moment. Although, it would probably involve tears, sad songs, and old photographs.

She rummaged around in the bottom of her bag. “Okay, I took the liberty of completely jumping the gun and renting two films. So you have another choice… Monty Python’s
Life of Brian
…or…
Wayne’s World
?”

Adam burst out laughing. “Good grief, Lil, did you happen to travel to the rental store in a Delorean?”

She looked puzzled. “Huh?”

He rolled his eyes. “Delorean…Michael J Fox…Marty McFly?”

Her face was scrunched. “What the heck are you on about, Adders?”

He threw his hands up in exasperation. “
Back to the Future
, you dufus!” He shook his head. “The films you’ve picked are blasts from way back in the past.”

A look of realisation spread across her face, and she blushed at her own silliness. She slapped her forehead. “Oh, that’s the car from the film! The Delorean!”

He ruffled the top of her dark curls. “Bloody hell. That took some sinking in. I reckon senility is setting in early.”

“Oy! Cheeky pig. It’s a good job you’re grieving or I’d punch you.”

♥♥♥

They sat huddled on the sofa eating pizza as Adam recounted the tales from his first day back at school. “Who would have thought it, Lil? Those kids really do care.”

“I had no doubt in my mind. That Jenny Milton though. That thing about the soup made me fill up. Bless her.” Lily sniffed

“Oh God, don’t you start. It made me do the same this morning in front of all my colleagues. She’s a character, that’s for sure. Every time I saw her today she gave this sad smile. I had no idea she had a heart underneath that crusty orange façade.”

Lily sniggered. “I don’t get this need to trowel make-up on. Girls that age don’t need to do that.”

“I agree but they all do it. Anyway, get the film on and pass me the choccy.”

“Bossy sod.
Life of Brian
is it then?”

“Absolutely.”

Chapter Eighteen

Given to Fly
(Pearl Jam)

October 2009

“So when are you going to be back, Lil?” Panic was thick in his voice and Lily’s heart lurched. Adam had been back at work for four weeks now, and she’d been assigned a story in the United States. It was a great opportunity and she couldn’t pass it up. She’d been asked to go out and report a piece on the differences between the education system there and the one in place in the UK. Okay, so she wasn’t going to be signed up as an anchor on some flashy US news show, but at least she would get to meet people. It would be good for her. She knew it. Adam didn’t seem to get it though.

“I should be back in a month so don’t worry. Anyway, you’re doing fine. Have a little faith, Adders.” She squeezed his arm. She had left it until the day before she flew before calling around to his house and telling him the news. He’d had enough on his plate, reacquainting himself with the normalities and routines of school life.

He slumped down onto his old sofa and huffed out a held breath. “A month… Lil…what will I do?”

She sat down beside him. “Adders, sweetie, I’m not your only friend. You have family, too. And Max is down the road. It’s a month. That’s all. And I have to go for my career.”

He rubbed his hands over his face and loosened his tie. “Yeah…I know you do… It’s just…well no one really gets me like you do. You know how to deal with all this grief shit.”

“Grief is shit, Adders, it really is, but I’m not a crutch. You can’t expect me to just be here at your beck and call. I know that sounds harsh but it’s true.”

A pained look washed over his face and he winced at her words. “Is that what you think I’m doing? Using you as a crutch?”

She nodded. “I know you don’t mean to, but I’ve been here almost every day for the past month, and when I haven’t been here, I’ve been talking to you on the phone. I have to get back to my own life at some point.” She spoke as gently as she could, but knew her words stung.

He pursed his lips and glanced sideways at her. “You’re right. I’m a big boy. So I’ve lost the love of my life…so what…so I’m all alone…so what…so—”

“Adam, shut up,” she snapped. “Stop with the woe is me crap, will you please? I have been there for you throughout this. You know that. I’ve helped in every conceivable way. But at some point you have to start helping yourself. Stand up on your own two, huge bloody feet. Please?” She stroked his cheek. He flinched and pulled away.

She stood. “Right, well I’d better go. I have to be at the airport early and I need some sleep.”

Adam stood to face her. “Stay here.” He held her arms. She had longed for those words to fall from his lips for so long. But the meaning behind them now was not the one she’d hoped for. He was being selfish trying to cling onto her for as long as possible. Not because he loved her any differently than before. But because in some crazy part of his head he thought he needed her. He thought he couldn’t function without her. Yup, she was definitely a crutch. And she wouldn’t have it anymore.

“Adam, I’m not going to do that. My stuff is all packed and ready at home. My bed is at home. I’m going home.”

Adam slumped down again. “Fine.” He folded his arms like a sulky teenager once again.

She couldn’t help but snigger at his demeanour. “You’ve been taking too many lessons from those kids at school. I could balance my mug on that bottom lip.”

He looked at her again as a grin struggled to break out on his face. He bit his lip, clearly wanting to stay angry. “Fuck off.” He chuckled.

“You fuck off.” A grin spread across her face.

He stood up again. “No you. Give me a hug and then fuck off to America.” He grabbed her arm and pulled her in.

She wrapped her arms around his middle and hugged him hard. “I’ll be back before you know it.”

“Don’t care.”

“Liar,” she said into his chest.

“Cheesy head.”

She sniggered again. “Pee pants.”

“Right, you can really fuck off now.”

She burst out laughing and made her way to the front door. “You’ll be fine, you know.”

♥♥♥

The flight was a long one. Lily arrived in a chilly New York City airport and climbed into a yellow cab. She gave the driver the address of her hotel and slumped into the seat.

“Business or pleasure?” the rotund driver asked over his shoulder.

She snapped out of her semi-conscious state. “Sorry?”

“Are you here on business or pleasure?”

“Oh right, sorry. It’s been a long day. Business.”

“What line are you in?”

“I’m a journalist. I report for a pretty major news station in the UK.”

“Well, lar-dee-dar. Ain’t I the lucky guy today, huh? What brings you to New York?”

“I’m doing a piece on the education system in the States.”

“Ha…well, alls I can tell you is my boy, Deano, he’s a bright kid, but they don’t do squat to encourage him at school.”

She rubbed her eyes. She really didn’t want to converse. She just wanted to relax and doze. The cab journey was going to take an hour, and she would rather have silence than make small talk with some guy she’d never met before and who she was never likely to meet again. “Is that so?”

“Yeah…he could be a doctor or a…what do you call it…news reporter. He could even sell real estate if he put his mind to it.”

She stifled a giggle. “Well he sounds very bright indeed.”

“Yeah, the brightest. Anyways, you tell ‘em over in the UK that my boy needs more help.”

“It’s not really my place—”

“Yeah, I mean so he took a knife to school one time. One time! It’s like they hold it against the kid. I mean, whaddya gonna do?”

“I really don’t—”

“Yeah well, me and the missus, we told ‘em, you gotta give the kid a chance here. He ain’t gonna use the damn thing. It’s just…you know…protection.”

She gave up trying to interrupt the monologue that ensued in the front seat. She switched off and added a nod every so often. The man could really talk! They pulled outside a beautiful old building.

“Anyways lady, you need anything, you call Pauly, okay? I can pick you up and take you wherever you need to go. It was real nice talking to you.”

She climbed out and handed him a wad of notes. He fumbled through them and tried to hand her change back. “No you keep it, Pauly.”

“Awww, lady you’re too kind, too kind. Thank you. You have a good stay in the Big Apple now.”

“I will certainly try, Pauly. Thanks again. Good luck with Deano.”

The yellow cab pulled away and as it did so the driver waved at her. The concierge opened the door and doffed his rather spiffy top hat as Lily nodded and smiled. Immediately a bellhop came over and took her bags, loading them onto a trolley. She checked in at the reception desk and made her way to her suite.

Once her bags had been deposited, she removed her coat and shoes and flopped onto the bed. She fumbled in her handbag and pulled out her cell phone. When she turned the phone on, just as she expected, there were several messages from Adam.