Chapter Forty-Two Freya’s Party
Chapter Forty-Two
Freya’s Party
Back at the party, no one had any idea of the drama unfolding outside. Freya and Ross were dancing to ‘Rock the Casbah’, with Ross proving he had some pretty decent moves.
“I love The Clash,” he roared at Freya. “And this song is a right belter.”
Freya had feigned delighted surprise when she walked into the room to see everyone clapping and cheering for her ‘surprise’, and she was having a blast. Everywhere she looked she saw people she loved, eating and drinking and laughing.
All her favourite food and snacks were on display, and she felt so blessed.
If only she could make things right with Evie, everything would be perfect.
She’d seen her away at the back of the hall and fully intended to say hello and arrange to talk properly after the celebrations, but so many people had crowded around to wish her happy birthday and take photos, and then the ceilidh band took over and started playing traditional Scottish dance tunes and they were all whirling and burling.
When she looked over to where Evie had been standing, she’d disappeared.
“Bugger,” said Freya. “I must ask Kate to go and try and find her.”
She caught Kate’s eye, and beckoned her over, asking her to find out where Evie was. Kate nodded and said she’d look for her.
Outside, Amelia was trembling with the elation of taunting Evie. She heard the music briefly get louder as the door opened, and Kate came out.
Thinking quickly, Amelia shoved Evie, who wobbled and fell backwards. To keep her balance, she reached out for Amelia, grabbing her coat. Knowing she had a witness, Amelia fell to the ground as though she had been shoved hard and started screaming in agony as Kate rushed toward them.
Amelia had hurled herself onto the pavement so violently, her cheek was scraped and bloodied. When she saw Kate she clutched her ankle and began sobbing hysterically and reached out to her, “Please help me. Don’t let her hurt me anymore.”
Kate was appalled and didn’t know whether to comfort Amelia or confront Evie. While she hesitated, Evie took a step towards them both. Feeling as though her head was full of cotton wool, Evie heard her voice slurring, “This is not what it looks like.”
Amelia began screaming again in faux terror, grabbing at Kate and begging for her protection. “Evie, what the hell is going on? What have you done? Amelia is terrified.”
“I can’t stand,” howled Amelia. “My ankle – I think it might be broken. And my head, I’ve hit it hard, I think I might have passed out for a second.”
Evie sounded robotic as she said, “She did it to herself. It wasn’t me. She shoved me first and then she threw herself to the ground. She’s making it all up. She’s dangerous. We need to call the police.”
Kate looked from Evie to Amelia. She didn’t know what to do. She was sure she had seen Evie violently push Amelia, who now lay in agony on the ground in front of her, and Evie sounded like a zombie.
Amelia grabbed at her hand. “Please, please Kate. Don’t call the police, she doesn’t know what she is doing, but she will be the one in trouble and I really don’t want that. Just keep her away from me.”
Kate was torn. She glared at Evie. “Promise me you won’t do anything stupid. Maybe we can sort this out ourselves without involving the law, but it’s obvious Amelia has been assaulted.”
Evie felt as though she was in a waking nightmare. Nothing made sense. “You can’t possibly be on her side. She’s playing some sort of sick game. It’s a trap and you have all fallen for it.”
Kate was usually so cool headed in a crisis, but she felt herself panicking, and was so relieved when Edwyn came out of the hall towards them. He had been looking for Kate to tell her they were about to cut the cake, not wanting her to miss out, and was told she had gone outside.
“Kate, what’s going on? Amelia, you’re hurt. Let me help you.” He instantly became the cool, calm medic and took complete charge.
Amelia was still weeping and wailing, pretending to be terrified out of her wits.
He tried to soothe her. “It’s all right, calm down, love, and let me look at your face.
He made an expert assessment: “OK. You’ve a bad graze to your cheek and it’s still bleeding, but looks a hell of a lot worse than it really is.
We can clean you up easily. You will be fine. ”
“It’s her ankle too,” said Kate in a trembling voice. “And she thinks she may have hit her head and even passed out.”
“Can you stand?” Edwyn asked.
“I can try,” Amelia answered, her voice a tiny whisper. She made a huge show of attempting to get to her feet, before gasping in agony and slumping to the ground again. “I’m so sorry, I feel dizzy and the pain is terrible.”
Edwyn kept talking to her gently. “You’ve had an accident and a shock, but you are alright, but if you passed out even for a second you could have a concussion.
I will call a cab and take you to the hospital and get you checked out, just to be sure.
I’ve had a few beers or I would drive you myself. ”
He turned to his wife. “Can you get Amelia’s coat?” He looked at Evie, who was standing silent and pale like an alabaster statue. “Evie, what’s the matter with you? Call a cab while I help Amelia.”
He looked at her again. “Are you OK? What exactly happened here? Did Amelia have a fall?”
“Yes. I fell,” said Amelia quickly. “I just stumbled over my own two feet. I think I might have had too much to drink or maybe I just lost my balance on my stupid high heels.”
“Well, they are lethal,” said Edwyn kindly. “Maybe stick to flat shoes or trainers for a while.” He gave her his most understanding and reassuring smile and then looked over at Evie with irritation.
“Evie, I told you to call a cab.” She didn’t reply and still didn’t move.
He sighed impatiently, “Never mind, I will do it myself.” He called the local taxi firm, who said they were minutes away. There was no point in going back inside and causing a scene. He took off his jacket and put it over Amelia’s shoulders. She was shivering and crying.
Kate still hadn’t gone inside and Evie hadn’t moved either.
Edwyn was on the verge of losing his temper.
“Don’t bother about her coat. The cab will be here soon.
And don’t make a fuss, we don’t want to spoil Freya’s big night.
If anyone asks, Amelia has had a fall and I’m taking her to the hospital as a precaution. I’ll see you back at home, Kate.”
He got into the taxi with Amelia and they set off to the Balfour. Kate looked at Evie in horror, shaking her head.
“You attacked that poor girl! And she just covered it up to save you. I should have said something to Edwyn but she obviously wants to protect you. God knows why. I just can’t believe what you’ve done. What is wrong with you?”
Evie didn’t reply. She just stared at Kate, unable to speak. Kate’s voice rose, “You’ve been acting weird ever since she came here. You’ve behaved appallingly to your friends, you’ve upset us all and now you’ve turned violent. I don’t know you anymore. Maybe I never did.”
Evie felt like she was underwater. Everything seemed distorted and muffled.
She took a gulp of fresh, clean air and managed to slur to Kate, “You don’t understand.
She’s the one who shoved me first and she’s had this all planned out.
She hates me and she’s out to destroy me.
I don’t understand why or what I’ve done. ”
Kate turned to walk away. “I’m going inside to wish my dear friend Freya a happy birthday. I’m going to watch her cut her cake and I’m going to sing and applaud and, for her sake, I will try somehow to pretend all of this didn’t happen. Then I’m going home to my husband.”
She went on, “But what I really want to do is report you to the police, but that’s Amelia’s call. I’ve never seen anyone so terrified and traumatised.”
Evie couldn’t believe what she was hearing and mumbled, “Jesus Christ, Kate. I didn’t think you were so completely thick, she’s played you like a fiddle.”
Kate gave a shaky sigh. “Just go away home and leave us all alone. You’ve caused enough pain and havoc in all of our lives for far too long. Why don’t you do us all a favour and disappear again?”
Evie was left alone, utterly bereft. She stumbled to the bench and held on to stop the world from spinning. Maybe it would be better if she did just leave again, Evie thought. She’d caused so much suffering to the people she loved. It might be better if she just walked away.