Chapter 56
EDINBURGH
Five years ago
‘What do you think now?’ Alice asked, grinning.
Moira smiled. ‘Not too shabby, m’dear. In fact, there’s a bloke over there who’s been giving me the eye all night.’
‘You’re a married woman,’ Marianne Taylor said to Moira. ‘I’m not, so he’s fair game.’
‘I’m the only one who’s married, but I’m only after a little fun, not find somebody to run away with.’
Ivy Jack was sitting at a table, her back to the wall, if not quite unconscious, then well on her way.
‘Look at her,’ Moira said. ‘Nobody can say she isn’t having a good time.’
‘Especially when she won’t remember most of it tomorrow,’ Alice Jack said. She looked around. ‘Where’s Karen?’
‘On the dance floor,’ Marianne said. ‘Although you can hardly call it dancing. She’s got her arms draped around that guy’s neck. Another one who won’t remember what went on tonight.’
Which wasn’t true. The clock was ticking down to disaster, and each of them would have this day etched in their minds forever.
They were at the Royal British Legion in Penicuik, a place that was usually filled with ex-military men and women of an older generation, but this Friday night, the hall had been booked for a birthday party.
The women had accepted the invitation and were ready to bale if the music was gash; they were surprised at what a good night it was. Especially since the drink was cheap.
At the end of the night, they were all the worse for wear, even Alice, who had been their designated driver.
‘I’ll only drink Coke,’ she said, but then a man had asked her to dance, and had bought her a drink, and one turned into two, then a few more.
She wasn’t as drunk as the others, and they really should have got two taxis to take them home, but the last bus was gone, and Alice did have a car that seated seven, even though the last row was meant for kids.
Marianne was thin and managed to squeeze into the back, sitting sideways.
Alice promised them she felt fine to drive, but she was anything but fine. Her head swam a little bit and she concentrated extra hard as they drove at the speed limit.
They were literally two minutes away from the house at Kirk Brae, where the party was going to continue, when the accident happened…