“I slipped up.”
I had seen enough of my mother’s bruises when my father was still around to know that Helen was lying. But I also knew better than to ask any more questions. Just like when Mum used to insist she had walked into a door, I knew Helen wouldn’t tell me the truth. I thought she might have a secret boyfriend. A bad one.
“We’ll see you later. Come straight to Anna’s after work,” Rachel said to Helen, dragging me toward the exit.
My mother had reluctantly agreed to go out for the evening, but was still there when we arrived. I didn’t need to say anything for her to know I was furious.
“I’m going, I’m going,” she said as we put our bags down in the kitchen, the alcohol hidden inside. “I got you a little birthday surprise, and I wanted to show you before I left.”
“What is it?” I asked, dreading the answer, hoping it wasn’t something childish that would embarrass me in front of Rachel.
“It’s in the sunroom, go take a look,” said Mum.
I walked to the back of the house, worried about what I might find there, then saw a small gray ball of fur sitting on my mother’s favorite chair.
“It’s a kitten!” squealed Rachel, rushing forward, far more excited than I was.
“One of the ladies I clean for has the most beautiful cat—it’s a Russian Blue—and when I saw the latest litter I just couldn’t resist bringing this little one home,” Mum said. “Go on, pick her up, she’s yours.”
I had wanted a cat for a long time, but she said we couldn’t afford it. Plus, cats always seemed to be disappearing in Blackdown. Every week a new Missing poster would appear in shop windows and on lampposts around the town. There were endless black-and-white photos of lost pets, along with their descriptions, and sometimes rewards. It was the sort of heartbreak my mother worried I couldn’t handle, but I still longed for one of my own. I carefully picked up the kitten, afraid I might break her.
“You’ll have to choose a name,” my mother said.
“Kit Kat,” I whispered.
I’d already imagined what I would call my cat if I ever had one.
Rachel giggled. “Like the chocolate bar?”
“I think it’s perfect,” said Mum. “Play with her for a bit tonight if you want, but then pop her back in the cat carrier in the corner. The vet said it might help settle her in the first few nights. I’ll leave you girls to have fun now, but I know you’ll be drinking alcohol—”
“Mum!”
I felt my cheeks turn bright red.
“… so I’ve left some snacks in the fridge. There are chips in the cupboard too, so help yourselves and line your stomachs. Have fun and take care of one another, and Kit Kat. Okay?”
“We will, don’t worry,” said Rachel. “You’re so cool, Mrs. Andrews. I wish my mum was like you.”
She smiled at my mother, in that clever way that seemed to make all adults adore her. My mother smiled back, before kissing me good-bye.
“Let’s get this party started!” Rachel said as soon as she was gone.
She had stayed at my house so often by then that she knew where to find everything she wanted. She immediately raided my mother’s old vinyl collection—Rachel was obsessed with seventies music—carefully slipping a Carpenters record out of its sleeve and putting it on. “Rainy Days and Mondays” was her favorite song. She sang along as she returned to the kitchen, then took two glasses down from the cupboard. I held on to the kitten and we both watched Rachel with fascination as she found the salt, took a lemon from the fruit bowl, and slid a sharp knife out of the block on the counter.
I had never seen or heard of a tequila slammer before, but I liked them. By the time the others arrived, I was already feeling pretty drunk.
“Did you bring the party treats?” Rachel asked Helen as soon as she walked in the door.
“What are they?” I wanted to know.
Rachel smiled. “A nice surprise.”
Zoe was next to arrive. She looked miserable when I opened the door, and rolled her eyes in the direction of the older boy standing next to her on my doorstep.
“What’s that?” she asked, staring at the kitten in my hands.
“She’s called Kit Kat, a birthday present from my mum.”
“I hate cats,” Zoe said, pulling a face.
“I’m Jack, by the way,” said the boy. He seemed amused by something. “My mother wanted me to drop off Zoe and check everything was okay, after what happened last time.”