Judy’s eyes narrow and then, just for a split second, a look akin to compassion crosses her face. I imagine she’s heard about the accident.
‘Okay,’ she says after a pause. ‘But keep it brief because she’s supposed to be studying for her GCSEs.’
When I nod my assent she turns back towards the hallway, pulling the front door towards her so it’s only open a couple of inches and then shouts for her daughter. There’s a muffled cry in reply and then the door slams shut in my face. A minute or so later it opens again. Ella peers out at me.
‘Hi.’ She looks at me suspiciously, just like her mother did.
‘Hi Ella.’ My face is aching from smiling so widely. ‘I was wondering if we could have a chat. About Charlotte.’
Her expression changes lightning fast – from suspicion to anger – and she crosses one skinny-jeaned leg over the other. ‘Why would I want to do that?’
First Liam, now Ella. I only have to mention my daughter’s name for a black cloud to descend. It doesn’t make sense. When her class made their yearbook at the start of their GCSE year and predicted where everyone would be in five years’ time Charlotte was voted ‘girl everyone would stay in touch with’ and ‘girl most likely to be successful’.
‘Because you’re friends,’ I say. ‘Unless …’ I study her face, ‘… unless you’re not friends anymore.’
Ella raises a thin, penciled eyebrow. ‘Correct.’
‘I see.’ I pause, trying to decide how best to continue. From the set of her jaw I can tell Ella’s as keen on communicating with me as Liam was and yet …
‘Charlotte’s still in a coma,’ I say.
‘I know.’ She raises the eyebrow again but the flash of light in her eyes betrays her. She’s interested. She wants to know more about her ex-best friend.
‘Her lungs are getting stronger which is a very good sign.’
Ella says nothing.
‘We’ve tried everything to try and help her wake up,’ I continue. ‘I’ve talked to her about the family and what we’re all doing. Brian reads her articles from the newspaper—’
‘Grim. She’d hate that.’
‘I agree,’ I suppress a smile at the look of disgust on her face. ‘I suggested he read out Heat magazine instead but he wasn’t keen. I don’t think he’s as big a fan of celebrity gossip as Charlotte is.’
Ella pulls a face – like the mental image of my husband reading Heat magazine repulses her.
‘So anyway,’ I soldier on. ‘Oli came up with the idea that we should play Charlotte her favourite song. He said he’d seen people do that in films and that it helps wake someone from a coma.’
Ella’s face lights up at the mention of my stepson’s name. Until recently she and Charlotte were like shadows to Oli and Danny. I have an inkling the boys may have been the subject of the girls’ first ever crushes.
‘Yeah?’
‘Yes,’ I say. ‘So I was wondering if you could help. With the song. I haven’t got the first clue what Charlotte was into.’
‘“Someone Like You” by Adele.’
‘Great.’ I’ve actually heard of that song. They play it on Radio 2 all the time. ‘Anyone else?’
She shrugs. ‘That’s her favourite but she likes “I Love the Way You Lie” by Rhianna and Eminem, “Money” by Jessie J. Oh, and “Born This Way” by Lady Gaga. We used to dance to that in my room before we’d go out to Breeze, to the under-eighteen night,’ she adds quickly.
Her whole demeanour has changed. She’s not a young woman propping up the doorway with her legs and arms crossed and a defiant look on her face anymore. Instead she looks like the little blonde five-year-old I found Charlotte hand in hand with in the playground at the end of their first day at school.
‘You could see her,’ I say softly, ‘if you’d like. I could give you a lift to the hospital. I’m sure Charlotte would appreciate it.’
‘No, she wouldn’t.’
A scowl has fallen over Ella’s face, all traces of vulnerability and tenderness gone.
‘What makes you say that?’
‘She just wouldn’t.’
‘Is this about Keisha?’ I venture. A look of surprise crosses her face at the mention of the other girl’s name. ‘Is that why you’re angry?’
‘It’s none of my business who Charlotte hangs out with. She can do what she wants.’
‘But you’re her best friend. Surely you—’
‘No, I’m not.’
‘You’re not?’ I feign surprise. ‘What happened?’
‘Nothing.’
‘Well, something must have—’
‘Nothing happened, alright! Just leave me alone and stop asking me—’
‘Everything okay here?’ Judy appears in the doorway, alerted by her daughter’s raised voice. ‘Ella? Are you okay?’
‘No.’ Her daughter feigns a pained expression. ‘Sue’s hassling me and I haven’t done anything wrong, Mum. I was just—’
‘Have you been hassling my daughter?’ Judy attempts a frown but too many Botox injections prevent her.
‘No!’ I can’t help but laugh. ‘Of course not. I was just asking her why she and Charlotte aren’t best friends anymore.’
‘And?’
‘According to Ella, nothing happened.’
Judy glances at her daughter who shrugs as if to say ‘that’s what I said’.
‘If Ella said nothing happened,’ she says, looking back at me, ‘then nothing happened.’
‘But it must have. Those two have been friends since they were—’
‘Nothing happened, Sue!’ Ella screams. ‘Okay? We just stopped being friends.’ She looks at her mum. ‘I don’t want to talk about this anymore.’
‘Okay, darling.’ Judy puts a heavily manicured hand on her daughter’s shoulder. ‘Go back to your room and—’
‘Please.’ I beg. ‘Judy, please. I need to know what happened. It might help Charlotte. Did you know that she’d split up with Liam or that—’
‘Mummmm,’ Ella looks at her mother with beseeching eyes. ‘Mum, I really need to get back
