CHAPTER THREE
Punctual to the dot, I clamber into the back of a taxi that stinks of cheap aftershave and stale sweat, give Jess’s address, then pray that the driver isn’t the talkative type. No such luck though.
‘So where are you off to then tonight?’ he asks, leaning back on the driver’s seat and taking in my neat black cocktail dress, pearl necklace, and the court shoes with good, sensible heels. For all he knows, I could be off to a funeral. You’d be hard-pressed to tell.
‘To a Christmas party, as it happens,’ I say crisply, then whip out my phone and start scrolling through news apps, hoping he’ll take the hint that I’d like a quiet journey, thanks.
Again, no such luck.
‘So, big night for you tonight, yeah? I’d say the aul head will be minging in the morning, wha’?’
‘No,’ I sigh, ‘as it happens, it’s not a big night at all. Just a drinks do at my parents’ house with some of my mother’s friends – that’s it.’
‘But your family and all your mates will all be there, yeah? And your mum and dad? ’
I shrug, but say nothing. Dad, I think with a sudden pang. My darling dad. Probably the only person who I really wish was still around, if only to see how well I’m doing at work. Just like he always wanted me to.
Hard work and discipline are the secrets of success, he always used to say to me. You’re not afraid of hard work, Carole, and you’ve enough discipline to run an army on. You’ll get there, pet. Just decide what it is you want out of life and there’ll be no stopping you.
Which is exactly what I went and did, Dad. But you’re not here to see me now, are you?
‘It’ll be some big piss-up tonight then, yeah?’ the taxi driver chats on, distracting me yet again.
‘As I already told you, it’s just a small drinks do, I’m afraid,’ I say curtly wondering exactly how rude I need to be before this eejit will take the hint and shut up.
‘It’s all about celebrating with your loved ones, isn’t it?’ he chats away. ‘Sure at the end of the day, who else have we got?’
‘Hmmm.’
‘Are you married yourself? Kids?’
Jesus Christ, the cheek of this half-wit! What else does he want to know anyway – my blood type and laptop password?
‘No, I’m not married and I don’t have kids. I’m just spending the evening with my mother and sister and some mutual friends. That’s it.’
Happy now? I want to snap at him, but I stay focused on my phone instead and keep my mouth firmly zipped. Which takes a lot of effort on my part. Like it or not, I have to admit that in his overly nosy way, this idiot has hit on the same raw nerve that’s been jangling at me all day.
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