Unexpected Rendezvous

Chapter 28

Jade's POV

When I get home, I step into a disaster zone.

I thought I was prepared for this, but it turns out nothing prepares you for seeing your house torn apart. I hardly recognise the rooms I grew up in; it's like someone built an alternate version for a post-apocalyptic movie set. A sick sense of dread pulses through me as I survey the wreckage, and I have to remind myself that it could have been worse. Compared to what happened to Nelson, we got off easy.

I close the door behind me and stand motionless for a few long minutes, listening. The house is silent, with a deserted stillness that tells me whoever did this is long gone. They probably came right here before, or after, they hit Aaron's.

What had Aaron said? Houses get broken into all the time. Maybe, but not like this: two in a row in the same town, on the same day one of our classmates died. I can't report this. All I can do is clean it up before Ma and Zoe get home.

I gaze around, trying to figure out where to start, and the enormity of the task overwhelms me instantly. Rather than admit it's impossible, half of our dishes are smashed for crying out loud, I head for the fridge. There's a quarter bottle of store-brand coke left, which I know is flat because I had a glass last night and there wasn't a bubble in sight. I don't care, I unscrew the top, tip it to my mouth, and drink the entire thing in under ten seconds. It tastes as bad as expected, but at least it soothes the dryness of my aching throat.

Maybe I'm getting strep, like Perrie said this morning. Wouldn't that be ironic.

No. I'm not thinking about Perrie. I wipe my mouth, leave the empty bottle on the counter with the rest of the mess, and pull out my phone before sitting down at our kitchen table. There's a new text from Zoe with a picture of a train ticket: Shields-bound.

Relief washes over me, but it's a smaller wave than expected. Mostly, I just feel alone.

I scroll past dozens of notifications until I see a new text from my Dad. It's time-stamped for right around the time I was chasing Zoe's murder van around Greater London. It's official: I'm starting at White & West on Oct 1. See you soon!

I huff out a humourless laugh. My father actually did it; left his roadie gig so he could take an assistant manager job at a music shop nearby. So I can help out more, he'd said when he told me he was applying. I didn't pay much attention at the time, because I figured it was just a bunch of empty talk, like always. 

Guess not. Too bad he couldn't have done it a month ago, before Zoe started her X side hustle. I consider texting back Too little, too late, but penetrating my Dad's bubble of cheerful cluelessness requires a level of energy I don't have.

My Mum's last text is right after my Dad's. I study the picture she sent of my beaming great-aunt, her day made because Ma cared enough to show up for her party. Don't forget to call Aunt Amelia and wish her a happy birthday! There's not much I can do to make today less of a disaster, but at least I can do that.

Aunt Amelia only has a landline and I have no idea what the number is, so I scroll to Contacts and call my grandmother. I can't deal with using Ma as a go-between right now.

Nana picks up on the first ring. "Jade, my love. We're missing you today."

The words put a lump in my throat, and I have to swallow before I can reply. "Hey, Nana. Sorry I couldn't be there, but I wanted to wish Aunt Amelia a happy birthday."

"Ah, well, she went upstairs for a nap about ten minutes ago. She might be done for the night, to be honest. All the excitement wore her out. Do you want to talk to your mother? Norma!" she calls before I can protest.