The baby thing had obviously never panned out, but, courtesy of Katie and Dean, she spent a lot of time with her niece and nephew (deterrents these days, more than heartbreakers) and then could come home to her own, very tidy, just so house.
Sue had never lived with anyone who wasn’t Gary before. She’d not gone to uni. Or been flatmates with any one of the girls she’d gone to beauty college with. Not moved out of her parents’ house until Gary tempestuously said to her one day after they’d been to the pictures, Let’s do it. Let’s get married. He’d twisted the pop-top off of a can of fizzy pop and slid it onto her ring finger as she’d flushed with pleasure.
‘If you’re absolutely sure,’ Raven said, her eyes darting past Sue as if hoping for someone else, a proper grown-up to come and sort the two of them and all of this awkwardness out. And then, as if by magic, Flo appeared.
‘Of course I’m sure,’ Sue quickly said.
‘What’re you sure about?’ Flo gave her arm a squeeze, her warm demeanour already adding a bit of much-needed calm to Sue’s overwrought nerves.
‘About giving Raven a ride home.’
‘You moving back in with your parents, love?’
Raven’s eyebrows templed. ‘Umm … out of, actually.’
The poor thing looked about five years old. As lost as Sue felt. Perhaps there’d be solace in having her there. Two lost souls finding comfort in their mutual discombobulation. When they felt more comfortable, perhaps Sue would offer her some advice on colour streaking her hair. It wasn’t quite the right blue for her complexion and, if she was really being fussy, the attention to detail at the roots was sketchy. Nor had she brought the streak all the way to the tips of her long, dark hair.
The practical thought gave her a bit of a boost and, more to the point, enough courage to bite the bullet. Though it still wasn’t true, she insisted, ‘Honestly. It’s just perfect. I’m sure we can get your bags into the car.’
Raven nodded warily. ‘If it’s easier I can take the bus.’
‘Oh, no. Don’t take the bus.’ A strange protectiveness washed through her and with it the tiniest flicker of belief that one day, she might feel vaguely like her old self again. Caring for Gary, keeping order in their small, relatively unremarkable lives, had been at the heart of her life. She was good at it. Looking after him. At least she thought she had been. Perhaps if she looked after Raven with a bit more care, a few more questions, she would figure out where she had gone so terrifically wrong with Gary.
‘Would it be of any use if I offered to drive one or both of the bags?’ Flo offered.
Sue and Raven turned to her, relief flooding their features, each of them nodding near emphatically as Sue said, ‘Yes. Yes it would.’
Chapter Twenty-One
Incident No: 5938272
Time of Call: 15:23
Call Handler: SUNITA ‘RAVEN’ CHAKRABARTI
Call Handler: You’re through to the NHS 111 Service, my name’s Raven and I’m a health advisor. Are you calling about yourself or someone else?
Caller: Myself.
Call Handler: Can you tell me your name please?
Caller: Hailey.
Call Handler: Hello, Hailey. What can I help you with?
Caller: I think I’ve just messed up.
Call Handler: Sorry? Would you be able to be a bit more specific?
Caller: I only meant to cut a little bit.
Call Handler: Hailey? Can you please specifically tell me what you are ringing about? [Muted: Do you remember how to transfer to the police?]
Caller: [Barely audible] I think I might’ve hit an artery.
Call Handler: Oh. Ummm … Hailey – are you talking about yourself here? Do you need an ambulance?
Caller: I don’t want my parents to know. Can you help? Hang on. I need to get a towel. There’s too much blood.
Call Handler: I think you need to talk to someone else, a manager. No. The ambulance guy. Ummm – shit monkeys! Sorry, sorry. My bad. Hailey? Is there anyone there with you?
Caller: I normally do it lower, but this time I went higher. [Sobbing noise] Why did they have to put it on Insta? Everyone had had too much to drink. Owwwooohh, shit. I’m pretty sure there’s an artery in your inner thigh.
Call Handler: I don’t know, I – ummm, are you applying pressure? Wrap a tourniquet. It should stop if you apply pressure and wrap a tourniquet above … no … wait … below. Tie the tourniquet below – hang on a second. Sorry. Let me check and see if there is an A&E near you. Is there anyone there with you? Are you able to drive?
Caller: [Crying] Normally it bleeds a little but this time I can’t get it to stop.
Call Handler: Oh, god. Hailey, you need to – wait a minute – Hailey? Can you just … I’m just going to put you on hold for a minute to speak to one of our health advisors because I think we need to call you an ambulance. Fuck. Why isn’t she applying pressure? Fucketyfuckfuck. What the fucking fuckety fuckmonsters pull-down fucking menu shitface – Where the fuck is that bloody man? Hailey? I’ve taken you off hold. Are you there?
Caller: I wasn’t on hold.
Call Handler: Oh, god. I’m so sorry. Look. It’s going to be alright.
Caller: [Crying sounds]
Call Handler: Hailey? [No response]
HAILEY!! I need to pass you over to our onsite clinician who can recommend what to do while I get an ambulance – Hailey?
[No response]
Hailey, are you there?
[No response]
Shit!
Chapter Twenty-Two
Raven tried and failed to steady her hammering heart. Blood roared through her ears, her pulse pounded at the base of her throat, lurching, now and again, towards her gag reflex. Her tongue was dry and her body felt as though it
