Two months until the wedding
I wake. I can hear someone in the house. The room is pitch black and I am on the sofa – I made it to the lounge at least. I had watched TV for some time, hoping Caitlin would wake up, but she carried on sleeping. I must have eventually nodded off. Now I can hear noises, rustling near the hallway. The television is some sort of clever, smart contraption which knew when it was being watched and had managed to turn itself off. The sky was greying to black, a slight tinge hinted it was almost total nightfall, and so it must be getting on for ten.
I wondered if I had heard a door closing and that was what woke me. But now there is definitely a presence in the house. I am sure I can hear breathing. Rosalie had left just after I put Caitlin to sleep, so that leaves only one possible explanation.
Suddenly, the entire room is illuminated and I leap off the sofa. Chuck is standing in the doorway. He looks tired and a bit fuzzy around the edges, the epitome of someone who stopped off after the office for a few beverages.
We take each other in for a few moments. Suddenly I feel embarrassed being here at Caitlin’s, soon to be Chuck’s home.
‘Sasha, I didn’t know you were here. Is Cait here?’
‘In the small kitchen. She’s had a skinful. We found “the dress”.’ I put my fingers into quotation marks.
‘Oh.’ Chuck nods. ‘And as tradition goes, is that usually followed by a piss-up?’
I sniff out a laugh. ‘Not traditionally, but I think Caitlin is rewriting the wedding rule book.’
‘Right, well, then I’d better check on her.’
I have already started moving towards the hallway and I stop as Chuck and I block one another’s way. An awkward moment ensues, and I realise I haven’t quite woken up yet. I touch my hair, a quick bedhead check. Chuck puts his hand out to let me go first. He follows me through to the kitchen where Caitlin is still in the same position as she was when I left her.
‘What does one do in this sort of situation?’ Chuck looks at Caitlin and rubs his head.
‘Have you never had to deal with her drunk?’ I say, bewildered.
Chuck shakes his head. ‘Not this kind of drunk – she usually makes it to her bed.’
‘Well, I don’t think she’s going anywhere, not unless you fancy giving her a fireman’s lift?’
Chuck snorts.
‘Look, I guess she’ll be okay,’ I say. ‘I’ll fetch her a blanket and then maybe you should sleep on the sofa so you can hear her if she wakes in the night. I’d leave the hall light on as well – she might wake up disoriented.’
‘You’re not leaving me, are you?’ Chuck moves away from Caitlin and steps closer to me. His voice drops to a whisper. ‘Surely I can tempt you with a cold glass of something?’
I feel my stomach churn, having not eaten anything substantial for dinner.
‘I can’t stay. Oscar must be going out of his mind,’ I say, although I haven’t checked my phone for over an hour, but he hadn’t texted before then either. He is still playing it a little cool.
‘Oh right, okay.’ Chuck looks forlorn and shoves his hands in his trouser pockets whilst scuffing his shoes on the floor. ‘Shall I order you a car?’
‘No, my car is just out there. I used the allocated space outside the house.’ I don’t know why I am speaking so formally, tiredness truly has got the better of me.
‘Marvellous. Okay, go careful then, old girl. Maybe text me when you’re home.’ Chuck walks me to the front door.
‘I’ll give you three rings.’ I smirk.
‘Eh?’ Chuck says, and I laugh.
‘It’s a thing we did when I was kid, ring the landline when we got in so the other person knew we got home safe.’ Chuck looked at me blankly. ‘Doesn’t matter – we’re from different worlds, Chuck.’
‘Okay, Sasha.’ He leans in and kisses me lightly on the cheek. I feel the light bristles from his day-old stubble and inhale that scent from his skin and hair: clean and soapy mixed with a hint of alcohol. As I get into my car and wave once more from behind the wheel, I can still smell him on my skin, and I am once again reminded of the time we spent together at Saxby.