Birds of a Feather. Cressida McLaughlin

estate.

      ‘She’s upset about the house,’ Rosa whispered as they walked slowly to the reception desk, where Maureen was talking to a group of visitors. ‘She’s not going to fire you. It would be a ridiculous, counterproductive move. Either she has no idea how much you really do here, or she’s just angry and can’t think straight. But what happened with Jack?’

      They heard the click of Penelope’s door opening, and Rosa hurried back to the shop.

      Abby took over from Maureen, and then, when reception was quiet, pulled her phone out of her pocket and tapped a text to Rosa.

       It’s a mess. Come to the pub with me later? x

      Her friend’s reply was instant.

       Sure. Xx

      Abby hadn’t had a message from Jack since their parting the day before, but maybe he was feeling as shell-shocked as she was. She hadn’t sent him one either, and how could she now, when she was on the verge of losing her job, when he’d told her that the thought of her striding through the reserve was keeping him going, and very soon she might not even have that?

       Chapter Three

       Many species of ducks, geese and wading birds are only visitors to the UK, coming here for the food and the warmer weather and returning home in the spring. When you hear the honking call of geese above you and look up, you can often see them flying in a V shape. This is so they can get where they need to go more quickly, the bird at the front breaking up the wall of air, like an arrow. When one bird is injured and can no longer fly, family members stay with it, looking after it until it recovers, and then they all set off again together.

      — Note from Abby’s notebook.

      Abby arrived at the pub after collecting Raffle, expecting to find Rosa waiting for her at a table for two. Instead, she was at their usual, large table in the window. And so were Jonny, Stephan, Gavin and Octavia. A pint of lager sat bubbling at the empty place, and Abby, grateful and wary, dropped into the chair, picked up the drink and took a long, fortifying sip.

      ‘Dear Abby,’ Octavia said. ‘You’ve had a trying few days. Come, tell us everything, get it off your chest.’

      ‘What happened with Jack?’ Rosa asked. ‘Why has he gone back to London?’

      ‘Did Penelope really threaten to fire you?’ Jonny added. ‘I can’t believe it. Not after all those events.’

      ‘What the fuck were you doing gracing the front page of the Daily fucking Mirror?’ Gavin finished, his pint hovering close to his lips.

      Abby leant down to stroke Raffle’s head, looking at the expectant faces of her friends, thinking how ironic it was that she’d become the subject of the gossip they loved to share, and wondered if she could bear to go through it with them. But her truth was better than someone else’s speculation or lies – she had come to appreciate that much – and these people who cared about her, who had stood up for her, deserved honesty.

      She told them everything, stopping short of the intimate details of her time with Jack and the extent of her feelings for him, though she was sure they could see how wretched she felt.

      ‘So, Eddie Markham’s a total fucking snake, then,’ Gavin said, returning from the bar with fresh drinks. ‘Did you report him to the police?’

      Abby shook her head. ‘He didn’t have a chance to do anything other than grab me, thanks to Raffle. And the photo made it look like it was consensual.’

      Jonny drummed his fingers on the table. ‘The photo-editing software they have nowadays, they can do almost anything.’

      ‘It’s sick behaviour,’ Octavia said. ‘And you’ve lost your darling Jack because of it.’

      ‘Please don’t be sympathetic,’ Abby whispered. ‘I don’t know if I can take it.’

      Gavin slung his arm around Abby’s shoulders. He smelt of sweat after a day working in the heat of the reserve. ‘You’ll be all right,’ he said. ‘Get pissed, chuck things about, usual break-up stuff. And show Penelope how wrong she is – I can’t believe she said that you hadn’t been working hard enough! What a load of bollocks.’

      ‘Complete and utter bollocks,’ Stephan added vehemently.

      Abby smiled. ‘Thank you – all of you. And I’m sorry if I’ve been distant, or I’ve done anything to deserve Penelope’s accusations. I got … sidetracked. I knew it wasn’t a good idea, but I still did it.’ She rubbed her forehead. The beer was already having an effect, and she fought the urge to lay her head on the table and have a quick nap.