Joanne Sefton Book 2. Joanne Sefton

smiled, his first genuine, untarnished smile of the evening. ‘That’s brave. I just had a skiing weekend with a couple of mates and we drank champagne and cognac in a bar where they played Edith Piaf on a loop.’

      ‘Did it end in tears?’

      ‘Absolutely. We got so emotional we slept in the next day and missed the surprise skidoo trip they’d booked for my birthday present.’

      She had to laugh. ‘Why don’t you come to my party? I’m having it in the garden at home. I can’t promise cognac, Edith Piaf or skidoos, but there will definitely be champagne.’

      ‘Well, that would be nice, thank you.’

      They checked the dates and he made a note in his calendar. It had been a spur-of-the-moment thought – the party guests were mainly local couples. With three kids and big age gaps she’d met a lot of school mums over the years. But there were a few friends she’d met as work colleagues in a previous life, some book club members and the odd neighbour.

      ‘Feel free to bring someone; the more the merrier.’

      ‘I’ll have a think about that. I’m looking forward to it.’

      They chatted easily as they finished the meal, staying away from the subject of Alex and university. After coffees, Andrew offered to call her a car, explaining that he was going back to the office to pick up a few things first. She was impressed by the sleek new Mercedes that turned up, and even more impressed when she got back to Twickenham and it transpired that the journey had been paid for on his company’s account.

      He’d said if someone could bring Alex back, he’d give them the world on a plate. What if Alex was out there somewhere? And what if Karen could be the one to find her?

       Chapter 6

       Misty

       1987

      Misty’s little room faced east and had thin curtains. Every morning the sun woke her up slowly, and she basked in the joy of no longer sharing a room with a twelve-year-old boy who emitted constant noise whether awake or asleep. Those sleepy, early moments were her one oasis of calm and she treasured them.

      The university didn’t believe in easing you in. The work rate was punishing and the speed at which you were expected to grasp things dizzying. Thank God she’d found Alex. Alex was chilled about everything. She always knew how to get an extension or which lecturers would give her a bit more leeway. Not that that helped Misty directly, when she was studying medicine and her friend was studying English, but her calming influence was often enough. And when that didn’t work, she’d just drag Misty out into town and ply her with booze.

      There was a knock at the door.

      ‘Come in! It’s not locked.’

      Alex’s face tilted round the door, her curls falling over her shoulder and her make-up already perfectly applied.

      ‘I knew it would be you. What are you doing looking so cheerful? And … dressed?’

      ‘It’s ten past nine, you know.’

      ‘Shit, it’s not? Mullins will kill me if I miss another lecture.’ Misty scrambled upright, feeling her head thump uncomfortably as she did so.

      ‘Lectures? Pah. It’s supervisions that count. As long as you’re turning up to those and not talking nonsense, no one cares.’

      ‘Yeah, maybe in English. Not in medicine. We can’t get by on a thought-provoking interpretation you know; we’ve got to learn that shit. Actual facts – you know? Digestive system – facts about shit, in fact. Today.’

      Alex was giggling and picked up a discarded T-shirt from the floor, throwing it at Misty. ‘Go on, far be it from me to keep you away from the shit. Nine o’clock lecture? Well, you might make the last ten minutes. Good luck.’

      Misty tossed the T-shirt back across the room and flopped back against her pillows, massaging her forehead. Alex had stepped fully into the room now and was followed by Karen. Misty’s heart sank a little to see her looking, as ever, like a shadow that had gone a little awry. She wore a purple plaid skirt and matching top, which clashed with her coppery hair; Alex had been wearing the brown version the week before. Whereas Alex was bright and playful, despite their heavy night the night before, Karen looked dark-eyed and sulky. Probably, if Misty was honest, much closer to how she herself looked.

      ‘Anyway, I’ve got something to tell you both,’ announced Alex.

      ‘Well, make it quick because I really do need to get to my ten o’clock. And I need a coffee.’

      ‘Ooh. Good plan. We’ll make one. That way you can jump in the shower and then you can bring yourself to crack a smile when I tell you the good news. We’ll see you in ten minutes, okay?’

      ‘Why don’t we take the coffee back to your room, Alex?’ Karen’s tone was helpful, but she gazed around with her nose wrinkled and Misty felt a flush of anger at Karen for making her feel ashamed about her messy room scattered with stuff that Karen wouldn’t touch with a bargepole. At least Misty had her own taste, she thought hotly, and when she could afford to buy something, she didn’t just copy the latest thing that Alex had got.

      ‘Yeah, okay,’ agreed Alex. ‘Come and find us as soon as you’re done, Misty. Yeah?’

      ‘Yep.’

      She gave it another couple of minutes before she forced herself out of bed, splashing some water on her face from the little sink the corner. Getting up was painful, but she was intrigued by what Alex’s news could be, and it wasn’t a lie that she needed to get to the ten o’clock lecture.

      Ten minutes later she was nestled amongst the cushions of one of Alex’s peacock chairs, damp-haired and clutching a bowl of Weetabix.

      ‘Have you two had breakfast?’

      Alex and Karen exchanged a glance.

      ‘We’re doing a forty-eight-hour challenge,’ said Karen, failing to keep a boastful tone from her voice.

      ‘A what challenge?’

      ‘Forty-eight hours, you can’t have anything other than chewing gum, black coffee or tea and water.’

      Misty shrugged. ‘Sounds grim. So, what’s the news then, Alex?’

      ‘Well, this weekend, my parents are having a party at the house. And you are both invited.’

      Alex beamed around at them. Misty caught the quizzical look on Karen’s face and they shared a rare moment of common purpose. Why on earth would Alex want them to go to a party thrown by her parents?

      ‘Err, thanks,’ said Karen. ‘But we’re meant to be going out with the boys from Selwyn College, remember? They’ve got that Entz thing on, with a proper DJ coming up from London. You wouldn’t want to miss that?’

      Misty wasn’t part of the drinking society scene – the groups of male and female students that hosted each other at ‘formal halls’ across the colleges – but she had intended to go to the Entz at Selwyn. Karen and Alex had both been invited to go out with the college’s girls’ drinking society – the Valkyries. She knew Karen was desperate to become a full member and pulling out of something like this wasn’t going to help her chances.

      But Alex gave a dismissive snort. ‘Well, Octavia Elsmore’s coming to my house, so I hardly think the Valkyries can complain if the society president’s hanging out with us.’

      ‘Octavia is going to your parents’ party?’ Karen’s mouth was still hanging open even after the words had left it.

      Alex just nodded. ‘She had