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penguin.
    I think, “
Of course, this is
exactly
what Jenny needs.”
    Jenny sighs and rolls her eyes, and looks away, and then finally shrugs and says what looks like,
“Well what do you want me to do?”
at which Tom stomps off to the front of the house. I take this as my cue and push back outside.
    When I hand Jenny her drink, she says, “He’s still angry, that’s the thing.”
    I nod and raise an eyebrow. “Yes, I kind of picked up on that,” I say.
    â€œI’m not exactly … whatever the opposite of angry is … myself,” she says, sipping at her drink.
    â€œI’m sorry,” I say. “I really am. But there’s not much more I can say.”
    â€œNo,” Jenny says, avoiding eye contact. “Well … just keep saying it then. Maybe if you say it enough. Maybe it’s like anti-wrinkle cream.”
    â€œAnti wrinkle cream?”
    â€œThe more you use it, the better it works.”
    â€œRight. Where’s Sarah?” I ask, thinking that a subject change might do us good here.
    â€œAt nursery,” Jenny says. “I decided she’s too young for funerals.”
    â€œSure,” I say. “Will I see her?”
    â€œIn a bit,” Jenny says. “I have to go and get her at five. Actually what time is it?”
    â€œFourish,” I say. I check my phone. “Ten to actually.”
    â€œLook … I’m sorry, but …” Jenny glances to the side of the house and then pulls a face.
    â€œYes?”
    â€œTom is leaving at half four. He has a taxi booked. Would it be too much to ask for you to … you know … go for a wander say. Just till half four?”
    I smile sadly and shake my head. “Of course not. Do you need anything? Any shopping or anything?”
    â€œNo. Only vodka.”
    â€œThere’s a bottle and a half in the freezer. And masses of tonic too.”
    Jenny shrugs. “Then no … nothing.”
    â€œOK, I’ll see you in a bit.”
    â€œThanks,” she says.
    At the front of the house, Tom is sitting on the wall. “I’m off, Tom,” I tell him. “She’s all yours.”
    â€œShe told you where to go then,” he says.
    I nod calmly at him and head off across the close. I feel a desire, of all things, to hug him – to walk over and hold him until he weeps. In his current state, of course, he would probably punch me first.
    As I walk to the main road, as I retrace my steps to the greasy cafe, I think about all the years Tom and I spent together. All the places we have been.All the adventures we had. And it just breaks my heart that it has all come to this.
    If he could see inside my head, he would understand of course. He would realise that none of it was meant, that I never did anything with malicious intent. But of course he can’t see inside my head. He has decided, instead, to lock me out. And like an autistic child in therapy, I want more than anything else to sit and hold him until he breaks.
    It’s nearly five when I get back to the house and a lone church-lady is finishing the dishes in the now-spotless kitchen.
    â€œHello. I’m Penny,” she says. “You were here before, weren’t you? Jenny’s outside. I think she’s had a bit too much to drink.”
    â€œYes,” I say.
    â€œAre you hanging around for a bit? Because I didn’t want to leave her on her own.”
    â€œI’m not sure,” I say. “Probably. Hopefully.”
    She purses her lips at me.
    â€œIt’s complicated,” I say.
    â€œThe course of true love never did run true,” she says. “You go talk to her. She needs her friends right now and there don’t seem to be many of you around.”
    I peer out at Jenny swinging alone on the love seat, and then return to the hallway for a coat before crossing the garden to join her. “Put this on,” I tell her. “You’ll catch your