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This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the authors imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental. AVON A division of HarperCollinsPublishers 7785 Fulham Palace Road, London W6 8JB www.harpercollins.co.uk A Paperback Original 2013 Copyright Claudia Carroll 2013 Claudia Carroll asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library ISBN-13: 978-1-84756-275-3 (TPB) 978-1-84756-274-6 (PB) Set in Minion by Palimpsest Book Production Limited, Falkirk, Stirlingshire Printed and bound in Great Britain by Clays Ltd, St Ives plc All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers.

Heres an exclusive extract of

Me and You
by Claudia Carroll

Chapter Two
Christmas Day, 9.30 a.m. Hardly slept a wink. Keep waking in the middle of the night to check my phone, in case there might be some message from Kitty. But nothing, still absolutely nada. Tried doing an early morning ring-round of all our mutual buddies yet again, but of course, the morning thats in it no ones even thinking about answering their phone. Course theyre not; what was I thinking? My married pal is doing Santa Claus stuff with the kids, my single pals are all still in bed. On the plus side, Ive had three texts from Simon so far. One to tell me theres no news as of yet, but that Im still to relax and try to enjoy a family Christmas. (Yeah, right. Only someone who hasnt actually met my family could ever possibly come out with a statement like that.) Second text is to say hes still with a big gangload of his relations now, and cant talk, but will call soon as he can. Third says if theres still no sight or sign of Kitty by tonight, hes coming straight back to Dublin, as soon as he can reasonably get away. All three messages stress that Im to keep nice and calm, that shell turn up safe and well. This he promises. Course, that doesnt do anything to stop the sickening worry, but still, v. reassuring to know someone else is taking the whole thing as seriously as I am. Plus, I keep reminding myself Simon works as a trend forecaster. Which is a bit like weather forecasting, according to Kitty, except its all about economic projections, ERSI figures, etc. Hes part of the team that waved red flags, wagged fingers and warned us wed all end up broke, and stay broke, barefoot and living

off tins of Heinz beans, till sometime after our great-greatgrandchildren all end up emigrating in coffin ships. (Apparently theres v. big money in predicting bad news, but then, unlike horoscopes that say youll have an utterly magical day, people are far more likely to believe you if you tell them that nothing but horrors and destitution await. Myself included.) So Simons basic job is telling the future. So if he says Kitty will turn up and all will be well, then somehow, I trust him. Ive no choice. 11.35 a.m. Right then, time to meet the Kardashians. Namely, the annual Xmas Day ordeal chez la famille Blennerhasset. My usual survival plan involves turning up as late as possible without incurring the wrath of Mother Blennerhasset, busying myself in the kitchen under the guise of helping, then skedaddling the minute the last Quality Street has been gulped down, to get back home in time for a nice juicy Xmas blockbuster movie. (So Im free to watch it in the comfort and peace of my own flat.) Except not this year. My usual escape hatch has now been totally sealed off. The official story to the rest of my extended family is that Im temporarily crashing out with my parents, as Im in between leases on two apartments. Which I thought made me sound like a reasonably together person, not a twenty-eight-year-old no-hoper, newly unemployed, broke and forced into a humiliating crawl home with my tail between legs, etc. The inner circle, however, (Mum, Dad, older brother and sister,) all know the shameful truth,

and in the case of my beloved sister, Madeline, rarely miss the golden chance to score a point. Decide to time her, to see how long she lasts without managing to get a dig in. Just for the crack. Midday Mother Blennerhassets annual Xmas midday drinkies for aunties, uncles, cousins, friends of parents, freeloading neighbours, etc. Drawing rooms completely thronged. Everyone v. successfully and politely avoiding questions about my jobless state. But you can always rely on Madeline. Ah, Madeline. Older than me by just two years, but already following in the family footsteps by working for a top law firm and making more money than Ive ever seen in my whole life; with a mortgage, a pension and a flash-git style Mercedes fully paid off. Weighs approximately same as her coat and keys put together. (And just as an aside, as youll see, the whole family have P. G. Wodehouse names. Which has to be borderline child abuse. Who in their right mind lumbers kids with names like Madeline, Toby and Angela when youre unfortunate enough to have a surname like Blennerhasset?) So, Angie, she coos, wafting up to me with a glass of Prosecco in one hand and mobile clamped to the other. (Claims shes a very busy and important person whos still working. On Xmas Day. I know, I know.) Then in full earshot of Mrs Higgins, Mother Blennerhassets most competitive friend, with a v. successful daughter exactly my age already running her own business, fires her opener.

Any prospects of gainful employment coming your way in the New Year? And, ladies and gents, we have a new record. Not ten minutes into the drinks do and already her inner bitch is out of the traps. And yes, Madeline really does talk like this. Like some Victorian matron in a bonnet-y, corset-y, Dickensian drama. Gimme a second, I just want to put out some more of these, I smile weakly, indicating a near-empty tray of vegetarian vol-au-vents that Im trying to squeeze my way back to the kitchen, to replenish. She follows me though; clearly seeing this as green light to have a go at me. Angie-baiting being what she excels at, like an evil cat toying with a defenceless mouse. Bloody expert at it. Started when we were kids, when shed go out of her way to make me the butt of her gags just for the laugh, but now that were older, its somehow got nastier. Then my brother Toby wafts in after two of us, wanting nothing more than grub and to make an escape from the arse-numbing tedium of the party, knowing him. Both come after me into the kitchen and slam the door shut. Come on then, answer the question, Angie, dont obfuscate the issue, Madeline persists, instinctively knowing shes hit on my weak spot. And now that she has, shell keep on and on at it till shes drawn blood. Are there or arent there any jobs coming your way, sometime this century? I just have to get these into the oven . . . I mutter vaguely. Stop changing the subject, she says, perching up on the kitchen table now and elegantly picking at a single grape from corner of cheese platter. Probably all shell eat for the entire day. Because sooner or later youve got to get

yourself back out there into the jobs market. Got to up your game a bit. So youve had a few knocks who hasnt? Pointless hiding out at home, lazing around the house all day, just passively waiting on work to come to you. Look appealingly over to Toby, whos sitting in an armchair by my mothers Aga, flicking through yesterdays Times and stuffing his face with a large batch of cheese frittatas. Tobys generally far more humane than Madeline. Will tease me to tears, then surprise me at the oddest times by actually sticking up for me. Toby, tell her to back the feck off, I say pleadingly to him. Aah, dont be so touchy, he says, mouth stuffed, far more interested in the TV listings than in whats going on over his head. Mads just wants you to get a bit of work for yourself, thats all. Then he thoughtfully adds, But you know, in all fairness, sis, she does have a point. The longer a gap any potential employer sees on your CV, the less attractive you become in their eyes. Gee, thanks so much, Toby. Et tu, Brute, and all that, I hiss over at him, with what I hope is withering scorn. All Im trying to impress on you, Madeline drones on in that affected nasal whine that grates on my nerves so much, is that youve just got to get up off your backside, get out there and make it happen. Cant keep scrounging off the Aged Ps for ever, now can you? Ive been trying v., v. hard not to rise to the bait, but at that, the saliva in my mouth suddenly turns to battery acid. Is this honestly what this one thinks Ive been at? Arsing round watching daytime soaps, when in fact Ive practically been hammering doors down trying to get some work? Any kind of work?

Oh, to hell with her anyway. I snap up from the oven, where I was shoving in yet another fresh batch of mini beef Wellingtons. Excuse me, I tell her v. firmly, hands on hips, like a character out of a spaghetti western. Ive already had a job interview this week, Ill have you know, thanks very much. Oh, really? What for? she scoffs. Can practically sense her getting riled up to test out what she thinks is her rapier wit on me. For . . . a position. A really good one, as it happens. Something secure, just till I get back on my feet again. Where? Never you mind where. I turn and bury my face deep in the fridge-freezer to avoid eye contact, pretending to rummage round back of it. Needless to say theres absolutely no offer of help from Madeline, but then because shes a lawyer, she clearly considers herself a cut above menial labour. Whereas, in her eyes, I may as well be the hired help with an apron on, saying Just hand me a broom and call me Daisy from Downton Abbey. Stop avoiding my question, Angie, and just spit it out! No, now go away and leave me alone. The mini pizzas wont defrost themselves, now will they? Toby? Call her off, will you? Jesus, I came in here for a bit of peace, Toby mutters disinterestedly, this time between gobfuls of mini gherkins. So for fecks sake, just tell Mads what your big interview was for and then the pair of you can shut up. Besides, bar you applied for a job as an exotic dancer, whats the big deal anyway?

Deep sigh. Because hes right: I know only too well that Madeline wont let up with the third-degree questioning till I come clean. Shes worse than the KGB like that. I fully realise from years of dealing with her that its easier just to let her have all the jibes she wants at my expense, and get it over with. Quicker in long run. Right then, have it your way. The job I applied for is in a catering company, if you must know. A catering company? Then a short, two-second time delay while Madeline puts two and two together. Oh my God, dont tell me you mean like, buttering batch loaves in one of the sandwich bars your friend Sarah runs! If Id said the interview was for a job scrubbing public toilets and that the main perk was that after two years Id be issued with my own brush and a bottle of Domestos, Madeline couldnt possibly sound like shes enjoying this any more. She guffaws at me, like an Ugly Sister from Cinderella as I look pleadingly over to Toby for back-up, but no such luck. Hes far more interested in the sports pages now, not to mention the plateful of mince pies hes devouring. Thank Christ, am saved from further torture by Mum briskly swishing in, all swingy scarf, big, bosomy tweed suit and sensible shoes, looking even more like Ann Widdecombe than Ann Widdecombe herself. In she breezes, not a scrap of make-up on her, despite having a houseful of visitors to entertain. But then, Mums proudest boast is that she hasnt put on foundation for minimum of forty years. No time. As usual, her eyes are like hawks, taking in everything in one quick up-and-down glance.

So here you three are! she eye-rolls at us. Now come on, girls, stop all your bickering. I need some help. Chief Justice Henderson has just arrived; Toby, would you be a pet and entertain him? And, Madeline, I know Douglas McGettigan has to be the single most boring man in the Northern Hemisphere, but hes sitting all alone; anyone thats actually met him before wont go within six feet of him. Can you look after him for me, please? Chat to him about his golf handicap, he enjoys that. As the other pair scarper, I get thrown a familiar, vaguely exasperated look. Angela, you let your sister goad you, and you really shouldnt, you know. You just got to stop rising to the bait every single time. How often do I have to tell you? I mumble something vague into dishwasher along the lines of Madeline being a back-knifing cow and Toby being worse than useless, but Mum swishes off, too much in distracted hostess mode to pay much attention. The minute shes out door, I pour myself a very large glass of Prosecco and knock it back in a single gulp. Then check that theres plenty more bottles in fridge. If Im to survive today, Ill be needing lots, lots more where that came from.

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