26
Preparations
Emily crawled out of bed to the sound of knocking. Throwing a dressing gown around her shoulders, she staggered downstairs, aware it was still dark outside. The knocking continued at a frenzied pace until Emily called out, ‘All right, I’m coming!’
Steeling herself for an argument with Nathan, who had perhaps come to tell her that the roof needed immediate replacement, or her hallway was required to store a crane, or even that he had decided overnight to level the three holiday lets and erect a block of flats in their place and that a wrecking ball was waiting right outside … she was somewhat surprised to find Veronica standing on her doorstep, holding two overflowing supermarket bags in her hands.
‘What time do you call this?’ Emily asked, wondering if she’d drunk more
