The Friends We Keep(20)

“I don’t really want anyone to break my heart,” sighed Evvie. “I seem to be drawn to losers. And no woman needs a man. I think I’m far better off on my own.”

“True, the wrong man is a terrible thing. You’re lucky, you girls. You’re young at a time when the world is your oyster.”

“Exactly! There’s nothing we can’t achieve. Marriage and kids are the last thing I want. I’m going to make a difference in the world.” Evvie sat up proudly.

“You can still make a difference if you’re married with kids,” protested Maggie. “It doesn’t have to be the prison it once was.”

“I wasn’t saying you’re wrong to want that,” said Evvie. “Of course we can have it all. Thank God!”

“Speaking of having it all, is anyone hungry? Can I take you all out for dinner?” asked Joan. “Apparently the Dinham Arms has a lovely restaurant.”

“Yes please!” Maggie’s eyes lit up. “What a lovely treat.”



* * *



? ? ?

    Later that day, when they were getting ready for dinner, Evvie came downstairs to find Joan tipping some pills into the palm of her hand before slipping the pill bottle discreetly back in her bag.

“Are you okay?” said Evvie. “Do you have a headache? Can I get you anything?”

Joan laughed and shook her head before showing Evvie the pill bottle. Dexatrim. “This is the real reason why I stay so slim,” she confessed in a conspiratorial whisper. “It completely suppresses my appetite. I was very slim when younger, but as soon as I hit forty-five I started to gain weight, so I started taking this. It’s amazing.” She paused and looked at Evvie. “Do you want to try?”

“What will it do?”

Joan shrugged. “You won’t feel hungry. It also has the added side effect of giving you lots of energy. You might feel a bit hyper, and you probably won’t sleep for a while, but you’re young. You don’t need to sleep. I can leave you these if you want. I have stacks of them in my bathroom because I’m terrified of running out.”

Evvie looked at the pill bottle, excitement rising. She had no idea it was this easy, and had long fantasized about some miracle drug that would enable her to eat whatever she wanted while still losing weight.

“Just one?” She grinned.

“I take one in the morning and one early afternoon. This is probably completely irresponsible of me, but I know what it’s like to not feel good about yourself. Take them. You’ll love it.”

“Cheers,” said Evvie, feeling a thrill of excitement as she popped the pill in her mouth and washed it down with a glass of water.





ten


- 1989 -



Evvie was lying on one sofa in the living room, Topher lounging in the armchair opposite, both of them bemoaning the fact that they would soon graduate, that three years had passed in a flash, when Maggie walked in bearing a plate of gingersnaps.

“Fresh out of the oven.” She placed them on the table, grabbing two before flopping on the sofa next to Evvie, putting her feet, clad in the slipper socks from her parents, now old and faded, onto Evvie’s lap.

“Evvie? Will you have one?”

Evvie shook her head.

“You never eat my food anymore. What’s the matter with you?”

“I’m training myself to eat less,” lied Evvie, who was by then taking at least three Dexatrim a day. The less she ate, the more successful a day she thought it was.

“But how am I supposed to show you that I love you if I can’t feed you?” Maggie said with a pout as Evvie laughed and leaned forward, flinging her arms around her in a tight hug.

“Like this,” she said. “Just as good and much less fattening.”

“Screw the calories.” Topher reached for a handful of gingersnaps. “Are you both as depressed as me? I can’t believe it’s over. How did we get here so quickly?”

“It’s awful,” moaned Maggie, cupping her hands around the mug of tea. “Tomorrow it’s all over. At least the two of you will be in New York and you’ll have each other. I’m going to be working in London, all by myself.”

“Tons of people will be in London,” corrected Evvie. “Just not us. You’ll know so many people.”

“But it won’t be the same,” she grumbled. “Who’s going to protect me if drunken rugby players attack me in a pub?” Pouting, Maggie looked at Topher as they all remembered that night soon after they’d first arrived, the night that had them vowing to always have one another’s backs.

“First of all, that’s not going to happen. Second of all, you’re more than capable of looking after yourself, and thirdly, if you need me, phone me and I’ll fly over.”

“You won’t fly over, although I appreciate the thought. Both of you are about to walk into the most glamorous jobs in the world, and I’m going into corporate PR. Could it be any more dull?”

“Corporate PR with a subsidized flat in Westbourne Grove. Not too shabby,” laughed Evvie. “You’ll be fine. You always said you only wanted to work until you found a husband and settled down to have children. Once you find roommates you’ll start having fun.”