Anybody Out There?

477 Pages·2007·1.85 MB·English

by  Marian Keyes

M A R I A N K E Y E S
Anybody
Out T here?
For Tony
Contents
Prologue
There was no return address on the envelope, which was… 1
Part 1 3
1
Mum flung open the sitting-room door and announced,
“Morning, Anna,… 5
2
After she’d washed me, Mum took the bandages off my… 10
3
After I got my diploma in PR, I got a… 21
4
Dinner chez Walsh was from the local Indian takeaway and… 28
5
The August before last, Candy Grrrl was preparing to launch… 30
6
Helen was clattering away at the ancient Amstrad, which lived… 37
7
Actually, I’m not really that odd at all—well, no more… 41
8
A barrel-chested man slung a hamlike arm around my neck,… 46
9
I woke up in the narrow bed in the sofa-filled… 55
10
While I waited to see if Aidan Maddox would find… 59
11
Mum fought her way over to my bed. 64
12
When Rachel arrived on Saturday morning, the first thing Mum… 66
13
For our one-drink date, Aidan and I went to Lana’s… 69
14
On Saturday afternoon, a taxi drew up outside chez Walsh. 77
15
After Jacqui had decreed that Aidan would be a hard… 80
16
On the flight from Dublin to New York, my injuries caused… 86
17
I slept heavily and dreamlessly, probably thanks to the pills. 93
18
The security guards couldn’t believe I was back. No employee… 97
19
What are you doing for Thanksgiving?” Aidan had asked. 105
20
Coming in to work this morning (second day back) I… 115
21
The best in landlubberly eye care! I stared at my… 118
22
Less than a week after he first asked me to… 122
23
In the darkness, I woke with a bump, my heart… 131
24
Anna, where are you?” It was Rachel. 133
25
I used to dream of a white wedding. 140
26
I checked Aidan’s horoscopes. Hot Scopes! said: 146
27
Got the plaster off my arm today. It doesn’t look… 150
28
It finally happened. Aidan finally showed up. 153
29
Rachel looked blank. Like she wasn’t listening to me, then… 156
Part 2 163
30
About a week after my husband died, I was in… 165
31
I hope you are keeping well. Listen, it’s gone to… 170
32
My shooting electricity pains woke me up at their usual… 172
33
I had a second shower, got dressed—in a swirly patterned… 174
34
I hope you had a “good” weekend. If you see… 182
35
Outside Diego’s, Leon and Dana were emerging from one cab… 189
36
There were pages and pages of these sorts of testimonials… 193
37
So like I said, two burly bozos came into office… 198
38
I checked my watch again. Only four minutes since the… 206
39
People were sitting down and holding hands with the people… 212
40
In the corridor, I was devastated with disappointment
and couldn’t… 215
41
But later on, at home, I wondered if Leisl might… 218
42
I was trying to remember if Aidan and I had… 220
43
Monday morning. Which meant the Monday Morning
Meeting. And here… 224
44
Another e-mail arrived from Helen. 227
45
The flash of red caught me by surprise. Blood. My… 229
46
All week, I was on tenterhooks waiting for the Mitch… 231
47
Ashamed to tell you, Anna. Trailing Detta Big, most boring… 236
48
Still no word from Mitch by Sunday morning and I… 238
49
The first message was for Mitch. 240
50
I called Neris Hemming’s number as soon as I got… 244
51
Via a series of cunning lies—I told Rachel I was… 247
52
Neris Hemming’s office.” 251
53
Friday, the ninth of July, my birthday; I was thirty-three. 255
54
I woke on Saturday morning with a horrible hangover. I… 260
55
Aidan? The spiritual place? Should I go today?”… 268
56
Before hitting my desk, I did a quick dash into… 276
57
Rachel, you have to go to the beach,” I said. 281
58
A couple of nights later, by accident—but an accident that… 286
59
God, Anna. Disastrous week. Mum went to the shrine at… 291
60
Mitch and I stood patiently in line while I eyed… 294
61
Candy Grrrl’s new range of cleansers was called Clean and… 300
62
On the train, Mitch and I rocked shoulder to shoulder… 305
63
All set for tonight?” Nicholas asked. “The full moon?”… 307
64
I contacted you on July 6 so that I could… 311
65
In the Friday-afternoon haze, Teenie and I sat on the… 313
66
Lauryn reappeared. 316
67
Anna, it’s me, your mother, it’s urgent—”… 319
68
She insisted on regaling me with stories about how great… 325