‘Still love her?’ George actually laughed. ‘No, Jessica…’
‘Actually, it’s Jess,’ I interrupted. ‘Can’t get used to being calledJessica.’
‘Thank heavens for that.’ George stroked my arm. ‘No, Jess, it’s because I’ve not loved her for a long, long time; kept trying to finish it, but she’d get hysterical…’
‘Other way round, according to the SS,’ I pointed out.
‘The SS?’
‘Oh, sorry, it’s what I call those sisters-in-law of yours. You know, Sattar Sisters… Sorry, awfully rude of me.’
‘Your mum’s about to become another one. Will she be in the SS as well?’ George was laughing now.
‘Gosh, no… Mind you, she was eyeing up a heavier kettle bell at the gym last week, so who knows?’ I laughed at the thought of Mum cosying up with the sisters: it would never happen. ‘But Mina and that poor kid. Ruby?’
‘Mina rang me. Ruby’s gone to live with her maternal grandparents who now live in Wetherby, I believe. Ruby has had some contact with them over the years – these grandparents obviously thinking she’s their eldest daughter, April Ballantyne’s, child, rather than Mina’s natural daughter. All a bit of a shock for them, I suppose, if Mina ends up telling them the truth. Although, I wouldn’t put it past her, to keep the pretence going.’
‘And Mina?’
‘Returned to her apartment in Chelsea Harbour.’ George hesitated. ‘I, erm… I told her… erm… I had a bit of a thing about someone else.’
‘Oh?’ I felt my pulse race. ‘Anyone I know?’
‘She’s into wrestling!’
‘Wrestling?’ I sat up, prepared to take my leave and head home. I’d really thought, for one glorious moment, he’d been referring to me. Obviously not!
‘Hmm,’ George went on, ‘big into wrestling with orange Sainsbury’s bags. But also, just found out, she’s into rubber. What a combination!’ He started laughing and then, gathering me up in his arms, said, ‘Do you think we’ve circled one another long enough now? Jess, I’m just as nervous as you as to what’s going to happen next, but…’ He leaned over to kiss my hair, my forehead, my cheek and then finally my mouth and, if the ginwasplaying its part, I found I didn’t care as I remembered what to do with my arms, my mouth, my hands.
‘Like riding a bike,’ I murmured, my hands in George’s black hair.
‘Totally,’ he murmured back, taking my hand and leading me towards the closed door on the left. ‘Fancy a spin?’
36
ROBYN
July
‘Miss, were we all right? WasIall right?’ Lucy Earnshaw, red faced and breathless, came off stage, pulling the back of her hand across her forehead. ‘Blimey, Miss, it’s so hot out there. I’m drenched.’
‘You were fabulous, Lucy!’ Robyn smiled, holding up her hand in salute. ‘Get some water, keep yourself hydrated, but be ready for “We Go Together” – the final number. I want it to bring the house down.’
‘Did you have to pick the hottest day of the year for this last performance?’ Mason was at her side with a glass of ice and fruit.
‘What’s this?’ Robyn looked at it suspiciously. ‘Ribena?’
‘Pimm’s.’ Mason grinned. ‘It’s for the audience at the end of the show.’
‘Blimey, pushing the boat out.’ Robyn drank deeply, enjoying the cold alcoholic hit. ‘Can we afford it? And make sure you don’t give the parents free rein of it – it’s pretty strong stuff.’
‘Not me. George.’
‘George?’ Robyn raised an eye over the bobbing ice. ‘So…’ She broke off as a roar of approval, clapping and whistling rended the air.
‘Hang on, I want to watch them for the final time,’ Mason said, hurrying off. ‘Hope Petra’s out there with the video.’
From the wings, Robyn just stood, hand clasped around the cold glass as she watched Sorrel and Joel perform the iconic ‘You’re The One That I Want’ for the last time. She suddenly found tears were rolling down her face, so utterly proud was she of the pair of them. In the three months her little sister had been away, Sorrel had blossomed into what Robyn could only think of as a professional: spot on with every move, note and word, confident, assertive and in no doubt of her own ability. Sorrel Allen was going places.
