‘Really?’
‘And at St Mede’s!’
‘No!’ Both Carole and Serena spoke as one.
‘Blimey,’ Carole went on. ‘Well, she won’t be there much longer if George Sattar and the rest of the Sattars get their way with the place. ’Bout time it was pulled down; been sinking for years…’ She paused. ‘Goodness, I’d have had Robyn performing in the West End or somewhere… Not ending up back here like we all seem to have done. Mind you, I reckon there’s worse places to end up.’
‘Again, long story regarding Robyn.’ I smiled. ‘I’ll fill you in one day.’
‘Right,’ Carole said, standing up and looking at her watch. ‘How about it, Jess? Practices on a Thursday evening? We really could do with you there.’
‘Yes.’ Whether it was the unused-to lager shandy or a simple need to sort myself out, I wasn’t sure, but yes, I was going to do it. ‘OK, count me in.’ I smiled, pulling a face. ‘I’ve actually been given a couple of free passes to the new gym in Beddingfield – I’ll try and get a bit fitter…’
‘From George? I saw you talking to him once you went off,’ Carole said as she pulled on her jacket. ‘He’s always down at the gym; the Sattars have probably got shares in it. D’you know him?’
‘What was he doing down at the hockey pitch?’ I asked, ignoring the question regarding my relationship with George.
‘George? Well, for a start he’s the star player of Upper Merton football team. Of course, it’s not tennis…’
‘What’s not tennis?’ I frowned.
‘Oh, sorry, I thought youdidknow him. You must have known about the tennis?’
‘What tennis?’
‘Not a Wimbledon fan then?’ Carole looked askance.
‘No, not really. I prefer team games to individual ones.’
‘Oh, for heaven’s sake, Jess!’ Serena now put in. ‘George Sattar was seeded one of Britain’s hopefuls for the Wimbledon Gentleman’s Singles.’
‘George Sattar was?’ I stared.
‘Years ago?’ Carole tutted. ‘As a junior he was winning everything around the world in the Junior ITF championships…’
‘ITF?’ I frowned.
Both Carole and Serena tutted in unison now. ‘International Tennis Federation,’ Carole almost spluttered. ‘Where’ve youbeen, Jess?’
At home, baking and wondering what and who my husband was up to, I thought. Instead, I said, ‘My mum never mentioned that.’
‘Your mum? What’s your mum got to do with it?’ Serena gave me a look.
‘She’s about to marry George’s brother.’
The two women stared. Eventually, Serena said, ‘Which one?’
I actually laughed at that. ‘Kamran, the eldest. I don’t think the other two are available.’
‘Your mother first marries Jayden Allen and now is about to marry Kamran Sattar with all that that entails?’ Serena’s jaw actually dropped. ‘He’s got his own jet, you know.’
‘Jayden never actually married Mum,’ I pointed out. ‘And, as far as I know, Kamran’s plane isn’t actually a jet. But yes, he’s flown her over to Montmartre to his relative’s restaurant a couple of times.’
‘Wow!’ Carole breathed. ‘Mind you, from what I remember of your mum, the couple of times I met her to discuss your sporting prowess at school, she was absolutely stunning. Slight, beautiful almond-shaped eyes? Some Asian heritage there? And Robyn and Sorrel were gearing up to be just as stunning from what I remember.’
I nodded, torn as I always was at pride at being the daughter and sister of three beautiful women, but tempered with the realisation that I would never, in a million years, be up on that pedestal of grace, talent and beauty upon which the other females in my family were already so well placed.
‘So, come on then, Jess.’ Carole was back in bossy teacher mode. ‘No excuses! We’ll see you next Thursday. Six thirty sharp. Hockey socks and boots and full gear. And don’t tell me your old hockey stick isn’t up in the loft somewhere!’
