Taking another deep breath and holding her head high, Sabrina steadied herself ready to make an entrance. She’d got this. No doubt it would be a challenge, but she was an actress, after all and she could be whoever she wanted to be.
She had dressed simply in cut-off jeans, white pumps and a blue jumper that highlighted her extraordinary periwinkle eyes. The jumper was shaped to slip off one side to reveal a toned and tanned right shoulder. She had shoved a light hooded rain jacket in her bag, just in case. Sexy but relaxed chic had been her intention. And with her blonde crop, big spectacles and nose ring, she felt that she had achieved that look with aplomb. She had also noticed whilst getting ready that despite not having had her weekly facial, her skin was looking dewy and clear. She put it down to the fresh sea air but also to the fact that she was no longer caking foundation on her face for her job or otherwise. Rather than taking a good forty minutes to highlight, accentuate and create a youthful glow, her makeup routine now consisted of a five-minute splodge of her favourite paraben-free moisturiser, a smudge of mascara and a smear of clear lip gloss. She chose not to touch her eyebrows at all, as being naturally dark, she didn’t want the difference to be even greater against her new blonde locks. Polly Malone would wear a bright red lipstick, even in prison, and Sabrina would often wear the same shade when she was out herself. She had put it on tonight, then swiftly rubbed it off as if there was anything that would give her away that was it– after all, she still had the same face! However, it was amazing what a geeky-looking spectacle and change of hair colour could do. Also, a plain unmade-up face made her look so different. Even better, amazingly, she felt comfortable in her stripped back natural look. Who’d have thought that it was easier to hide behind a bare face than a face full of make-up?
She was also relieved that her face was starting to fill out again and was surprised at how much she liked that her belly was slightly soft at the bottom and her bottom was slightly soft at the top. It gave her a shape; she was no longer an ironing board. And it was just such a feeling of freedom being able to eat what she fancied when she wanted. It made her realise what a restriction she had placed on her life by being made to feel that she had to look a certain way. She knew it would make her unhappy to become overweight but to be a normal healthy weight for a woman of her height– and dare she admit, her age– well, that was beginning to feel rather liberating. She had realised that she had been trying to look the way she did for other people, not for herself, and that was both sad and also very difficult to maintain without sacrifice.
She would just ignore Dominic being such an arse about her hair. He was at times so cruel. She thought back to Dee reminding her to think about what she did miss about him. Him being derogatory about her looks was one thing she definitely didn’t. How dare he mask his own insecurities by projecting them on to her.
She hadn’t heard from him since he had turned up at the cottage. Her anger and his hurt at realising she had slept with someone else had put paid to them having any kind of resolutory conversation, at the moment anyway, she knew that.
Dominic had at least had the decency to tell her what was going on with the French Stick. And he had driven a hell of a lot of miles to do just that! So, maybe it was all innocent now and he was just being the kind Dominic Best, the part of him, she had fallen in love with. And maybe he did want her back but had to work through sorting out his misdemeanour first. What a bloody mess the intricacy of relationship and blurred communication caused!
Sabrina walked slowly towards the frivolity of Big Frank’s extravaganza. Enjoying the change in tempo toAs it Wasby Harry Styles, she took another deep breath. It could never beas it wasever again, it washow it wasnow, and she’d just have to get on with it.
There was a makeshift bar set up outside with Frank using the private party excuse to be able to legally serve booze on the premises for once.
‘Bonjour and welcome.’ A woman in her mid-fifties with platinum-blond shoulder-length hair styled in a 1940s chignon greeted her. She was one of those women, Sabrina thought, who had such effortless style that she could easily get away with making a cloth sack look good on her.
‘Can I get you a drink?’
‘Umm, a vodka and tonic if you have it, please.’
‘Oui, oui, sure. I’m Monique, by the way. Frank’s better half.’ She smiled. ‘I didn’t see you here before. Are you a guest or one of the market stall holders? I love your hair and those glasses,trés chic.’
‘Thank you. No, not a guest. I’ve just signed up for a unit, actually. Just for a short time.’ Monique’s comment had made her feel warm inside but also made her wonder if this was also another strange coincidence, that a beautiful French woman was being placed in front of her face to remind her of what she had lost. And it was a big loss. She had loved the errant newspaper editor. He had been her future, but he had broken her trust and she wasn’t sure if she could ever forgive anyone for that.
‘Ah, I see.’ Taking a scarlet lipstick from her pocket, Monique reapplied it expertly to her slightly filler-enhanced lips without a mirror, causing Sabrina to feel a slight tinge of mourning for one of her preferred shades and also a distinct envy at such application skills.
‘What are you going to be selling?’
‘Umm. Christmas stuff. A full-on festive bonanza.’ Sabrina smiled.
‘A whole shop for Christmas?Mon Dieu! I am so happy for this. I need some new baubles for the big tree I put in our hallway and please no tat, just luxury. How about expensive crackers, too? I love pulling crackers.’ She handed Sabrina her drink in a plastic cup. ‘And here comes my favourite one.’
Frank walked over singing a very out of tune,As it was. ‘I wouldn’t have put you as a Harry Styles fan.’ Sabrina took a sip of the extraordinarily strong hand poured measure of vodka and grimaced slightly.
‘He eez, what you say, the darkest of horses.’ Monique blew the big man an exaggerated kiss.
Sabrina laughed and held her cup up. ‘Cheers to you both.’
‘Cheers to you, Jilly and grand you could come down tonight.’ Big Frank had put on a crisp white shirt and a blue bow tie for the occasion. ‘And I see you’ve met the gorgeous Monique. Isn’t she just the most beautiful woman you’ve ever seen?’
Sabrina nodded. ‘You’re a lucky man.’
Monique shook her head. ‘A lucky man who kissed zee blarney stone a million times.’
They all laughed.
‘Are you OK?’ Monique directed at the big man.
‘Yes, all good. Just heard from Conor. His train’s been delayed, so he’ll be missing out on the craic.’
‘That naughty nephew of yours– he was late when he showed up here last year, do you remember?’ The French woman continued to enthuse. ‘I cannot wait for him to arrive and catch up with him. It’s been so long.’
‘And I can’t wait to see young Billy’s face when he does!’ Frank grinned, then on noticing Sabrina looking a little lost, saw Kara and took her by the hand.
‘Jilly, meet Kara. Kara, Jilly. The new girl in town. I need to refresh the bar.’ He hurried back inside the café.
Sabrina smiled at the voluptuous pregnant woman in front of her. Her long, wild auburn hair enhanced her look of Boho summer dress, white denim jacket and flat gold sandals perfectly. ‘Ah, so are you the Jilly who may be interested in my apartment?’
