The three of them laughed.
‘And we wish you every ounce of success with it,’ Isaac declared, awkwardly kissing her on the cheek.
‘You should be so proud of yourself,’ Belle added. ‘And we can’t wait to have a look around.’
Sabrina’s first day as a market trader flew by in a blur of stallholders being nosy and new customers getting excited about Christmas already. She was happy that her bestsellers had been baubles as there was a good mark-up on those, plus they didn’t take up too much space. The jumpers had also been a big hit. And because she had only ordered in one size and one colour of each of the five assorted designs, she had taken various orders with individuals who were excited about how cool they would be for either their work Christmas parties and for Christmas day at home with their loved ones. Conor had literally run in and out to tell her that he’d given out nearly all the vouchers and that he was having dinner at Frank and Monique’s place that evening and would be back in the morning. He had also promised they would have a celebratory drink for sure on the Saturday night.
She sat back in the uncomfortable high stool and checked her takings. She was amazed to see three hundred and fifty pounds on the screen of the handheld payment machine. And that was without counting the cash. Of course, she’d have to take off the money she’d spent on stock, but she knew it would still be a tidy profit. Now, if she could do that six days a week then that was incredible; the rent would be covered in no time. Yes, she felt tired, but nowhere near as tired as she used to feel after a day of filming and hanging around on a TV set. And what she was doing here was all about her. Just for her and nobody else. She was the boss. No pesky directors shouting at her. No makeup being caked on. But what she didn’t have was a Dominic to go home to. To share some food with, to talk about her day. To make love to her and cuddle her in bed. She sighed loudly then smiled. For she had all of that with Conor, aside the intimacy. And it was the intimacy side of a relationship that caused all the complications. Dom had had a friend who, to the abhorrence of his wife, would announce when drunk that it would make more sense and save a lot of heartache to have a good network of friends and a brothel around the corner.
With thoughts of her old life and in particular Dom now running through her mind, she put her hand to the little embroidered reindeer covering her heart and suddenly felt very alone.
Not keen to sit with this feeling, she jumped up and went outside to start bringing her stock off the stall. The market rules were that Ferry Lane had to be clear by six p.m. latest so that the traffic could flow through again and she didn’t want to get into trouble on her first day.
She was just wheeling in the rail of jumpers when her phone rang.
‘Sabrina, it’s Caroline, and I’m sorry. It’s not shocking news but it’s not great news, either.’
‘Go on.’
‘They do want Polly Malone back on the street, but not until next summer.’
‘So filming will start February time, I guess?’ Sabrina replied casually, pulling the rail fully inside. ‘When do I need to confirm?’
Caroline was silent a moment. ‘I thought you’d be pissed off about that?’
‘No.’ Sabrina replied casually. ‘I’ve started working down here, now.’ Sabrina surprised herself at how relaxed she felt about the whole situation. If someone had told her two months ago that she would have to wait so long to start filming for her major soap role again, she would have thrown a complete hissy fit. She wasn’t even bothered about the money. It was great to feel like this, but whydidshe? Maybe it was just being out of the limelight? No one to judge her on the way she looked or which restaurant she was eating in. Had she at last found her peace and didn’t even realise it? Down here, she could just be unapologetically her. And she was beginning to realise, thanks to all the new good people around her, that being unapologetically her was alright. In fact, more than alright.
‘Working? What on? Why on earth didn’t you consult me?’
‘I’m running a market stall.’
Caroline laughed out loud, then after nearly sucking the back out of her vape laughed again. ‘Well, I’ve heard it all now. What are people saying?’
‘I’ve cut off my hair and dyed it, I’m wearing glasses and a nose ring, so nobody is saying anything because they don’t recognise me.’
‘I told you that coming off social media was career suicide.’
‘Well, clearly it doesn’t matter what I do or don’t do, as I still have a job next year if I want it.’
‘Your beautiful hair, too.’
‘It will grow. The same as I am now that I’m not having to deal with so many negative idiots. Dom included in that.’
‘It needs to be long again by April, though.’ Another long drag on the vape. ‘I’m so happy they want you back.’
‘Caroline, there are wigs and we could even make it so that somebody cut it off in prison. Anyway, good to hear that you’re happy. But does it matter if little old Sabrina Swift is happy or not?’
Caroline’s voice softened. ‘Oh, here she is! The little fighter. Of course, it matters. Contrary to your beliefs, I’ve been worried about you.’
Sabrina sighed. ‘Thanks for not commenting to the press.’
‘That doesn’t even warrant an answer.’ A brief silence. ‘I’m sorry about the kid news, by the way.’
‘I’m not. It means I won’t go back to him even if I want to.’
‘You’re a strong woman, Sabrina, and I admire you for that.’
Sabrina’s face lit up. A compliment from Caroline Smart was equivalent to receiving an OBE. A slight pause.
