‘Not if we dance like this,’ said Felix, pulling Sarah close to him and enveloping her in his arms. She sank into his warmth, feeling his heart beating against her own.
‘Ow!’ said Sarah, pulling away and hopping on one foot. ‘I can’t believe you trod on my toe when we’re just shuffling from side to side.’
‘Sorry,’ said Felix, blushing.
‘Let’s try again,’ said Sarah. They moved closer, only this time Sarah kept her head up, looking into Felix’s eyes. He leaned forward. ‘Wait,’ she said, putting a finger against his lips.
‘What is it? Have I trodden on your toes again?’
‘No…’ Sarah looked at the ground and took a deep breath. ‘I want to know… well… I suppose what I’m trying to say is…’ Sarah stopped moving. ‘What I want to know is, what do you see in me? I’ve done nothing to earn your affection. I’m overweight, mean, damn right unpleasant at times. I have neither looks nor personality going for me, whereas you have everything going for you. You could take your pick from any woman in this room, even the married ones.’
Felix moved his arms away from Sarah’s waist and held her face in his hands. ‘I don’t ever, ever want to hear you talk about yourself like that. You are a beautiful woman. Don’t you ever look in the mirror? And you’ve apologised for your mistakes. I see the woman behind the barriers you’ve put up and I like what I see.’
Sarah’s eyes filled with tears. ‘But I…’
Felix silenced her as his lips met hers. Everything around them melted away as Sarah sank deeper and deeper into the rush of feelings sweeping through her. Here, in a tent, in a field in the woods, she was free to be herself. She’d finally come home.
Five years later...
‘Quick,everyone,they’reaboutto arrive.’
Bob tried to squeeze his body down, but couldn’t stop his head from poking out over the top of the sofa.
‘Get behind that armchair instead,’ hissed Kate. Bob grinned at her and shuffled on his hands and knees to his new hiding place.
‘Lily, are the streamers ready?’ asked Sarah.
‘Yes, boss.’
Sarah grabbed a balloon and threw it at Lily with a smile. ‘Everyone shush…’
Felix peered around the counter and blew Sarah a kiss. She flapped her hand to move him away. The front door creaked open and Sarah heard boots rubbing against the mat.
‘Where is everyone?’ asked Fran.
‘This is weird,’ said Hattie, ‘the door’s unlocked but no lights on and nobody home. Millie, you told them when we’d be arriving?’
‘Yes, I texted Sarah last week with all the arrangements.’
Hattie sighed and flung her bag on the counter.
‘Goodness me, I’m exhausted,’ said Fran, flopping down onto the sofa. ‘The trip was worth it, but I’m afraid it might be a while before I come and visit you girls again. That flight was almost as bad as giving birth. I’m getting too old for twenty-four hours sat in a confined space.’
From her hiding place, Sarah motioned with her fingers, one, two, three… ‘Surprise!’
Fran flew out of her seat, Hattie jumped a foot in the air, and Millie screamed.
‘What the…’ said Fran, clutching her chest. Sarah rushed over and enveloped her in a bear hug.
‘Sorry for startling you, but we wanted to make your return home special.’
Fran laughed and flopped back in her seat. ‘Well, you’ve woken me up.’
After much hugging and pulling of party poppers, everyone settled around the fire. ‘You must be exhausted,’ said Sarah.
‘Yes,’ said Millie, leaning her head on Hattie’s shoulder.
‘We could do with a coffee, if there’s one going?’ Hattie looked at Felix, who pushed his shoulders back with a smile and turned to Lily.
