*
Sarah didn’t notice how long and boring the award ceremony was. She didn’t notice the sub-par food, the deafening noise around them, the smell of hot, over-excited bodies filling the air, the cheap sweetness of the champagne. She experienced a flutter of disappointment on Fran’s behalf when they didn’t win, and a pang of regret that her friend wasn’t there to share the evening with them. But on the whole, all Sarah felt was happiness. It was such an unfamiliar feeling, at first she wondered if she were drunk. But she’d sipped her two thimblefuls of cheap champagne with restraint. The atmosphere was more intoxicating than any amount of alcohol could ever be.
Hattie caught Sarah’s eye and smiled. ‘It’s a shame Fran didn’t win,’ she said. ‘But I’m loving being out with you all. How about we ditch this sweaty ballroom and find ourselves a friendly pub somewhere?’
‘Good plan,’ said Felix.
After his earlier awkwardness, he’d relaxed into the evening, leaving his friends in stitches with his impressions of café customers. Sarah had laughed as hard as Millie and Hattie when he recalled Sarah’s terror at meeting Madge the Badger. Her face ached, and she vowed to make better use of her facial muscles from now on.
As they pulled on coats and began weaving their way through the packed ballroom, Felix took Sarah’s hand.It’s an act of friendship, she told herself, as her heart tried to jump out of her chest and she prayed her palms weren’t clammy. When they stepped out into the cool night air and Felix let her hand drop, she savoured the warm imprint where it had been.
With every pub they visited packed to the rafters, they decided a decent night’s sleep was preferable and headed back to the hotel. They said goodnight, and Millie and Hattie disappeared through the double doors to their ground floor room, while Sarah and Felix made their way to the lift.
Perhaps it was the alcohol wearing off, but as they waited for the lift to come, some of their old awkwardness slipped into the space between them. A bell tinged and the lift doors opened. Sarah stood beside Felix, the small space and proximity to the man beside her causing her breaths to come fast and light. Felix attempted some banal small talk, and both were relieved to exit the lift on their floor.
They reached Sarah’s room first. ‘Goodnight,’ she said. ‘I can’t wait to get out of this dress and into that enormous bed.’ Like a tidal wave, a flush spread up her face. She prayed Felix hadn’t picked up on the innuendo. Sarah turned to unlock her door, hoping her long hair concealed the colour of her face.
‘Hey,’ said Felix, touching her arm. Sarah turned and looked up at him. ‘I meant to tell you earlier, but didn’t.’
‘What?’
‘I just wanted you to know how beautiful you look tonight. I’m not sure you always see what other people see.’
Sarah struggled for words, convinced her face had now turned from red to purple. ‘Thanks,’ she muttered.
Felix took a step closer, leaned over and kissed her cheek, then with a gruff ‘Goodnight’, turned and walked off down the corridor.
Sarah fumbled with her key card, dropping it twice before she made it into the room. As the door closed, she sank to the floor, leaning against it, fanning her steaming face with her hand. Had Felix just called her beautiful, or had she imagined it? Sarah pulled herself to her feet and stood in front of the mirror. For the first time, the reflection staring back at her wasn’t grotesque. Beautiful was a step too far, Sarah decided, but the woman staring back at her looked like someone who fitted in, an ordinary woman with friends and a life.
Sarah pulled off the dress, kicked off her shoes, and climbed into bed. The smile on her lips remained long after she’d fallen asleep.
Chapter 28
Despitebeingthemiddleof May, the weather was terrible. It had rained for weeks, and showed no sign of letting up. Fran and Sarah took their break under a shelter designed to protect the bins.
‘It stinks out here.’
‘I know.’ Fran chuckled and took another sip of her tea.
‘What’s on the menu today?’
‘Chickpea stew, caramelised onion tart, carrot cake and triple chocolate brownies.’
‘Yum. Can I make the brownies?’
‘No, you could do that standing on your head. You can make the onion tart.’
‘But I’ve never made one before.’
‘I know. It will be a good learning curve. It’s not as complicated as it sounds, and I’ll be right there with you if you get stuck.’
‘You’re an excellent teacher, you know.’
Fran pretended to faint. ‘Was… was… was that a compliment?’ she asked, fanning herself.
‘Hey, I give compliments.’
‘You do? I’m not sure I remember receiving one.’
