‘Thanks, I’ll let Fran know.’
Sarah walked back through the giant tipi, feeling Felix’s eyes on her with every step.
*
At three o’clock, Fran pulled off her apron and told Sarah to do the same. She walked over to Sarah and enveloped her in a tight hug. ‘Thank you so much for today. I couldn’t have done this without you.’
‘I’m pleased I could help.’ Sarah looked over to where two of the agency staff waded through the mountain of washing up left by the guests. Relief flooded her, for once soap suds and wrinkled skin were not her concern.
‘How about you nip across to the bar and get us both a drink? I think we’ve earned one.’
‘Good idea,’ said Sarah, heading off towards the marquee.
If the kitchen seemed stuffy, it was nothing compared to the marquee. An unexpected shower had forced the lunch guests inside, and the mass of bodies sucked all fresh air from between its walls. Voices rose with each glass of wine consumed and the din made Sarah’s head pound.
Sarah pushed through the crowds to the bar, where Hattie was replenishing the bottles of wine in the fridge. Her hair had escaped its bun, sticking to her face in places as it met with the sheen of sweat. She looked both tired and harassed.
‘Are you OK?’ Sarah asked. ‘It’s crazy in here.’
‘I know,’ said Hattie, wiping her forehead with her sleeve. ‘This lot drink like fish. I’m worried we’ll run out of wine before they head home.’
‘Maybe now isn’t the best time to ask if there’s a drink going spare for me and Fran?’
Hattie laughed. ‘You two deserve a bottle. The food was incredible. Loads of people have come up to me asking me to pass on compliments to the chef.’
‘I’ll see they reach her,’ said Sarah.
‘And accept a few compliments yourself,’ said Hattie, stretching out her back and suppressing a yawn. ‘From what Fran’s told me, you’re as much responsible for the success of today as she is. Here you go,’ said Hattie, placing two glasses of wine on the counter.
‘Thanks,‘ said Sarah. ‘Is there anything I can do before I head back to the kitchen?’
‘Could you grab more bottles of wine from the trailer out the back? I’d get them myself, only the barman we brought in disappeared off for a cigarette break an hour ago and hasn’t reappeared. I’ve been manning the bar on my own ever since.’
‘Isn’t Felix around to help?’
‘He disappeared too. If you see him, tell him he needs to get his arse back here ASAP.’
‘Will do. I’ll get the bottles for you, take a drink to Fran, then if Felix and your barman haven’t returned, I’ll give you a hand myself.’
‘Thank you. You’re a star.’
Sarah left the marquee, buoyed up by her usefulness, Hattie’s praise, and the thought of an evening with Felix lying ahead. As she rounded the corner of the marquee, Sarah saw Felix leaning against the side of a trailer. He had his back to her, but just as she was about to run up and surprise him, Sarah realised he wasn’t alone.
Stepping closer to the marquee so he wouldn’t see her, Sarah watched in horror as Felix took the hand of a young woman. There was no way the woman was part of the event. She wore cut-off shorts, a baggy jumper, hiking boots and her tied-back hair was twisted into long dreadlocks.
Bile rose in her throat as Sarah watched Felix lift a hand to stroke the woman’s cheek. The woman leaned against him, Felix wrapping his arms around her, holding her tight. After several minutes, they pulled apart. Felix looked at his watch, then back to the marquee. Sarah held her breath, praying he hadn’t seen her. Felix turned back to the woman. Sarah watched him hold up his wrist and point at his watch. The woman nodded, gave him another quick hug, then disappeared towards the forest.
Sarah strode towards Felix. ‘Hi, what are you doing here?’
‘Oh,’ he said, jumping and avoiding Sarah’s eye, ‘just taking a breather. It’s crazy hot in there.’
‘It is, and Hattie’s on her own behind the bar. She asked me to find you, said she’s been by herself for ages.’Now’s your time to explain, thought Sarah.Tell me there’s an innocent explanation for what I just saw.
‘Oh right, yeah, sorry. I felt ill in there, to be honest. I must have been out here longer than I thought.’
Liar. ‘I told Hattie I’d grab some wine from the trailer. Could you do that, then help her?’
‘Will do. Hey, Sarah, is everything OK?’
