As Sophie and Nate get ushered across to the agent’s table with George to sign the papers, I release the brake on the pushchair and spin Maisie round to where Plum and Joe are standing.
I’m shaking my head at them. ‘That has to be the craziest five minutes of my entire life.’ The single leaps they were making back there were equal to my annual salary. ‘My head’s exploding at the thought of so many zeros.’
Plum nods. ‘Totally bonkers.’ She looks at Joe. ‘So are you gutted?’
He pulls down the corners of his mouth then laughs. ‘I’ll survive. It’s straight back to Rightmove for me, there are a couple of others we’re interested in.’
Nell wanders over and she’s shaking her head too. ‘I hope Siren House is ready for the Higgie storm that’s going to hit it.’ She’s mispronouncing on purpose.
It’s hard to think of real life after the dizziness of the last few minutes. ‘Are you off?’
She shakes her head. ‘I’ll give Sophie a hug first. She’ll be doing B&B forever and a day to pay for this.’
‘She will?’ I’m frowning at Nell, then Charlie comes our way too and tucks in behind her.
Nell nods. ‘Contemplation and serenity weekends, that’s her plan, we talked it through last week. I didn’t actually believe she’d have the bottle to go through with it, but good on her for holding out for what she wants.’
I can’t help worrying on her behalf, but at the same time wishing I had half her guts. ‘You don’t think she’s over stretching?’
Nell laughs. ‘You and me would be out of our depth but she’ll be fine. We all started out with the same amount of nothing and look where Sophie is now. She sees what she wants and she works her ass off to get it, it’s a great way to be, if that’s the way you’re made.’ She pauses for a shrug. Where the rest of us are pale with the tension of the auction, Nell’s cheeks are extra rosy. ‘Anyway, seeing as we’re talking like property moguls, where are you at with your flat?’
I’m only too aware that, unlike Sophie who clawed her way up from zero, the flat’s being handed to me on a plate and Istillcan’t make it work. Also, it should be me asking Nell that question with all the work she’s been putting into the schedule.
I lean and hiss in her ear. ‘I actually offered the flat to Charlie and he’s “getting back” to me. What kind of developer doesn’t bite your hand off to get the last flat in a building?’
Instead of looking horrified like she should, Nell laughs. ‘The bottom line isn’talwaysthe most important thing, Clems. Maybe he likes having you living next door.’
That’s no kind of answer, especially from someone as figure orientated as Nell. I go back to my normal voice. ‘So how’s the schedule coming along? You’ve certainly had enough meetings.’
Nell looks up at Charlie, who’s suddenly back in the conversation. ‘Actually, we’ve got a confession to make about that.’ The smile they exchange is so fully charged my stomach implodes.
‘But you must have hammered outsomefigures?’ I’ve counted ten meetings at least.
Charlie rubs his chin. ‘There have been a few – er – distractions – a serious lack of concentration even.’ He couldn’t look more sheepish.
Nell chortles. ‘I don’t know why we haven’t done early morning singles’ events before. Breakfast’s a great time to connect – at least it was for us.’
Charlie’s beaming down at her. ‘This could be the moment to come clean and tell them?’
Nell’s smile is so light and wide she doesn’t need to say anything else. All I can think is that Charlie must have been lying when he said he wasn’t her penguin. The tiniest sea breeze would blow me over, but at least Nell looks radiant. If I feel like I’m about to throw up when I look at Charlie pushing the dark waves back off his forehead and smiling along with Nell, I need to get over it, and fast. I gulp back the sour spit in my mouth and rush to fling my arms around her. ‘I couldn’t be happier for you both, yousodeserve this.’
Plum’s laughing next to me. ‘And wetrulyforgive you for taking so long over this.’ She shouts across to Sophie who’s turning away from the agent’s table. ‘What did we tell you, Soph, Charlie and Nell are an item. Whoohooo or what?’
‘Hang on a second.’ Charlie’s putting his hand up. ‘Someone’s got their wires crossed here.’
Plum’s frowning at him. ‘What’s that?’
Nell’s laughing so much can hardly get the words out. ‘Me andCharlie, thatishilarious. Why the hell wouldwehook up when he’s completely committed elsewhere.’ She breaks off, snorts into her fist then wipes a tear from the corner of her eye. ‘Go on, tell them, Charlie.’
He’s cracking up slightly less than Nell. ‘It’s not me, it’s George. George and Nell are the item.’ He gives me a significant sideways glance. ‘They actually go back a long way. But I’m sure we’ll all forgive them for waiting this long to make it official.’
The knot in my chest is unravelling as I turn to Charlie. ‘So what about the dawn raids on the office?’
He gives a shamefaced grin. ‘I went to the first couple of meetings then left them to it. When I wolfed your croissants at the office last week I thought you’d be sure to guess.’ As he comes in close he drops his voice. ‘Thanks for that inside information you passed on that morning, it made all the difference.’
As Sophie, Nate and George make their way back over we’re engulfed in the scent of sticky raspberries all over again.
Sophie goes over to Charlie, and kisses him on the cheek. ‘This wouldn’t have been possible without you. Thank you so much, you’re a total star.’ For a moment, she looks as if she’s going to burst into tears, and Nate puts his arm round and squeezes her.
