I’m puzzling. ‘How does that fit with them being super-non-materialistic and not buying things?’
My aside was meant for Fliss, but Tiff’s straight in answering it. ‘They do shop, but they’re very picky so they don’t end up with shedloads of crap.’
‘That sounds like the kind of shopping mission statement I could do with myself.’
Tarkie’s appeared from somewhere too. ‘Our family likes buying crap.’
Tansy rubs her nose. ‘So long as it’s crap that’s kind to animals.’
As Willow turns and sees us she leans and says something to the assistant, then hurries across towards us.
‘Ivy, what perfect timing! I’ve got something to give you.’ She’s holding out her fist.
I’m kicking myself even more now for not claiming the sparkly sweatshirts as mine. But at least we’re in the right place for me to buy them all extra gifts. I make my voice bright. ‘Lovely, but aren’t we waiting for Christmas?’
Maybe this is a special non-materialist new-age custom to spread the pressies out and lessen the negative impact on the soul due to over indulgence on Christmas Day. But while I can see where they’re coming from, I won’t ever agree – I’m in retail, overt and spectacular consumption is what keeps me in a job, I rely on people putting worries about principles and credit card bills to one side and going for one glorious gift blitz.
Willow swallows. ‘That’s a nice festive thought, but this can’t wait.’
‘It’sthat urgent?’ What can be so important?
She’s smiling at me. ‘The state of your chakras, we need to get to work straight away and this is going to help.’
Oh my. If that’s a rabbit’s foot she’s clutching, when I see it I might just be sick. Although Queen Elizabeth the first used to wear red on her lips to ward off evil spirits. If Willow’s homed in on bright lippy, so long as the tone’s not too purple, I can possibly work with that.
To be on the safe side I shrink back, hoping I’m not putting Harriet in danger by using her pushchair as a shield. ‘So what is it?’
‘No need to look so horrified.’ Willow’s eyes are dancing. ‘There’s some lovely sea glass over there, the moment I saw this necklace I knew, the blues are exactly what you need, they’ll be very healing for you.’ It could have been worse. She didn’t foresee anything. She isn’t claiming it spoke to her.
‘Right.’ It comes out as a whisper, because I can’t remember when a gift was more stressy. Everyone’s looking on, rapt. It isn’t like I got much practice opening George’s, because he bought them so rarely. When he did they were mostly alcohol, and he always forgot I hate whisky then drank it himself.
Willow’s eyes are shining. ‘I had a feeling I was going to find something beautiful in here, as we came through the door it was literally calling out to me across the room.’
‘Oh my.’ My stomach withers as I hear that double whammy. She’s sounding more excited than I am, which just goes to prove, the pleasure is in the giving. But if her muesli is called Morning Zen, I’m bracing myself for something truly awful here.
‘Ivy, just open your eyes and look.’
I didn’t even know they were closed. As I force myself to prise my eyelids up I see a fine silver strand of chain. And cupped in her palm, some bright silver stars and chunks of sea glass in the deepest blue, and soft turquoise green. I let out a gasp. ‘But it’s beautiful.’
Willow’s nodding. ‘I know, that’s why you have to have it. Put it on, the blues will sit on your throat, I promise you’ll feel better when they do.’
I unwind my scarf, let her put it around my neck, and turn so she can do up the clasp for me. ‘Thank you, Willow.’ I drop a kiss on her cheek then hold the stones where they fall just below the hollow of my neck.
Bill’s still there, talking to Willow. ‘Very fitting, Ivy’s second name is Stella, which means star, and her surname is Starforth. She’s a very starry woman, you know.’
I turn to him. ‘It does, but how doyouknow that?’
He’s looking at me like he doesn’t know why I’m asking. ‘You must have mentioned it in Chamonix.’
‘Of course, I tell people all the time, don’t I?’ I’m staring at Fliss to back me up here and turn this horribly significant claim of his into nothing. And when she doesn’t I have to poke her.
‘Yeah … of course … like every day … at least twice …’ She’s frowning at me. ‘Did you ever tell me that?’ Then she grins. ‘Of course you did, I just lost it when they did the two memory wipes in the labour ward.’
Tiff’s bobbing down next to Harriet. ‘Tiffany means I’m god, but in the form of a girl.’
I grin at her. ‘That’s fitting too then.’
Willow’s nodding. ‘There you go, it’s working already. Wearing those blue stones will make it a lot easier for you to express what you’re truly feeling.’
