Adele shook her head crossly. ‘Look at me!’ She held her arms out at her sides and did a fast twirl. ‘I’m overweight, underpaid, and struggling to pay my bills. So what do I do? I spend money on ingredients I can’t afford and bake biscuits and cakes and then sit here alone and stuff my face!’ She blinked several times and then stared at me open-mouthed, no doubt mirroring my own expression. ‘I … I don’t know where that came from,’ she continued. ‘Ignore me. I … I didn’t mean to say that. This was a bad idea.’
‘No, Adele.’ I got to my feet and reached out for her hands, taking them in mine and giving them a friendly squeeze, and then, as a tear trickled down her cheek, I pulled her in for a big, and hopefully comforting hug as I wrapped my arms around her. ‘This was a good idea. A very good idea. We all have times in our lives when we feel overwhelmed. You’ve been ill. You’re not at your best. It’s good to let it all out. I do it all the time with my best friend, Madi. I know you’ve got friends and probably family too, but I’d like to be your friend, Adele. If you want to be mine, that is.’
She looked me directly in the eye and wiped her own with the back of her hand.
‘Really? You … you mean that? You … you’d like us to be friends?’
‘Absolutely.’
I relaxed my hold on her and she eased herself away to grab a tissue. She blew her nose loudly.
‘Still want to be my friend?’ she quipped.
I nodded. ‘Yes. But I want you to tell me why that surprises you.’
The kettle clicked itself off and she turned to look at it. ‘I’ll make the coffee and then I’ll tell you.’
I sat down again and waited until she had put two mugs of coffee on the table and we’d both eaten one biscuit.
‘Of course,’ I said, ‘it was these biscuits that sealed the deal. That was a joke, in case you think that might be true. They are delicious, but I’ve been trying to be a friend since the day I moved in.’
She smiled wanly and let out a long sigh. ‘I know you have. At least, I thought you were. But I wasn’t sure, you see. And after what happened before. Well. I thought it might be best not to get involved.’
‘What happened before? Sorry. I’m not following.’
She shook her head. ‘I’ve seen you chatting with Marcus.’
‘I’ve been trying to be friends with him too. Is … is that a problem?’
She shrugged. ‘Not for me. But we don’t like each other.’
‘Did something happen between you two? Did you date or something?’
She snorted a bitter laugh. ‘Date? Marcus date me? That’s a joke. Not only is he way out of my league, I’m not even on the same planet as far as he’s concerned.’
‘I don’t think that’s true. You’re really pretty, Adele.’
She scowled at me. ‘That’s a joke too.’
‘No it’s not!’ I snapped. ‘Why do you have such a low opinion of yourself? Do you own a mirror?’
‘Of course I own a mirror. But I don’t look in it if I can help it. And pretty is a word that’s never been associated with me.’
‘Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, Adele. You may not behold beauty when you look at your reflection, but I can assure you, others see beauty when they look at you.’
She tutted loudly.
‘I mean it. Madi and I both think you’re really pretty. But I will agree you don’t make the most of your natural beauty. And Madi’s fiancé, Tristan said he thought so too. I don’t lie to people. Not even to boost their ego or make them feel better. I’m being completely honest. And I can prove it. We can call Madi now on speaker and I can ask her if she thinks you’re pretty. Then you’ll hear her say so yourself.’
I pulled out my phone and Adele’s eyes opened wide.
‘No! Please don’t do that. I’d feel so embarrassed.’ She smiled sheepishly again and twisted her coffee mug around in her hand. ‘I … I believe you. I’m … I’m just not used to compliments.’
‘Well you should get used to them, because if we are going to be friends, you are going to have to believe people think you’re pretty.’
The smile grew wider. ‘I can try.’
‘Excellent! I held out my mug and clinked it with hers. ‘Cheers to friendship.’
