But I like to take care of myself as much as the next woman. And while it goes without saying that I never, ever plan to kiss Zach Russo again, when I look in the mirror, the first thought I have is both inexplicable and overwhelming.
I need to up my game.
I return to my desk and make a phone call.
Chapter 24
The woman who does my Botox is an attractive fifty-something ex-NHS dermatology nurse called Liz and is, in the words of Jeff – who recommended her – a miracle-worker. I’m not sure about that, but she is willing to err on the side of caution and subtlety. Judging by some of the foreheads I’ve seen at the school gates, this is not a universal quality in her profession.
She had a cancellation this afternoon at her clinic, which is great except that I can only go directly after picking up Jacob from school.
‘Can’t we go straight home? I’ve got so much to do,’ he says, climbing into the passenger seat.
‘A lot of homework?’ I ask, starting the engine.
‘No, I’m just about to complete a new level on Roblox. Where is it we’re going anyway?’
‘It’s . . . abeautyappointment,’ I say vaguely.
But he’s not listening, too busy scrolling through Spotify to find ‘Wuthering Heights’ again.
The clinic has that sterile, all-white look similar to how set designers in the 1970s imagined all living rooms would be fitted out in the future. Jacob sits on a chair outside the treatment room, next to a well-dressed woman of indeterminate age. They smile at each other, before he picks up a copy ofAesthetic Beautymagazine and starts flicking through it.
I ask for ‘my usual’ and tell Liz I need to be quick if she doesn’t mind, which she takes as her cue to start telling me all about thelimestone render she’s having replaced on her Georgian terrace and try to flog me an at-home skin tightening device.
‘I haven’t seen you forages, Lisa,’ she says, peering at the lines above my nose with an expression that suggests I’ve allowed myself to become a gnarled old crone. She pulls back with a ponderous expression and I’m slightly concerned she’s going to pull out a syringe the size of a nuclear warhead. But instead, she snaps on a pair of latex gloves and asks, ‘Have you got something special coming up?’
‘Yes, an award ceremony in a few weeks,’ I say, which is at least true.
The actual injections are relatively quick and, contrary to popular belief, fairly painless, at least for anyone who’s ever been through childbirth.
‘Usual advice,’ she says afterwards, ‘no exercise or alcohol for twenty-four hours.’
‘Whyisthat?’ I ask, pulling on my coat.
‘Oh, any increased blood flow can cause the toxin to migrate to the surrounding areas. Worst-case scenario, you’d end up looking like Droopy. Oh, don’t worry,’ she laughs, sensing my alarm. ‘Just don’t be going into a sauna, running a 5k – basically anything that makes your face go red. It will take two weeks for you to see the full effects so we’ll book you in for a review then.’
I head out into the waiting room, where Jacob is now regaling a woman dressed in head-to-toe Marc Jacobs about why Manchester City’s new striker has the best left foot in the Premiership.
‘Ready, sweetheart?’
‘Yep,’ he says, slapping his hands on his knees before standing. Then he looks up at me and frowns. ‘No offence, but you don’t look any different.’
We head home and I’m pulling into the driveway when a text arrives from Rose.
Feel free to ignore this but given what you’ve been saying about Leo lately, I thought I’d forward this. My cousin swears by it.
I click open the link to an e-book calledThe Book You Wish Your Parents Had Read, by Philippa Perry.
Interesting – I’ll give it a go. Are your cousin’s children perfect, as a matter of interest? x
I wouldn’t go that far, but she says it’s helped. On another subject, the Keanu movie is sadly meant to be a stinker x
Do you care? I thought your devotion to him transcended all that!
It does, as myFeeling MinnesotaDVD proves! Might be better to stick to the new wine bar in the village instead though x
I smile to myself as we go inside, pleased to hear she’s even considering this.
