She’s weaving down the corridor, her blue crepe dress billowing around her calves, her blonde chignon the worse for wear with sections of hair hanging down haphazardly, and not in an elegant way. The hairdresser in me is itching to pin it back up. From her erratic movements, I’d say she’s pretty drunk.
‘Madeline, wait!’
She turns and squints in my direction and then raises a hand. ‘I’m off to bed.’
‘Hang on.’ I trot after her, my shoes in my hand, but she turns and continues on her way. I soon catch up. ‘Come and get a coffee with me in the bar,’ I suggest, walking by her side.
‘You shouldn’t have coffee after four p.m.,’ she chides. ‘You won’t be able to sleep.’
‘I think you’ll sleep just fine,’ I say with a smile.
‘Don’t laugh at me.’ She stops walking and wags her finger in front of my face.
‘I’m not laughing, I’m just saying, you’ve had a bit to drink. A coffee will take the edge off, stop the room spinning later.’
‘No thanks.’
‘Water, then. Or a soft drink.’
She waves me away and carries on walking.
‘We’re good now, though, right?’
‘You’re Toby’s wife.’
‘Yes, that’s right. You really are quite drunk, Madeline. Where’s Nick? Do you want me to get him?’
‘You’re Toby’s wife. But I know what you did.’
Now it’s my turn to stop walking. ‘Wait, what are you talking about?’
She keeps going without me. ‘You shouldn’t have done that. Poor Toby.’ She shakes her head and repeats, ‘Poor, poor Toby.’
I’m not sure if her words are the incoherent ravings of an extremely drunk person, or if there’s something she wants to tell me. I call after her, ‘What do you mean “Poor Toby”? What’s the matter with him?’
‘Don’t pretend you don’t know.’ She stops and looks around. ‘Where’s the lift?’ I catch up to her, but she’s ignoring me, trying instead to get her bearings.
‘I’ll take you up to your room, if you like.’
‘Yes please.’ Her shoulders drop and she seems relieved. ‘I’m a bit pissed actually.’
‘You’ll be okay,’ I say, linking my arm through hers. ‘Come on, let’s get you upstairs. You’re on the same floor as me and Toby.’
‘It’s a shame what you did, Zoe.’ She looks at me sadly and strokes my cheek.
‘What did I do?’
‘You know.’
‘Remind me.’
‘The affair.’
I stop dead and unlink my arm from hers. ‘Um, Madeline, I didn’t have an affair.’
‘S’okay, you don’t have to lie to me. I know all about it. Nick told me.’
I speak slowly and clearly so there’s no misunderstanding. ‘I have no idea why Nick would tell you that, but I’m telling you now, Madeline, I absolutely did not have an affair.’
