by Laura Ziepe
‘A sister,’ he answered blankly, as though he was bored.
Don’t worry about asking if I have siblings, Rachel thought caustically. Getting him to ask her a question was like trying to get blood out of a stone. ‘I have a brother,’ she said quickly.
That was the end of that conversation, she thought frustratedly.
‘So Christmas is coming up,’ she attempted to sound excited, but sitting with Jonathan was making her feel anything but.
‘I hate Christmas,’ he replied matter-of-factly, wiping his hands on his napkin, making Rachel flinch.
‘You hate Christmas?’ she asked, incredulous. This was never going to work.
He wrinkled his nose. ‘It’s too commercialized now. It’s all about buying presents with stores blasting out annoying Christmas music, Tidemans included. How many times a day can we listen to that snowman song, seriously? I just hate all the advertising and the special offers and deals rammed down people’s throats tricking them into feeling like they have to spend a fortune on their loved ones. I don’t like spending time with my family for an entire day either. I just look forward to January when it’s all over.’
Rachel was horrified. ‘January?’ Everyone knew that January was the worst month of the year. When people had a birthday in January there was that look. That sympathetic look that said, ‘what a shame, you poor thing’. Everyone was too skint to celebrate in January. They were too fat to go to dinner, often dieting after they’d overloaded on Christmas cake the month before. It was wet and cold and the magic had just gone. The last of the Christmas lights were being turned off. How could anyone possibly look forward to it? ‘Right,’ she said, looking at the happy couple on the table next to them and changing the subject. ‘So, do you enjoy working at Tidemans?’ she asked, thinking it was a safe subject.
He itched his nose. ‘Not particularly. It was hardly my dream job to work in a menswear department,’ he snorted like she’d asked a silly question. ‘I’m sure you feel the same working in a shop doing make-up. Hardly a successful career working in retail, is it? I don’t plan to stay there long.’
Rachel was insulted and she knew the frown on her face was conveying this, but he didn’t seem to notice. ‘I actually really like working there,’ she announced defensively. ‘It’s not just about make-up, it’s about transforming women and making them feel better, more confident even…’ She tailed off. ‘I work freelance too, so it’s not the only job I do,’ she added hotly. This was true, but Rachel hadn’t been doing as much freelance work as she wanted to lately. She hadn’t done a wedding in months and it was a reminder she needed to update her make-up social media pages to get more work.
‘You probably don’t have a choice.’ He shrugged casually. ‘It’s not as though Tidemans pays good money, is it?’
‘Well, it’s enough for me and I enjoy it,’ she declared, affronted, wondering how he could be so obtuse. ‘Perhaps you should leave if you hate it so much.’
His gaze swept over her wintry expression. ‘Oh come on, no need to get in a mood about it,’ he chuckled to himself amusedly, making her feel even more irritated. ‘I didn’t mean to offend you.’
Rachel smiled tightly, taking a large gulp of her wine. ‘Let’s just change the subject, shall we?’
By all means,’ he replied, taking another bite of his fish.
Rachel couldn’t bear the silence, and she was discovering that if she didn’t ask the questions, then he wouldn’t talk. It was unbearable. ‘So, what were we chatting about last night?’ she asked, deciding to come clean. ‘I’ll be honest, I don’t really remember,’ she smiled sheepishly. ‘Slightly drunk.’
He gave a little laugh. ‘I thought so. I could tell by the look on your face when I came over to you this afternoon.’
Rachel clenched her teeth together. ‘Sorry.’
‘Don’t worry,’ he said, blinking a few times. ‘We were talking about the fact that you’re newly single. You mentioned something about your ex and your best friend,’ he told her in serious tones, ‘until one of your friends said the subject was off limits.’
‘Mark and Bianca?’ Rachel questioned, her heart sinking a little that they had been her topic of conversation. Would she always be one of those girls who got drunk and rambled on about the time she was so brutally betrayed? She thought she’d been doing so well. She wondered what she’d said, feeling a little glad he knew about them so she could tell him the story. She’d been dying to complain about it all day but wanted to show she was moving on in front of Grace and Amber like she’d promised.
‘I didn’t catch their names,’ he replied politely.
‘Yes, that’s what he’s called. What they’re called. I thought I was going to marry him. We met through a mutual friend over three years ago. I thought he’d be the perfect husband,’ she laughed a little manically. ‘Three years I wasted on him. Three years,’ she emphasized again, because he didn’t look that shocked about it.
‘You said last night…’
‘And as for Bianca,’ Rachel was feeling angrier just mentioning her name, ‘she was supposed to be my best friend. I’ve been friends with her since I was about five or six or something ridiculous. Can you imagine someone you’d been friends with for so long running off with your fiancé?’
Jonathan appeared puzzled, ‘I didn’t think you were engaged?’
Rachel flapped her hand, ‘We weren’t. But as good as,’ she said hurriedly. ‘I used to sit up for hours on the phone to her when she was upset that some loser hadn’t called her back. I used to change my plans with Mark if she didn’t have anything to do at the weekend to keep her company. And this is how she repays me?’ she said, exasperated, shoving a forkful of pasta into her mouth. She watched as Jonathan’s eyes flew to a bit of pasta she’d flicked onto the table by accident. ‘She was lying to me until the very end. Until she got caught out. I don’t even know who I’m most angry with,’ she said, shaking her head, incandescent at the thought. ‘Some moments I think they deserve each other and I’m better off without both of them in my life and then other moments I’m angry. I have so much to say to them but I don’t want to speak to either of them.’
Jonathan cleared his throat and looked at his watch. ‘Yeah, it can’t be nice.’
‘Nice? There’s absolutely nothing nice about either of them, Jonathan. But I’m moving on, just look at me. I’m dating already. I’m single and I’m absolutely fine about it. Amber says Christmas is the best time to be single. I don’t need them. I’m perfect just on my own.’
Jonathan downed the last of his drink. ‘That’s good.’
‘Do you know how I found out about them? Did I tell you that part?’ she asked him, really wanting to get it all out.
His brow furrowed. ‘Something about his jacket?’
‘That’s right!’ She nodded, impressed that he’d remembered as though he was a student at school who had just answered with the correct answer. ‘He left his jacket at her house. I mean, just imagine if I hadn’t seen it? She probably wouldn’t have told me, the coward that she is. He’s just as bad as he never said a word to me either. After being in a relationship with me for over three years.’
She watched as Jonathan signalled to the waitress for the bill.
Rachel’s mouth popped open. ‘Are we going?’
He flashed her a sympathetic smile. ‘Yes. Rachel, you’re a lovely girl, but if I’m honest, I really don’t think you’re over your ex-boyfriend.’
Rachel opened her mouth to protest. Of course she was over it. She was ready to be single and have fun. Meet new people. She had to tell him he’d got her all wrong. Instead she sighed loudly, deciding against it. ‘It never would have worked anyway,’ she told him truthfully in morose tones that echoed his own. ‘I mean, how can anybody not like Christmas?’
Chapter 8
‘So how did the date go?’ Amber asked Rachel optimistically as soon as she arrived at work.
‘Yes, tell us everything,’ Grace probed excit
edly.
Rachel smiled and Amber was certain she was going to tell her she’d loved it. She knew with a little push in the right direction, she could meet someone really great. Someone that wasn’t Mark.
‘Does that smile mean you like him?’ Grace asked, clearly thinking the same thing.
Rachel gave a dry laugh. ‘It was awful.’
Amber’s face fell. ‘It can’t have been that bad.’
‘Oh believe me, it was,’ Rachel replied, her eyes widening. ‘We were completely incompatible. He was full of negativity when I actually got him to speak; it was completely draining. Then we got on to the subject of Mark and Bianca and…’
‘Oh, don’t say you spoke about them the entire time?’ Amber rolled her eyes feeling disappointed. She thought back to a previous date when a guy she liked had rambled on for hours about his ex. It had been so off putting; like finding a delicious looking cake, but then noticing it was past its sell by date and the best time to eat it was back in the past. He had bored her to tears by the end of the evening, and it had been clear that he still had feelings for his previous girlfriend. Complete waste of time, even if she did get a lovely free dinner.
‘Not the entire time, no, but maybe more than I should have. I just knew he wasn’t for me so I guess I didn’t care that much.’
‘How come you seem so happy about it?’ Grace asked, looking as confused as Amber felt.
‘Because I realized that perhaps I’m not over Mark and Bianca yet. That’s what Jonathan thinks too…’
‘Why is that a good thing?’ Amber interjected.
‘I don’t know, but I’ve accepted that I can’t just forget about them and move on as easily as I’d hoped. But it’s a process and I just know that as time goes on, it will get easier to date and meet new people. I’m certainly ready to try. Not Jonathan again, but someone new,’ she declared, putting her hands on her hips, ready to take on the world.
‘Good then, I guess,’ Amber responded. ‘Perhaps you’ll meet someone else on Saturday night,’ she added mischievously.
Grace frowned. ‘What’s happening on Saturday?’
Amber thought back to the conversation she’d had with Jack the night before. It was his work Christmas party. They always had it earlier than other companies and Amber was always his plus one, just like he was hers.
‘They book the venue late November to save money,’ Jack had told her. ‘All the money everyone makes them, and they’re still tight,’ he’d explained in disapproval.
‘I’ll be there,’ Amber had replied eagerly. Despite Jack believing his work was tight, she knew there would be copious amounts of champagne on offer and they usually had such fun. ‘What about Natalya? Doesn’t she want to go?’ she asked curiously, surprised she was still being asked now Jack had a fiancée.
‘She can’t make it,’ Jack had replied, sounding regretful.
‘So you’ll have to make do with me for the night.’ Amber had smiled on the other end of the phone, even though she couldn’t deny she felt slightly hurt that she would no longer be Jack’s first choice to take anywhere anymore. His fiancée would always come first, as she should of course. It would just take a lot of getting used to.
‘So you’ll come?’ Jack said ignoring her comment. ‘I’ll get you a ticket then.’
‘Do you have room for two more?’ Amber had wondered, intrigued. She could guarantee Rachel and Grace would be sitting home eating pizza otherwise, probably curled up in bed by 10 p.m.
‘Seeing as you have to buy tickets this year, I can’t see it being a problem. I’m close with my boss too, so I’m certain he’ll do me this little favour. I’ll double check with him, but I’m sure it’s fine. They seem pretty relaxed this year.’
‘Great. I’ll bring Grace and Rachel if it’s possible then.’
Amber was brought back to the present by Rachel.
‘Well?’ Rachel asked her questioningly.
‘You’re both coming to a Christmas party with me in London,’ Amber grinned.
‘Really? Whose?’ Rachel asked, tucking her hair behind her ears.
‘Jack’s,’ Amber announced. ‘It’s going to be fun and great for the pair of you. You’ll be surrounded by hot city men in suits all nights.’
‘Sounds good to me,’ Grace smiled good-naturedly; she was so easygoing that Amber knew it wouldn’t be difficult to get her to agree, though Grace had never really been a big partygoer. She was a homebird, happier in her pyjamas and slippers than her little black dress and stilettos, and there was nothing wrong with that. But if she stayed home all the time she’d only become more depressed about her failed marriage; Amber was sure of it.
‘It does actually. I’m looking forward to it. Are you sure we can just go along?’ Rachel wondered, before muttering to herself, ‘Oh goodness. I’m going to need a new dress; then I’ll need shoes and a bag to match. I wonder if I’ll have time to go out on my lunchbreak and find something tomorrow?’
‘Jack is tight with his boss,’ Amber explained knowledgeably. ‘He’s said he can sort it. So it’s all planned then. We’ll meet at mine and get the train together.’ She paused for a moment and then added as brightly as she could, ‘Oh, and you may want to congratulate Jack. He’s engaged.’
Grace’s jaw dropped open. ‘Engaged?’
‘To who?’ Rachel asked hastily.
Amber tried to sound casual about it, as though she wasn’t too bothered by his huge news. She was still unsure as to why she cared so much that she hadn’t been told sooner about it. ‘Oh, just some girl named Natalya he’s been seeing for four months. Apparently he just knows she’s the one. I can’t believe I haven’t even met her yet, but he seems really happy.’
‘Oh wow, amazing,’ Grace grinned.
‘Ah that’s so lovely for him. I wonder if you’ll be bridesmaid?’ Rachel said thoughtfully.
Amber frowned, disliking the thought of being bridesmaid. She hated being told what dress to wear and how to have her hair. She’d do it of course for Jack, but there was something bothering her about the idea. ‘He hasn’t planned ahead that far yet, I don’t think. I mean, I’m really happy for them both, though it has only been four months.’
‘He must really love her to propose so soon. My cousin got engaged after two months and they’ve been married ten years now. I think it’s sweet,’ Grace replied, rummaging through some blushers.
‘I haven’t even met her. It’s weird; I usually know everything about Jack and what’s going on his life.’ Amber bit her lip feeling uncomfortable about the situation.
‘Oh, I’m sure you’re going to love her,’ Rachel responded, as she was cleaning some make-up brushes. ‘You and Jack are super close so I’m sure you and Natalya will be too when you get to know her.’
‘Yes,’ Amber replied forcing a smile feeling silly, ‘that’s what he said and I’m sure we will.’
Grace then changed the subject and told them about Simon moving out.
‘Oh gosh Grace. How are you feeling?’ Rachel asked her, a concerned expression etched on her face.
Grace breathed out slowly. ‘It was so strange being all alone in the house last night and he looks like a broken man. I feel so guilty, but things just couldn’t have carried on the way they were. I’m just going to have to get used to it. We’ve separated and I don’t know what the future holds for us. I was actually going to ask you if you’d like to move in, Rachel?’ she said, looking in her direction.
Rachel dropped the brush she was cleaning. ‘I’d love to,’ she beamed. ‘Only if you wouldn’t mind though. Obviously I’ll pay rent and at least this means we won’t have to find anywhere now. Perfect location for work too,’ she said happily. ‘Don’t worry about me leaving any mess around either; I’ll help clean everything and help with all the chores. We can have a rota for cleaning.’
‘I don’t doubt you for a second,’ Grace replied, knowing how organized and spotless Rachel’s home had been. ‘The house is ready as soon as you are.’ Grace smi
led back. ‘I’m looking forward to having some company.’
Amber was glad their living arrangements were finally sorted. It would help Grace move on without seeing Simon every day.
Amber prepared some make-up for a client that was booked in for a makeover. She had called the previous day to book the appointment, specifically asking for Amber, which had been nice to hear. It felt good when clients recommended you to their friends. It was partly the reason she loved her job; making women feel happy and more confident was an amazing feeling. Ten minutes later Amber’s client walked into the store. She was a pretty girl in her early twenties, with long blonde hair and striking turquoise eyes mixed with flecks of yellow and orange.
‘I’m here for an appointment with Amber,’ she stated with a warm smile to Amber who was at the desk.
‘Ah yes,’ said Amber, ‘Miss Watkins?’
The girl nodded.
‘I’m Amber,’ she replied, pulling out a chair by the make-up counter and large mirror. ‘Take a seat.’
‘Thanks,’ she replied, sitting down.
‘So, how can I help you today?’ Amber asked in a professional, upbeat voice smiling widely.
‘I’m getting married,’ the girl announced, the happiness radiating from her. ‘I wanted some new make-up. I’m still unsure whether to do it myself or to get a make-up artist for the big day. My make-up bag needs a total overhaul anyway,’ she explained.
Amber nodded. ‘Okay no problem,’ she said, used to hearing this kind of thing all the time. She knew if she did a good job, she could be the one actually doing her make-up on her big day and she was determined to make the girl look stunning, not that it would be a difficult job. Her bone structure was incredible.
‘Your make-up looks amazing. I wish I could do it like that,’ the girl told Amber kindly.
‘Thanks,’ Amber smiled. As she listened to how the girl wanted to be both glamourous but natural at the same time she couldn’t help but notice her long, slender legs and tiny waist. Oh, to be that young again. Amber was by no means big, but once she’d hit 30 it had become much more difficult to keep the weight off. She could no longer get a McDonalds for breakfast after a heavy night out. She only had to look at a sausage and egg McMuffin and she’d put on a pound.