Greengrass’ business card feels like a brick in my handbag as I stomp out of the store. Just one phone call and I could be out of here and onto something better. The idea of telling Stu where to go appeals more and more by the minute, but I don’t feel good about deserting Sonya. I’m not sure how she’d cope without me. I picture her tearing what remains of her hair out. But one way or the other, I’ve got to make up my mind and soon. Bernie doesn’t strike me as a patient man, and I have a feeling his offer comes with an expiry date.
The Night of The Christmas Ball
My gorgeous green dress watches with melancholy, as I pack my bag to go to Kate’s on Saturday night. But no one is going to be wearing fancy dresses where I’m going. Jeans and a jumper are my best bet, jazzed up with a pair of kitten heels. I wasn’t lying when I said I had a party to go to. Stu’s having a Christmas get-together at his house for all the staff. I hadn’t in a million years intended to go but now I feel like I have to, to prove to my friends that I’m fine about Deacon taking Alicia to the ball.
Kate answers the door in a navy blue trouser suit.
“How do I look?” she asks.
“Like you’re going to a job interview. Why don’t you wear the purple dress you got for your birthday?”
“But none of my shoes match.”
“Don’t worry, I’ve got some options in my bag.”
If I’m missing the ball, then I’m damn well not letting her go dressed like an estate agent. I follow her upstairs to her room, then take a sharp intake of breath.
Alicia is standing in front of the dresser, styling her hair.
“Hello, Isabel!” she calls, gleefully.
I glare at Kate.
“You didn’t say she was going to be here,” I hiss.
“I didn’t think you’d mind.”
“I don’t…”
“Well, then.”
While Kate slips into her purple dress, I tip the shoes out onto the bed and arrange them in neat pairs.
“I think the red ones,” she says, uncertainly.
“No, the pink.” Alicia chips in.
Kate looks at me. I want to disagree, but Alicia is right.
“Definitely the pink.”
“Aren’t you getting dressed up?” Kate asks me as she applies her make up. Alicia leans over and wipes off the clown-like blusher, just like I normally would. In fact, she’s doing everything I normally do, pouring the wine, turning up the radio and singing along - badly. I feel like I’ve been superseded.
“No, it’s not that kind of party,” I say, pulling my hair into a simple ponytail. I can’t be bothered to do anything else with it. I’m just not in the mood.
The doorbell rings.
“Can you get that?” she pleads, “I’m not quite ready.”
“Course.”
I trudge down the stairs and open the door. It’s Rhett and Deacon, all dressed up in tuxedos. They remind me a little of Batman and Robin, before their transformation.
“You look nice,” Deacon greets me.
“You too. You should wear a tux more often.”
He smiles, but his attention has been diverted. Alicia is descending the stairs, dressed in a ruffled pink cocktail dress. Her long black curls are piled high on top of her head, a few ringlets cascading over her smooth white shoulders.
He smiles appreciatively and walks towards her.
“You look breathtaking!” I hear him whisper, as he kisses her on the cheek.
I lean back against the wall. I feel sick.
The taxi journey into town is long and uncomfortable. Deacon and Alicia sit close together, laughing at some private joke that makes sense only to them. Rhett and Kate don’t seem to notice. They’re too busy perusing the evening’s programme and discussing who’s going to be there. Last year, the newly divorced Mayor turned up with a contestant from a popular reality TV show on his arm. This year, rumour has it, he’ll be bringing a page three girl.
The taxi drops off my friends first. I watch as they all shuffle up the steps of Queensbeach Civic Hall. The door is opened by a doorman, and I get a tantalising
The Night of The Christmas Ball
My gorgeous green dress watches with melancholy, as I pack my bag to go to Kate’s on Saturday night. But no one is going to be wearing fancy dresses where I’m going. Jeans and a jumper are my best bet, jazzed up with a pair of kitten heels. I wasn’t lying when I said I had a party to go to. Stu’s having a Christmas get-together at his house for all the staff. I hadn’t in a million years intended to go but now I feel like I have to, to prove to my friends that I’m fine about Deacon taking Alicia to the ball.
Kate answers the door in a navy blue trouser suit.
“How do I look?” she asks.
“Like you’re going to a job interview. Why don’t you wear the purple dress you got for your birthday?”
“But none of my shoes match.”
“Don’t worry, I’ve got some options in my bag.”
If I’m missing the ball, then I’m damn well not letting her go dressed like an estate agent. I follow her upstairs to her room, then take a sharp intake of breath.
Alicia is standing in front of the dresser, styling her hair.
“Hello, Isabel!” she calls, gleefully.
I glare at Kate.
“You didn’t say she was going to be here,” I hiss.
“I didn’t think you’d mind.”
“I don’t…”
“Well, then.”
While Kate slips into her purple dress, I tip the shoes out onto the bed and arrange them in neat pairs.
“I think the red ones,” she says, uncertainly.
“No, the pink.” Alicia chips in.
Kate looks at me. I want to disagree, but Alicia is right.
“Definitely the pink.”
“Aren’t you getting dressed up?” Kate asks me as she applies her make up. Alicia leans over and wipes off the clown-like blusher, just like I normally would. In fact, she’s doing everything I normally do, pouring the wine, turning up the radio and singing along - badly. I feel like I’ve been superseded.
“No, it’s not that kind of party,” I say, pulling my hair into a simple ponytail. I can’t be bothered to do anything else with it. I’m just not in the mood.
The doorbell rings.
“Can you get that?” she pleads, “I’m not quite ready.”
“Course.”
I trudge down the stairs and open the door. It’s Rhett and Deacon, all dressed up in tuxedos. They remind me a little of Batman and Robin, before their transformation.
“You look nice,” Deacon greets me.
“You too. You should wear a tux more often.”
He smiles, but his attention has been diverted. Alicia is descending the stairs, dressed in a ruffled pink cocktail dress. Her long black curls are piled high on top of her head, a few ringlets cascading over her smooth white shoulders.
He smiles appreciatively and walks towards her.
“You look breathtaking!” I hear him whisper, as he kisses her on the cheek.
I lean back against the wall. I feel sick.
The taxi journey into town is long and uncomfortable. Deacon and Alicia sit close together, laughing at some private joke that makes sense only to them. Rhett and Kate don’t seem to notice. They’re too busy perusing the evening’s programme and discussing who’s going to be there. Last year, the newly divorced Mayor turned up with a contestant from a popular reality TV show on his arm. This year, rumour has it, he’ll be bringing a page three girl.
The taxi drops off my friends first. I watch as they all shuffle up the steps of Queensbeach Civic Hall. The door is opened by a doorman, and I get a tantalising
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