Sarah, Elsa and Bron were in the back of a white stretch limo. They were on their way to Lily's hen night that was arranged at a location that not only catered for hens, but that was suitably convenient for where everyone lived.
Elsa was thinking about Laurence and wondering when he'd next text. He was away again at the moment on business, and they'd only had a chance to exchange brief 'I'll call you's after the pub that day before he had to leave. He was obviously very busy as his texts, though friendly, had been a bit sporadic and his phone calls practically nonexistent. She just hoped he'd still be keen to see her again when he returned, although he seemed rather vague about that too. She couldn't help feeling a little anxious. He was the first person she'd really liked in a very long time Bron was thinking about James. She thought she'd been giving him subtle hints, but he still seemed to see her only as the girl next door. And despite being newly out of a long-term relationship, albeit one that was dead in the water, she knew she really fancied him. It was a feeling she hadn't felt in years. But she'd just have to trust in fate. He was proving to be a good friend and better that than nothing.
And Sarah was thinking about Hugo, as she seemed to do constantly these days. Telling herself he was unavailable didn't seem to stop her from dreaming about him. It was all so futile.
‘So, how's it all going, girls?' she said now. 'Elsa, how are the fairy wings coming along for the bridesmaids? And the dresses? It must be bedlam.’
Elsa seemed fairly relaxed about it. She was wearing a dress in a wonderful deep red and the glow that had been apparent on the Sunday morning of Carrie's visit was still there, although slightly diluted.
‘I think it will be fine. I've got my woman, the work-experience girl and I've even roped in Bron's cooking ladies – fortunately it's too early for them to start making vol-au-vents. We bought the dresses and dyed them -Carrie wanted a lovely shell pink which I think I've just about achieved, haven't I, Bron?'
‘It's a lovely colour,' Bron agreed. 'I'm going to try and reproduce it in icing. I've had a commission for a wedding cake made out of cupcakes in tiers. That would be the perfect soft shade I need.'
‘You're both so talented! I'm so impressed. How lucky I am to have you both on board. Go on telling me about the dresses.'
‘Well, we ran up some really stiff petticoats – like those long tutus they wear for Les Sylphides?’
Sarah shook her head. 'I'm so sorry, I know absolutely nothing about ballet.'
‘Doesn't matter. They go under the dresses and then over both there's a layer of chiffon that opens down the front. They have little ruffs to go round their necks. They're adorable, they really are.'
‘That's all right then.'
‘The ladies are all sewing on crystals like mad,' Elsa went on. 'They're AB crystals – that stands for Aurora Borealis if you're remotely interested. They really sparkle.’
Sarah was more interested in speed than crystal types. 'Couldn't you glue them on? It'd be quicker.’
Elsa shook her head. 'Very high risk. If you get one wrong you're left with a horrible gluey mark. I will glue them down the bones though and sprinkle a few on to the skirts. They'll be a bit more random, but I wouldn't ask anyone else to wield the gadget that melts the glue.' She shuddered slightly, obviously thinking of what could happen if it all went wrong. 'Fortunately we managed to buy ballet slippers in exactly the right shade. I don't think we'd have had time to get them dyed to match.' She paused. 'They're having crystals on too.'
‘So what about Carrie's dress? That's the really important thing.'
‘It's going OK, I think. The toile fitted beautifully and she didn't want too much changed, thank goodness. I think she's finally caught on to the fact that there's a bit of a rush on and it won't get done unless she sticks to the plan. She does want a huge stand-up ruff, like in the pictures of Queen Elizabeth the First. I've got some little tiny stones for that.'
‘Phew,' said Sarah. 'You're a star. Now, Bron, what about the cake?'
‘Well, we finally managed to work out a really quick way of doing the fake ones.'
‘We? Is that the cooking ladies, too?’
Bron shook her head. 'James.'
‘That sounded a bit soulful!' said Elsa, who knew all about Bron's frustrations over James. They'd discussed it quite a bit recently, over cups of supportive mid-work tea.
‘Well, I've given all the signals I can and he hasn't picked up on them. Just as well I'm so busy I can hardly even think about him.' As Bron said this she knew that it didn't matter how busy she was, she still spent a lot of time thinking about James.
Sensing Bron didn't really want to talk about it, Sarah said, 'So, have you heard from Laurence, Elsa?’
Elsa sighed. 'He's working abroad at the moment and he's really busy too, and so can't ring me all that often. It's lovely when he does, though. And he sends sweet texts. Mind you, I haven't had one for a while…' Her doubts crept in again.
‘I've put him on the list as your partner,' said Sarah. 'I can take him off if you want.'
‘No, I'd love him to come to the wedding, but I don't think he'll be back in time.'
‘Oh well, his place is open,' said Sarah. 'You're very sweet together.’
After Elsa had denied and then accepted that she and Laurence did seem suited, she said, 'He'll probably come back and not like me after all. It's always a mistake to have sex too early on in the relationship. What?’
Bron and Sarah were laughing. 'I don't think that's a mistake you've made often, Elsa,' said Sarah. 'And anyway, I don't think you need to worry about Laurence. He's obviously smitten. Although he'd better be careful, you're looking particularly hot tonight, if I may say so.’
Elsa pulled at her dress. 'Do you like it? I've got really into red since I had my colours done. Whilst we're on the subject of men, what about you and Hugo, Sarah?' she went on deftly, still preferring not to be the centre of attention if she could avoid it. 'What was that about him taking a picture of you and putting it in an exhibition?'
‘It was lovely. He made me look – well – beautiful.'
‘You are beautiful,' said Elsa promptly.
‘Hm,' said Sarah, 'but you're looking at my beautiful soul.'
‘No!' Elsa contradicted.
‘Well, Hugo wasn't, for sure,' said Bron.
‘What do you mean? He takes pictures of everyone – it doesn't mean a thing,' said Sarah.
‘Come on, I noticed the way you stare at him when you think no one's looking. You do like him, don't you?' asked Bron.
‘Of course I like him! He's Hugo! Everyone likes him!'
‘I didn't mean it like that,' said Bron. 'And you know it.' She smiled. 'Has the cool, calm and collected but cynical wedding planner to the stars finally succumbed..
Sarah blushed. 'Don't be silly. He is attractive, there's no denying it but…' She didn't want to tell the girls he was spoken for. It would involve too much painful interrogation. 'Until this wedding – both weddings – are over, I haven't time to think about Hugo.'
‘But you do really like him, don't you?' persisted Elsa.
Sarah let out a big sigh. 'You don't give up, either of you! All right. Yes, I do, but it's not to be – it's all too complicated, believe me. Anyway, let's not talk about me. This is Lily's night.'
‘But Lily's not here yet,' Elsa pointed out.
‘It's still her night,' said Sarah firmly.
‘Hm,' said Bron. She didn't want to push Sarah too far, not tonight at least. 'So, what's the plan for this evening?'
‘I don't know much at all,' said Sarah. 'Lily said she didn't want me to have anything to do with it. One of her friends has done it all, including hiring this limo. I do hope she's going to pay for it – we don't want to have a frantic whip-round at two in the morning. Actually' – she lowered her voice conspiratorially – 'I'm going to try and slip away a bit early. I'm sure Lily doesn't want her big sister cramping her style.'
‘Well, I don't want to be up late,' said Elsa. 'I get up really early these days.'
‘Oh,' said Bron. 'I was looking forward to a girls' night out.'
‘Well, maybe we should have one then,' said Sarah unexpectedly. 'Maybe we should go on the pull.’
The thought of sensible, well-organised Sarah going on the pull made the others giggle rather more than necessary, Sarah thought as the car pulled up to the kerb in front of the first bar.
‘Hiya! So you're Lily's big sister!’
The girl on the pavement confronting her was wearing white leather shorts, long white boots, a fringed jacket and a cowboy hat. Lily and her two other friends were dressed in the same way. Lily had various extras – L-plates, garters and feather sex toys – draped round her neck. Sarah did her best to smile.
‘That's right!' she said.
‘Lily says you can be a bit of a spoilsport, but you won't on her hen night, will you?'
‘Of course not! Whatever gave you that impression?’
Lily was examining her French manicure. Her shorts were pulled tight over her belly and Sarah thought she looked a bit deranged.
‘Well, I'm in charge,' said Lily's chief bridesmaid, who was called Charlene. 'And we're going to have a great time. Aren't we, girls?’
Everyone cheered – Elsa and Bron very quietly. Sarah could tell they wanted to go home too.
`So, where do we start?' said Sarah, faking enthusiasm for Britain. 'I'll get the first round in! Which bar are we going to?'
‘Let's have one here first,' said Bron.
‘Not so fast,' said Charlene. 'We can't just go drinking whenever we want. We have to play the game. Lots of games, really.'
‘Oh, come on, Charles,' said another of Lily's friends. 'You can't expect us to go paying forfeits and stuff without a few glasses of wine or a cocktail or two first! It's unreasonable.’
Sarah bit her tongue to stop herself reminding everyone that Lily was pregnant and shouldn't be drinking at all.
‘We're going to a club,' said Charlene. 'It's all arranged. We just have to get past the doormen.' She glanced at Bron, Elsa and Sarah, hinting that they were either inappropriately dressed for a hen night or just too old and unattractive.
It took them a little time to file into the club and the doormen seemed to check out the credentials of the girls for a lot longer than necessary. It took Sarah even longer to make her way to the bar but she persevered – all thought of spending the evening drinking mineral water or non alcoholic cocktails had vanished. She needed at least one drink to get through this.
She realised when she finally got back to the table with the drinks that Lily's friends were already fairly well tanked up. 'Here we go, girls.' She handed Bron and Elsa their drinks. 'We might as well get drunk. It's the only way we're going to get through this.'
‘OK,' said Charlene, unaware of any dissent among her audience. 'Here's what Lily has to do!’
There was a cry of 'Whoa' and everyone took a sip from their glasses.
‘First on the list…' She looked around at her audience, claiming everyone's attention. 'She has to kiss a stag.'
‘Maybe we should ring the RSPCA,' whispered Bron to Sarah.
‘A proper snog, mind, not just a kiss on the cheek.' Charlene was insistent. 'She has to collect three items of clothing from three different men; get a massage – it canjust be shoulders, we don't want anyone stripping off.’
‘You surprise me,' murmured Bron, who was starting to feel giggly. It was all so silly.
‘And, finally, she has to get up on that stage and swing round the pole!'
‘But she's pregnant!' said Sarah, unable to stop herself. 'She shouldn't be doing things like that!' Then she wished she'd kept her mouth shut.
‘Oh, and the drinks?' Charlene ignored Sarah's protest and was again checking to make sure everyone was listening.
‘We drink with our right hands for the first half-hour and our left for the second. Anyone gets it wrong, they have to put a couple of quid in the middle. Then we buy the next round.'
‘That sounds complicated!' said Elsa, struggling to join in.
‘Well, it doesn't matter if you mess up, it just gives us more money to drink with,' said Charlene.
‘Right,' said Elsa, hoping she wouldn't have to find a cash machine.
‘The male strippers come later,' went on Charlene. 'It's a full Monty, so I hope nobody's prudish.'
‘As if!' said Bron, with an Oscar-winning display of enthusiasm. 'Bring on Robbie Coltrane, I say.’
Elsa leant in and whispered behind her hand, 'I think you'll find you mean Robert Carlyle.'
‘Mm, maybe I do,' she agreed, laughing in spite of everything.
They had a few more rounds of drinks. Lily ticked off various things on her list while the others had to go through a collection of suitable hen-night games until Charlene suddenly called out, 'Flies!' and with a varying degree of alacrity, everyone except Bron, Elsa and Sarah, who looked on bemused, and Lily, who was allowed to just watch and laugh, threw themselves down on the floor and waved their arms and legs in the air. Sarah, feeling as if she was indeed a dying insect, looked at her watch. Ten past ten. No chance of going home for at least a couple of hours.
‘OK!' Charlene, who had obviously missed her vocation as a drum majorette or sergeant major, got to her feet. 'More drinks! Come on, you lot.' She looked pointedly in Sarah's direction. 'Join in.'
‘I asked those guys over there to play flies,' said one of Lily's other friends, 'but they wouldn't. They're wearing kilts. I think they're being spoilsports.’
Unusually for her, it took Sarah several moments to pick up the significance of this and she realised her brain just wasn't operating at its usual speed. 'Could I just have water this round?'
‘Nope,' said Charlene. 'You had water last time. I want everyone to have a proper drink while the show is on.’
Lily, who had discovered a real talent for picking on men on stag dos who were up for a laugh, said, 'Yes, lighten up, Sares. You're supposed to be having fun. That man was only being friendly, you know.’
Sarah smiled guiltily, remembering the young man she'd sent away with a flea in his ear. 'I know and I am having fun. How are you getting on with your list?'
‘I've just got to snog a stag.'
‘But you've snogged at least three people, haven't you?' Lily nodded. 'But they lied to me and said they were the stag when they weren't. It's my last dare,' she said comfortingly, as if that made everything all right. Gaily, she went off on her mission.
Charlene came back and handed out the drinks. Sarah took a glass. It was pink and fruity and sweet and for a blissful few sips, Sarah thought it might be non-alcoholic.
Too late she felt its kick and realised she'd drunk a very strong cocktail very quickly. How many had she had? she wondered. She'd lost count. She would definitely have water next time.
The crowd were going wild. The five men on the stage were gyrating wildly, their polished muscles gleaming. Sarah, who'd accepted yet another cocktail by mistake and then decided she might as well give up her futile attempt at counting, did appreciate they were good at what they were doing, and all had very good bodies, but she didn't really enjoy it.
She glanced at Elsa and Bron who also had glazed expressions on their faces. Lily, Charlene and the other two, whose names Sarah had never quite grasped, were jumping up and down screaming with glee. Lily had already been invited on stage to join in the show. She'd been very good, Sarah admitted, not at all embarrassed by the things she was asked to do by a man wearing nothing but a feather-thong. If only she felt more in the mood for all this. Being a wedding planner was making her old before her time! Maybe she should stop feeling so responsible. Lily was an adult, after all.
‘OK, Sarah?' Elsa shouted into her ear, obviously aware that her friend was not enjoying herself.
‘I just need a glass of water. I don't know how many of those cocktails I've had, and they're so sweet.'
‘I'll get you one if you like,' said Elsa.
‘I'll go!' said Sarah, rising from her seat and then sitting down again. She was suddenly aware that she'd had far too much to drink.
‘It's all right,' said Elsa. 'I won't have to pay for it, I don't think. I've run out of money.'
‘There's some in my bag if you need it,' said Sarah. 'I got some out before I came.' She burrowed under her feet and found her bag, and in it, her purse. 'Oh. I don't know how I can have spent all that money.'
‘I'll get the water. Then it must be time to go home!’
Somehow Charlene roped them into yet another game of truth or dare, and, already rather befuddled, Sarah found herself having to down a few more drinks as a forfeit. She felt a desperate urge to lie down but first she really needed to find the Ladies.
When she came out again it seemed to take her a while to find the door of the building but at last she got out on to the pavement. Elsa and Bron were there, looking concerned.
‘Charlene took Lily and the others in the limo. They said if we didn't want to go to another club we didn't have to,' she said.
‘That's good,' said Sarah, aware of having to enunciate very carefully, as well as keep herself upright; everything was weaving in and out of focus horribly quickly. 'I really don't want any more to drink. I've had too much already. Let's call a – a – car that takes you places.’
She watched as Bron and Elsa went through their purses, looking for money. 'Take mine,' she said grandly, swaying and steadying herself against a wall. 'I've got plenty of money.'
‘No you haven't,' said Elsa. 'Yours has been rifled already. Those cocktails were very expensive.’
Sarah felt very very tired and sat on a convenient step. 'If I have a little rest first we can walk home.'
‘I don't think so,' said Elsa firmly as she and Bron exchanged glances. They'd never seen Sarah like this. They all needed to get home, and safely. 'First off, these shoes are killing me and second, it's bloody miles away.'
‘Oh,' said Sarah, and closed her eyes.
‘We need to phone someone,' said Bron.
‘Who? I'm not phoning my dad – only as a last resort, anyway,' said Elsa. 'I don't mind calling him if I'm lost and need, to be given directions, but he'll have had a glass or two of wine by now, or be in bed. And Laurence is away.'
‘Well, I can't phone James. He gets up really early. It wouldn't be fair.’
Sarah opened her eyes briefly when she heard either Elsa or Bron say, 'Hugo!'
‘Oh yes,' she murmured and closed her eyes again.
Sarah seemed to have been asleep for a long time. She'd had some very strange dreams including a car ride and Hugo. He was taking her somewhere. Bron and Elsa were there and they seemed to be talking about her, but she couldn't really understand what they were saying. Then she woke up and it was all real, if still a little hazy.
‘Thank goodness I wasn't dreaming that I was walking down the street naked,' she said and Hugo, who seemed to be on his own now, laughed.
‘Come on, sweetheart, let's get you to bed.'
‘I don't want to go to bed with you, Hugo. Even if I do really like you.'
‘Do you?’
Sarah nodded. 'Mm. But I'm not going to sleep with you because you'll break my heart.'
‘You don't have to sleep with me, but I wouldn't break your heart at all.'
‘Wouldn't you?'
‘No, but we won't talk about that now.’
In the morning it all came back to her in terrifying detail. She realised that not only had Hugo taken most of her clothes off and tucked her into bed, but he'd left a big glass of water and bowl handy for her. Realising that he'd seen her when she was very, very drunk was more painful than the hangover.
‘Have a bacon sandwich,' he advised when he rang her a little later to see if she was all right. 'And a pint of orange juice.'
‘I'm so, so sorry,' she said, too ill to be embarrassed. Was it possible for a head actually to split open?
He laughed. 'You're a very endearing drunk, Sarah. Don't worry about it.’
When he was sure that she had what she needed to work on her hangover and had disconnected, Sarah remembered what she'd said about him breaking her heart. She also remembered him saying that he wouldn't. She hadn't believed him then and she didn't believe him now.