Page 56 of Snow Going Back

The woman shrugged. ‘There’s no booking on the system.’

‘But Ididbook it,’ Amy insisted. ‘I booked itweeksago. I have a confirmation email, look.’ She pulled out her phone and scrolled to find it, then brandished it triumphantly in the woman’s face. ‘Here! See, Itoldyou.’

The woman took it with a polite smile and peered at the screen with a frown. Her lips then thinned, and Kate realised what was about to happen with an internal groan.

‘Er,miss?’ The woman waited for Amy’s attention with a cool fixed smile.

‘Yes?’ Amy asked.

‘Youdidbook an appointment with us…’

‘Yes,as I said,’ Amy replied, a touch sharply.

‘For the seventh ofJanuary,’ the woman finished.

‘What?’ Amy exclaimed. ‘Let me see that.’ She grabbed the phone back and frowned at the screen. ‘Ohshit!’

‘Amy!Language,’ Eleanor scolded.

‘Oh, Kate, I’m so sorry,’ Amy said, horrified, ignoring her.

Kate brushed it off with a shake of the head and squeezed Amy’s arm. ‘Don’t worry – mistakes happen. It’s no big deal, honestly.’

‘No big deal?’ Eleanor exclaimed. ‘It certainlyisa big deal. You’re only three—Ugh…’ She bit her lips together, catching herself on the edge of freefall into total panic, then turned to the desk with a pleasant smile. ‘I’m so sorry about all this, er,Mandy,’ she said, glancing at the woman’s name badge. ‘Gosh, look at us all standing here feeling foolish. This really isquitea to-do!’ She let out an awkward laugh, but the woman didn’t warm to her the way she’d clearly hoped. She cleared her throat. ‘Listen, my daughter has flown all the way over from America for this weekend. It took hereighteen hours,poor thing. Is there anything you could do to squeeze us in?’

‘I’m sorry, madam,’ Mandy replied, clearly not sorry at all. ‘We’re fully booked weeks in advance.’

‘What if someone’s late?’ Eleanor pushed. ‘I noticed you checked your little screen there with a frown when we came in, which means the person due in now isn’t here yet.’ She glanced up at the clock. ‘Which means, if the appointment is for eleven, they’re five minutes late. How late would they need to be to count as a no-show?’

‘I’m sorry, madam, but the slot istaken, even if they arrive late,’ Mandy replied firmly.

Eleanor’s face tightened. ‘What if they getrun overcrossing the road outside? What about then?’

‘OK, we’re done,’ Kate said, not doubting for a second that her mother really would consider running over a group of strangers to get the spot. ‘Let’s go.’

Amy nodded and pulled Eleanor towards the exit by the arm. ‘Right, well, thanks for nothing, Megan,’ she called back.

‘It’s Mandy,’ the woman replied.

‘Whatever, Michelle,’ Amy shot before the door slammed closed behind them.

The four women stood in a silent line outside on the pavement for a moment.

The door to the building across the street opened, letting out a waft of laughter and background music.

‘Pub?’ Amy suggested, staring at it.

‘Pub,’ Kate confirmed.

They crossed the road, and Kate held the door to The Coach and Horses open for the others. As they disappeared inside, she glanced across the road at the bridal boutique with a troubled frown. She’d never really believed in signs, but suddenly she found herself wondering.

‘Hey.’ Kate turned to see Amy looking back at her. ‘You OK?’

Kate bit the inside of her cheek, searching Amy’s face. ‘I’m fine,’ she lied, letting the door close behind her. ‘Absolutely fine.’

THIRTY

‘Andthisone, Lance, look atthisone,’ Eleanor said excitedly, turning the screen of her laptop towards him.

---