Page 32 of So Thrilled For You

‘Wow.’

Steffi starts laughing. ‘Shouldn’t that be in a museum?’

‘Stop it! They’re a really useful invention. The only reason people stopped using them was because they felt shamed. I refuse to feel shame at using something that solves a practical problem.’

‘Wands of narcissism?Wasn’t that what they were called?’ Lauren asks.

My phone locks in and I lengthen the stick and poke her with it. ‘Oh shut it. You’re all going to ask me to send you a copy of this picture. Why does everyone pretend this is all beneath them? It isn’t! Yeah, yeah, yeah, social media is curated perfection wa wa wa. But, like, also maybe it’sniceto post pictures of your life, andniceto see other people lives, and maybe it’s justnicefor things to looknice. Maybe that’s not shallow, justnice.’

Nicki claps her hands. ‘OK, Little Women. She’s right. It’s nice. The balloon arch is lovely. Today is perfect. Charlotte is amazing. In fact, I think it’s time for a Charlotte sandwich!’

They all smush me into a hug, to let me know they’re only ever teasing – like they used to at uni when I felt I’d over-Charlotted and was being judged. I haven’t had a Charlotte sandwich in forever and we all laugh into each other’s hair.

‘You’re all too sweaty,’ I complain, when, really, I’m the happiest I’ve been in two years. ‘Now, let’s take this photo.’

I arrange them into the right height order and position them so the balloon arch is framing us perfectly. ‘SayLittle Women,’ I instruct, taking at least two dozen options. Woody isn’t facing the right way in any of them because he’s spotted the balloons and strains to reach them. Lauren lets him squeak one, while the other two scroll through my phone, telling me which ones I can use.

‘Aww this one is perfect,’ Nicki says. She holds it up and we all crowd around to see.

‘I agree your selfie stick is most brilliant,’ Steffi says. ‘I’m going to find my old one buried in my flat somewhere and resurrect it.’ Her phone buzzes twice in her dress but she dutifully ignores it.

‘Thanks, Charlotte,’ Nicki says. ‘As always. You’ve pulled a blinder.’

And, with all of us huddled together like this, getting on so well, the news fizzes on my tongue. You’re supposed to wait twelve weeks but . . .

‘Guys,’ I start . . . But we’re interrupted by a car crunching into the driveway. As we turn to look, Steffi grabs the opportunity to check her phone and strides back inside. Woody makes the balloon squeak so hard he starts crying. The car door opens to reveal Nicki’s mother, waving something over her head like she’s inThe Railway Childrenand she’s trying to stop a train with her red bloomers.

‘It’s going to be OK,’ she shouts to Nicki. ‘I’ve got three reed diffusers!’

‘Thank God,’ Nicki calls back. ‘I was going to cancel the whole thing otherwise.’

I’m the only one who waits for her before retreating into the air-conditioning. ‘Thanks, Jane,’ I call back. She’s right – an event really isn’t an event without a signature scent. As I wait to greet her, I look at the picture of us still up on my phone screen and smile again.

Perfect.

Crime Stoppers

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Arson

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Honeysuckle Lane, Surrey

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