Page 30 of Don't Fall in Love (and how to break the rules)

“Hmm,” said Rae. “I wonder.”

Chrissie rolled her eyes. “Anyway, enough about me and my misery. I’m even boring myself now. How is this Clodagh you’ve been seeing?”

Rae’s eyes brightened as they spoke. “Oh, she’s really good fun. We spent last Sunday afternoon at a street food fair andtasted everything available.” Rae smiled. “She really knows how to live, you know?”

“Sounds full of beans,” said Chrissie, wondering privately whether anyone could describe her in terms like that these days. Was Nisha right? Had she changed? Was she too buttoned up?

More for the journal later…

“In the best way,” Rae added. “Actually, she’ll be heading over here in a few minutes. We’re going to a gig at the Carpenter’s Arms.”

“Nice,” said Chrissie, “so I get to meet her. Excellent.” Thinking about someone else’s love life was so much more straightforward.

“But back to you just for a moment,” said Rae, looking serious. “While I agree Nisha was a bit out of order in what she said to you, I do think you owe it to yourself to have a proper conversation with her. I wonder if some of the rules you set yourself a year ago might be in need of review?”

Chrissie didn’t get a chance to answer, because a woman with curly shoulder-length hair and a giant smile came into the bar and flung her arms around Rae.

“Rae-Rae,” said the woman who Chrissie had to assume was Clodagh, “I’ve missed you!”

Rae blushed – the first time Chrissie had ever seen that happened – and stood to greet Clodagh with a kiss. “Hey, Clodagh,” they said, “this is my friend, Chrissie.”

Clodagh’s mouth twisted slightly as she looked at Chrissie, and the smile faded a little. “Hi,” she said, holding out her hand for Chrissie to take. “Nice to meet you.”

It seemed an oddly formal way to address her, especially given how enthusiastically she’d bundled into the café bar. “You too,” said Chrissie. “Right, I need to get going,” she added, feeling a sudden chill in the air. “I need to get some info over to Philippa before tomorrow.”

“Good luck,” said Rae. “I’m sure she can be a bit tiring.”

“Ah it’s ok,” said Chrissie. “I think perhaps I judged her a bit harshly. She’s a woman who likes to get things done, and I can get on board with that.”

Chapter Twenty-Five

It was quarter to five in the morning, and the coach was ready to go. Dan had arrived with croissants and coffee and tea for everyone from the petrol station on the High Street. They sat in a row of five on the front wall of the school, their legs dangling side by side – Chrissie, Dan, Nisha, Philippa and Dottie.

“I think we can definitely call this the calm before the storm,” said Nisha, bundled up against the November weather in a green hoodie.

“Without a doubt,” agreed Dan.

Dottie piped up. “When are the others getting here?”

“In fifteen minutes,” said her mum, patting her arm. “It won’t be long. Eat your pain au chocolat.”

Dottie dutifully shoved half the pastry into her mouth. Chrissie covered a smile with her hands before rubbing her sleepy eyes.

“Have we made a terrible mistake?” she asked out loud.

“Twenty-five children, one coach, four adults and a trip to Paris?” said Nisha. “What could possibly go wrong?”

“Shall I give you a list?” said Dan, stifling a yawn.

“Definitely not,” replied Nisha. “I’d rather live in blissful ignorance.” She took a sip of her hot drink. “And you know what, Chris, for what it’s worth, you made this happen through sheer optimism. It’s going to be awesome.”

Chrissie raised her eyebrows in surprise. It was the first time Nisha had said anything to her that wasn’t directly about the Key Stage 2 Curriculum or which children needed extra help with their maths that week. “Well, I think really Philippa is the one we need to thank,” she said.

“Nonsense,” said Philippa, brushing off the praise. “I was just in the right place at the right time. And to get to come along and support you brilliant people is an absolute pleasure.”

The five of them fell quiet, sleepy smiles on their faces as they finished their breakfast.

Within half an hour, all was chaos. There were suitcases everywhere, children carrying an assortment of bags and rucksacks and tearful parents waving their little people off.

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