Page 30 of Midnight in Paris

They stood for a moment looking at each other, both knowing that it wasn’t true. Then she watched him walk away, back to that other world where she’d felt so out of place. Nobody else had seen her at all.

12

THE SECOND SUMMER – 2012

‘It’s veryAn Affair to Remember,’ Libby remarked on the phone as Sophie carefully packed her small, wheeled suitcase. ‘You know, when they arrange to meet on the top of the Empire State Building.’

‘Well, I hope not,’ Sophie said, holding the phone between her shoulder and cheek to free up her hands. She held a yellow T-shirt up, and deftly reduced it to a tiny square, neatly slipping it inside the satin-lined case. Packing for this year’s trip –had it really been a year?– she’d felt odd not speaking to Libby who’d always helped her choose her outfits for a trip when they’d lived together. She’d had to make do with a call instead. Sophie knew it was normal to move on into adulthood; that living in a student let with friends wasn’t forever; but sometimes she missed her friend so fiercely her heart hurt.

‘I mean, because it’s romantic, you idiot,’ Libby laughed. ‘Arranging to meet, hopefully getting back together. And in Paris! I’m not saying that you’re going to get mown down by a car on your way to meet him. Although do look both ways when crossing the street, won’t you?’

‘Libby! This is nothing like that film. I know he’s going to be there, for starters. And we’re meeting at St Pancras, not at the top of the Eiffel Tower.’

‘Oh my God, youshouldhave made it the top of the Eiffel Tower! That’s a story for your grandkids right there.’

Sophie snorted. ‘Now who’s getting ahead of themselves?’ she said. ‘I don’t even know if he’ll still be interested.’

‘Well, he’s going to be there, isn’t he?’

‘Yeah. But he’s not giving anything away.’

‘Haveyougiven anything away? Given him any reason to hope?’

‘Well, no.’

‘Well then. I bet you anything he still wants to be with you,’ Libby said decisively.

Sophie zipped up the suitcase. ‘You really think so?’

‘Come on, you two are destined to be together. I can feel it.’

‘Since when did you become a hopeless romantic?’ Sophie asked, ignoring the surge of hope in her chest as she listened to her friend’s words. ‘I thought you were a cynic.’

‘Well, maybe I’ve mellowed.’

‘Ha. I highly doubt it.’

They both laughed. Libby was probably the most discerning person Sophie knew when it came to dating. Which meant she rarely ever did it.

‘Did I ever mention that the night we first met, I had Will down for being more your type?’

‘Will? What makes you say that?’

Libby shrugged. ‘I could just imagine you together right away. Tom seemed… Well, you two are really different, aren’t you? But sometimes that works, I guess.’

Sophie smiled. ‘Here’s hoping.’

‘Anyway,’ Libby continued, ‘I just have this feeling…’

Sophie smiled. She also had a feeling. But she forced herself to be pragmatic. It was a holiday to Paris with a friend. That’s all they’d promised each other. Tom had been true to his word, his promise not to talk about anything more between them until this trip – which could, as Libby said, be completely and utterly romantic, but could also mean he’d forgotten what he’d suggested and had simply moved on with his life.

They’d stayed in touch, pinging off the odd email, letter and phone call over the twelve months, but both had been busy. Tom hadn’t mentioned any other girlfriend, but then it didn’t mean he wasn’t meeting people. He wasn’t one for social media, and rarely seemed to post anything. Not that she looked. Often.

‘Do you regret turning him down?’ Libby asked, almost out of the blue. ‘Wish you’d stayed together the whole time?’

‘No!’ she said instinctively. Then, ‘Well, maybe a bit. But for all I know I could have been right. He might not be interested in me like that any more. And if that’s the case, well, I’ve saved myself a lot of heartache.’

‘There she goes again. Miss Sensible.’

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