Page 88 of Happily Never After
‘The canteen here is excellent,’ he tells me as we head back towards the lift. ‘I’ll warn you that it’s easy to get carried away.’
He’s not wrong. When we get down into the basement, I feel like I’ve stepped into the buffet of a luxury all-inclusive resort. There are different counters for salads, sandwiches, hot food and desserts. This presents me with a dilemma. I still don’t know whether Finn is planning anything for this evening, in which case I definitely want to stick to something light, or whether I’m going to be on the train home as soon as filming finishes. It seems pushy to ask, so in the end I play it safe with a salad and some fruit.
‘Very restrained,’ Finn observes as he takes out his debit card to pay for his lunch. ‘You don’t pay, by the way,’ he explains. ‘Part of being a VIP.’
‘You’re not exactly pushing the boat out yourself,’ I tell him, indicating the sandwich and apple on his tray.
‘If I had the full lunch every time, I’d probably end up having to join a weight loss programme,’ he says with a laugh as we make our way over to a booth in the corner. ‘Can I tell you a secret?’
‘Yes.’
He leans forward conspiratorially. ‘I’m having to watch what I eat, because there’s a woman who keeps sending me madeleines.’
‘Really? What kind of person would do something like that?’ I reply, entering into the game. ‘I’ve read about these people who want to show their love through food but overdo it. I think they’re called feeders. Is she one of those, do you think?’
He pretends to consider the question. ‘I’ve never thought about it that way. You think she’s sending me biscuits because she’s secretly in love with me?’
‘I don’t know,’ I say, recklessly seizing the opportunity of the game we’re playing to drop him a real-life hint. ‘I would suggest you’re very clear with her. If you like her, then tell her that. If not, then you need to let her down gently before she gets too attached. You don’t want to end up like the poor guy inMisery, chained to the bed by a deranged fan, do you?’
‘Hm.’ He’s giving nothing away and I’m starting to wonder if I’ve taken it too far. ‘Good advice. I’ll certainly think about it.’
The afternoon’s filming was interesting, especially as one contestant actually managed to identify the rogue item correctly and potentially double their prize pot. Unfortunately for them, they were then knocked out before the final and didn’t benefit. Instead, Geoff, a data scientist from Market Harborough, saw his fund halved but waltzed off twelve thousand pounds richer.Finn came and went, dealing with issues as they arose, so I didn’t think anything of it when he disappeared halfway through the filming of the final episode of the day. It soon became awkward, however, when filming wrapped up and there was still no sign of him. Eventually, one of the production crew approached me to explain that he was going to see me out because, unfortunately, Mr Robertson had been called away but had asked him to apologise on his behalf.
I know it’s not Finn’s fault that he was called away, but I’m feeling flat as I head into the Tube station. I’d hoped that we’d be able to go for a drink, or even something to eat, but we didn’t even get the chance to say goodbye. Just to make things worse, fate decides now is the ideal time to play tricks on me with another Finn doppelganger. The Tube is rammed again, so I’ve found myself pressed up against the door leading to the next carriage and, at one point, I catch the briefest glimpse through the window of a guy who I could have sworn was Finn, apart from the fact he was dressed much more smartly. My view is blocked almost immediately by another passenger and, by the time I get to St Pancras, I’ve convinced myself that I was just seeing things. Great, that’s the first sign of madness, isn’t it?
32
My mood is bleak as I step onto the platform at Margate and start making my way towards the exit. It only sinks further when I realise that I’ve been so busy being disappointed about the way the day ended that I’ve completely forgotten to message Liv to let her know that I’ll be home for dinner after all. Maybe I’ll pick up a ready meal and a bottle of wine. It feels like a ready meal and bottle of wine kind of night. To make matters worse, it seems like the phantom Finns are here too; I stop dead as, for a moment, I could swear someone is calling my name.
‘Bloody hell, careful,’ an angry voice says as a solid mass bumps into me, almost knocking me off my feet.
‘Sorry,’ I tell the man, but he’s already gone, obviously in a hurry to get home like everyone else here. I shake myself and resume my walk to the exit. Hearing things is probably the second sign of madness. At this rate, I’ll be a fully paid-up lunatic by the time I get home.
‘Laura!’ the voice calls again, more clearly this time. ‘Over here.’
I turn my head and blink. The spitting image of Finn that I saw on the Tube is standing near the exit, calling my name andwaving. I hesitate for a moment, waiting for him to disappear like the other phantoms, but either this is a prolonged psychotic episode, or Finn really is here in Margate.
‘Finn?’ I ask when I reach him, unable to keep the incredulity out of my voice. ‘What are you doing here?’
His grin is so wide that it’s threatening to split his face in two. ‘I’m here for an evening engagement.’
‘Oh,’ I say, swallowing the pang of disappointment. Of course he wasn’t coming here for me. ‘Is this related to whatever you were called away for?’
‘Very much so.’
He’s beaming at me, but I can’t work out why.
‘You don’t look very pleased to see me,’ he says after a moment.
‘I am. I’m just confused.’
‘Let me explain. I wasn’t called away at all. I needed time to change and get into position.’
‘For what?’
‘To see where you went. Although I hoped you’d come back here, there was a possibility you might have made arrangements to meet up with friends or do some sightseeing in London this evening, and that would have derailed my plan.’
‘Youfollowedme?’
