Page 12 of The Day After Christmas
CHAPTER 7
Felicity had formulated a plan. Well, not so much of a plan. She was just going to ask him straight out. There was no harm in that, surely.
‘Charlie…?’ she wheedled, as she took off her new coat in the staff room the following week. Sophie’s pestering had practically bankrupted her but at least she had something warm to wear at last. The weather had gone cold again even though it was nearly May. Because Britain. ‘Can I ask you something?’
‘Give the poor boy a chance,’ said Andrea from her standard position by the kettle, chomping on a chocolate biscuit. ‘He’s only just arrived.’
Felicity shot her a look. ‘Chocolate digestives for breakfast again? Tut tut.’
‘Don’t knock it till you’ve tried it. Breakfast of champions,’ said Andrea through a mouthful of crumbs. Charlie huffed a dirty little laugh at that and Andrea and Felicity frowned at him.
‘Hello?’ he said, looking between them, eyes widening. ‘Breakfast of champions? Haven’t you two ever heard of James Hunt?’
‘Who?’ said Andrea.
‘The racing driver?’ said Felicity, even more baffled.
Charlie gave a little nod of affirmation. ‘Total legend.’
‘How haveyouheard of James Hunt, more to the point? Weren’t you just born last week?’ Felicity got up and flicked the kettle on to re-boil.
Charlie chose to ignore this cheap shot. ‘I love motor racing. I especially love James Hunt; the man was an absolute icon. He had this badge on his overalls that said, “Sex: Breakfast of Champions”. That’s why I laughed.’
Andrea guffawed.
‘Charlie! Didn’t know you had it in you. I knew we’d get on, you and I.’
Felicity rolled her eyes. ‘Please.’
Charlie lifted his eyes to hers. ‘I suppose you’d rather have a chocolate digestive, would you?’
Felicity’s face grew instantly warm. ‘That is… well, I… that’s none of your business,’ she snapped, wishing she could think of some witty retort.
‘Anyway…’ he said, moving a little closer to her, ‘didn’t you have something you wanted to ask me?’
‘Never mind,’ she huffed, and left the room without even making a cup of tea, which always put her in a bad mood. And she’d totally messed up her chance to find out his full name.Breakfast of Champions, indeed, she muttered as she headed for cuddles with the Disney puppies.
An hour later Felicity was still grumbling to herself as she washed up puppy bowls. Mood black. And that’s why she was so wholly and entirely unprepared for what happened next.
‘Hello, Felicity,’ said a distantly familiar voice.
Felicity whirled around from the sink to find a man standing in the doorway. Why did men always turn up at her work when she least expected it? What was wrong with them as a race?
‘Can I help you?’ she said carefully, as if to a stranger, although she had known almost immediately who it was, the knowledge starting deep down in her gut before it reached her brain, even. She had a sudden urge to laugh and cry all in the same moment.
And perhaps also vomit.
‘It’s me, Felicity,’ said the man, who was still hovering uncertainly by the door.
Felicity couldn’t find any words to reply. From somewhere she had picked up a tea towel and she began to twist it between her hands like she was preparing to use it in self-defence.
The man took one small, very tentative step into the room, palms outward, then stopped. Felicity couldn’t help but stare. Struck dumb now as the reality of the situation hit her. He didn’t look like Dean Martin anymore.
His features no longer fitted together on his face quite as perfectly as they used to, and she found herself squinting at him to try and picture the man she had once known. His dark hair was thin now but he wasn’t balding and he was sporting an expensive-looking black leather jacket and washed-out jeans combo that belied his years. He was slim and looked to be in good shape, but his face was thickened and deeply lined, and the scent that had wafted into the room with him was unfamiliar, almost medical somehow. Her memories were hazy and she had so few photographs, but despite all the question marks and missing jigsaw pieces, still she knew. Just knew.
It was him.
For the first time since she was tiny.
