Page 91 of Two to Tango

‘What day is it?’

‘Friday.’

‘I have a signing at Waterstones at 6p.m.’

‘Right. Let’s pick something to wear then. Up you get.’

I pull myself up. Not because I want to but because she has just reminded me I have a signing and, unfortunately, I do have to go.

Anna moves to my wardrobe and picks out dresses on hangers.

‘This? What about this Gucci? I adore this Tom Ford.’

God, it’s no wonder I can’t afford to rent my own place. My wardrobe could be a down payment on a mansion.

Dressed in a day-to-evening Dolce & Gabbana dress, which Anna has teamed with my latest Mulberry bag and Prada shoes, I agree to a late lunch with Anna, Zara, and Beatrice. Only because I have to eat something before going to Waterstones.

We sit around a marble-top table in one of London’s finest hotels and order green salads and water. I hear Brooks as I eat.If you eat like a rabbit, of course you’ll be skinny.

I laugh through a mouthful of water. The daggers I receive from Zara, Beatrice, and Anna tell me it must have been an inappropriate time to laugh. I cough until my amusement subsides.

‘Sorry, it went down the wrong way.’

After tutting, Beatrice resumes whatever she was saying. ‘He said he couldn’t be with her any more if she was going to be friends with Tillie, because of course Tillie had been seeing – and byseeingI mean having sex with – Alfie. Then Tillie said she was pregnant, which was a lie, and she admitted it minutes later, apparently. So, he said, even if she hadn’t been with Alfie…’

I zone out again, until I hear my name. ‘Well done with the book thing, Izzy,’ Zara says. I’m about to thank her when she continues. ‘I mean, at least you showed willing to do something. Now you can relax for a while.’

‘Sorry, how do you mean?’

‘You know, stop pretending you want to make your own way. You can get back to shopping. Plus, you can start coming out with us again if you would like.’

‘Wow, incredible.’

‘Oh, nonsense. You’re a friend. You know you are welcome. We only didn’t invite you those other times because you were taking the exercise thing so seriously, and what with not drinking, you were a waste of a good invitation.’

‘Actually,’ Beatrice jumps in, ‘about that book. I told Audrey about it and she was quite excited that we have an author friend. She was going to buy it but I said you would obviously give me copies, so if you could drop some in to me, that would be grand. Maybe five or ten would be okay. I don’t know many people who will want it, but a few spares are always handy. It’s nice to give people something to take away when they visit.’

I glance at Anna, expecting her to be as incensed by the conversation as I am. She sips her water and crunches through raw carrot, not concerned in the least.

‘Sure, Beatrice. I’ll sort that for you. You’ll have to excuse me. I’m not feeling too well. I think I could use a walk before the signing.’ I take my purse from my bag, find fifty pounds for my overpriced salad and water, and leave it on the table beside Anna.

‘Izzy, I have Daddy’s card.’

‘Mm, I know. I want to pay my way.’

I walk toward the river Thames and saunter along the shoreline. Even when my toes begin to hurt in my high heels and I wish I had my running shoes on, I keep walking, feeling the cool wind in my hair.

I won’t be like them. I’m not like them.

On the way to Waterstones, I resolve to start making my own way in life, for real.

Despite my book apparently selling ten thousand copies already, I only sign five books at Waterstones, which were sold to three people. As I sit alone, drumming my fingers on the tabletop, at a store just minutes from home and my ‘friends’ and family, I know no one else will come. Not one other person I know would have phoned friends to get them to come and buy my book just to make me feel less worthless. Only Brooks.

35

BROOKS

Day 5 Without Her

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