Three Amazing Things About You(74)

Luke grinned at her. ‘Absolutely. Goes without saying. You both look fantastic. Can I get you a drink?’

‘White wine, please,’ said Hallie. ‘Frascati.’

‘Make it two. Ooh . . .’ Bea pulled out her phone and read the text that had just arrived. Evidently pleased, she rapidly replied, then watched as Luke threaded his way between a group of cricketers on his way to the bar. She touched Hallie’s shoulder. ‘Going to be fun tonight.’

‘I wish you’d tell me what’s happening.’

‘I wish you’d stop being so nosy. Just have a bit of patience. It’ll be worth it, I promise.’

Hallie knew how Bea’s mind worked; she adored springing surprises. Last year she’d organised a reunion   of her father’s school friends for his sixtieth birthday. From the way she was looking and behaving now, Hallie guessed that she had secretly arranged for some of their old friends to turn up tonight. Which would be brilliant, so long as she hadn’t invited Martin Ormerod, who had made such merciless fun of Hallie’s coughing fits and had called her Fag-Ash Lil all the way through school. For him, the joke had never stopped being hilarious.

Basically, because he was a dick.

Twenty minutes later, Hallie discovered that the down side of brilliant surprises was automatically assuming they were intended for you, when this wasn’t necessarily the case.

Like now.

As everyone else partied on around them, Bea had continued to monopolise Luke, chatting away to him as if he were the only man in the room, and doing it with such vivacious intensity that there was no way he could escape.

At first Hallie had been puzzled, wondering what was going on. Then her attention had begun to wander, because the plethora of Marilyns was more entertaining than having to listen to Bea’s endless questions about cholesterol.

The moment of realisation came when her gaze drifted from the boisterous group of cricketers demonstrating their twerking skills on the dance floor – really not a pretty sight – to the woman who had moved across the room and was now standing just a few feet away from Bea and Luke. She was wearing one of the Marilyn masks and clutching a drink, but it was the legs that gave her away: fine, elegant, shapely . . . and recognisably belonging to—

‘Well, hello,’ Bea exclaimed, breaking off her conversation and making a poor attempt at pretending to be surprised. She even did an over-the-top double-take. ‘Oh my goodness, I don’t believe it! Fancy seeing you here!’

Hallie’s heart sank as the new arrival lifted the Marilyn mask from her face. She saw Luke’s expression change, amazement giving way to delight as he said, ‘Wow, this is a surprise! Look at you!’

And then she was forced to sit and watch them greet each other with hugs and kisses, trapped and unable to escape because her wheelchair was hemmed in from all directions. Was Luke just being polite, or was it more than that? Was Christina glad she’d taken the plunge and come to the party?

And was this really Bea’s idea of a completely brilliant surprise?

The answer to this last question was evidently yes, as Bea was now clapping her hands. Beaming down at her, she exclaimed, ‘Ha, was this the best plan ever? Isn’t it great? I knew you’d love it too!’

Hallie, who wasn’t loving it at all, marvelled at her own ability to put on a good front. Because somehow she was managing to smile and look delighted while inside her ribcage a sensation like slowly setting cement appeared to be pressing down on her lungs.

As if they weren’t already useless enough.

And now other people were turning, recognising Christina, nudging each other and pointing to the happy, just-reunited couple. Christina was clutching Luke’s shoulder, laughing at something he’d just said and shaking her head in disbelief. Up on the stage, the real Marilyn had spotted what was going on and broke off from singing ‘River Deep, Mountain High’ in order to yell, ‘Ooh, I say, look who’s here! Hello, lovely Christina, long time no see!’

Hallie kept the happy expression plastered on her own face as Christina first waved back at Marilyn then turned to smile at other people she recognised and hadn’t seen for months. It wasn’t just Luke; everyone seemed thrilled to see her again.

Oh God.

It was like the prodigal daughter returning home.





Chapter 33


‘Come outside.’ Slipping her hand into his, Christina whispered in Luke’s ear, ‘I’ve got something to show you.’

Together they left the pub by the side door. Christina led him across the crowded car park. In the far corner, he recognised her red Audi. The next moment a volley of high-pitched barks emanated from it and he saw a small dog leaping up and down as if the passenger seat were a particularly bouncy trampoline.