Carmen tried not to show her alarm at Sophie’s open discussion of her aunt’s love life. “She is.”
“How do you know each other?”
“We met here, actually. My best friend had a tattoo done, and I came along to watch.”
“Cool. What tattoo did she get? And where?”
Carmen pointed at her hip. “Here. It’s black and white, and it shows a bird escaping from a cage.”
“Does it mean something?”
“It does. She recently got divorced.” Carmen shrugged. “I suppose like many people who get tattoos, she wanted something to commemorate her new life starting.”
“Makes sense.”
“Would you ever get one?” Somehow it was easy to talk to Sophie.
“I’m not sure. I love watching her work, and I think it’s awesome how she creates the designs, but…” She grinned. “I’m not sure about the pain. I don’t think I’d like that bit.”
Carmen laughed. “I think I agree with you. Besides, you’re still young; you’ve got plenty of time to decide.”
“That’s true. And I’m not sure school would like it. Or my mum.” She rolled her eyes.
“Mums aren’t supposed to approve of anything, are they? Isn’t that in the contract?”
Sophie laughed. “Hah, that’s a good one.” The phone rang, and she stood. “I should get back to work. Don’t want the boss to sack me.”
“Absolutely not. Although I’d put in a good word for you.”
“Sweet.” Sophie hurried back to the front desk and picked up the phone.
Carmen exhaled slowly. Okay, so the niece is lovely, and Ash does not seem to have a girlfriend. Apart from spitting water all over myself, the evening is going well so far .
Her phone buzzed in her bag, which lay alongside her thigh. She fished it out and smiled ruefully at the message from Tamsyn she’d just received.
Wait, I go away for a few days, and you turn all sapphic on me? I can’t believe I missed your big news! Call me when you get a chance x
Carmen had told Maggie it was okay to share her revelation. She hoped Tamsyn wasn’t too upset at being left out—she had been Carmen’s friend for longer than Maggie after all. But the tone of the text message seemed to suggest she was taking it well.
I will. Hopefully I didn’t shock you too much. It was great being able to talk to Maggie. And it will be good to talk to you about it too.
She didn’t have to wait long for a reply.
What are you doing tomorrow?
Carmen laughed.
Nothing. I’ll come to yours as soon as I’ve finished work.
Perfect! Xx
She had just slipped the phone back in her bag—after remembering to put it on silent mode—when Ash walked over.
“All done.” She smiled widely.
Carmen stood. “What were you working on?”
“Just finished a piece that’s taken a few sessions to do. A mermaid, on her back.” Ash pointed at the woman who chatted to Sophie at the front desk. “Here, take a look.” Ash pulled her phone from her pocket, swiped a couple of times, and held up a picture for Carmen.
The mermaid was huge, covering the woman’s back from waist to shoulder. The design was stunning; blues and greens mingled with silvery scales, and bright red hair tumbled over the mermaid’s shoulders to fall just short of her voluptuous breasts. They looked so realistic Carmen almost thought she could reach out and pinch one of the nipples. Good God, what is it with you and breasts today?
“It’s amazing.” Her voice came out as a weak croak. She cleared her throat. “Such fantastic colours.” Yes, focus on the colours.
“Thanks. The client’s very happy, and that’s the main thing.” Ash motioned for Carmen to walk with her over to the desk.
Sophie locked the door behind the departing client, then turned the sign to closed . “Finished!”
Ash laughed. “Yep, all done.” She turned to Carmen. “We just need to clean up, and then if you don’t mind, we need to escort this one to the Tube so she can get home.”
“I don’t mind at all.” Maybe having a teenaged chaperone will stop me from making a fool of myself. For a little while at least . “Can I do anything to help with the clean-up?”
“Nah, we’ve got it covered. Haven’t we, monkey?”
Sophie scowled at Ash. “Auntie Ash! Not in public.”
Laughing, Ash walked off to the back of the shop.
Carmen waited by the desk for the few minutes it took the pair of them to get the studio tidy and swept. Ash and Sophie each retrieved a bag from somewhere and met her at the front door.
The walk to Tottenham Court Road station was fun. Sophie and Ash obviously had a wonderful rapport and connection. Carmen noticed that Ash treated Sophie like an adult, never talking to her in a condescending tone and happily covering serious subjects as well as frivolous.
“So what do you do, Carmen?” Sophie asked as they waited at a crossing. “I mean, where do you work?”
“I’m an agent. For actors and actresses, mostly for TV, but I have a few clients who are in films too.”
“Cool!” Sophie’s eyes were wide. “Are they all, like, really famous?”
Carmen chuckled. “Some of them, yes. Most of them you might recognise in the soaps or some of the crime dramas that are around.”
“Who’s the most famous?” Sophie turned to walk backwards as they crossed, her attention totally focused on Carmen.
Ash hovered protectively nearby, seemingly ready to grab her niece if she tripped.
Sweet . They reached the far side and turned into a side street.
As it was public knowledge who Carmen represented, she didn’t mind sharing the name, especially with Ash’s delightful niece. “My top client is Tamsyn Harris.”
Ash and Sophie stopped walking in unison and stared at her.
“T-Tamsyn Harris?” Ash’s eyes bulged.
Carmen grinned. “Are you a fan?”
Ash pulled at an imaginary too-tight collar and feigned fanning her face. “Just a bit.”
“She’s amazing!” Sophie said in an awed whisper.
“Oh, yeah.” Ash’s expression had turned dreamy.
Ash’s niece dramatically rolled her eyes and tapped her aunt’s arm. “Stop drooling.”
“Like you aren’t too.” Ash winked.
Sophie gasped.
