A moment later, the door opened again, and in came a stunning Scandinavian-looking blonde girl. ‘This is Minna,’ said Hugh as he put his arm around her. ‘She looks after the office here as well as … other things.’ He grinned. Minna gave me a smile then disappeared up the stairs to the loft.
‘Bit shy,’ said Hugh as he went to follow her. ‘So, yeah, let me know if you need anything, and don’t let the bastards grind you down, especially that tosser headmaster.’
I grinned back at him. I’d found a friend. I knelt back down on the floor and got into my sleeping bag. I had just fallen into a doze when the other girls began to arrive. I pretended to be asleep and watched through half-closed eyes so I could check them out.
As I settled back down to try and sleep, I became aware of sounds coming from the loft above, thumps, creaks and moans. ‘Oh god, Hugh, ohhhhh …’
Geoffrey, the headmaster had said that Hugh did his own thing. From Minna’s groans, it sounded as though he did it quite well. I made a note to get some earplugs.
*
The following day, I was thrown into the daily life at the farm. Slowly I got to know the individuals among the mass of anonymous faces, and I didn’t have time to be unhappy or alone because there was so much to do – an endless round of shopping, cleaning, cooking and washing up.
One afternoon, I was called to the office by Minna.
‘Phone for you,’ she said as she handed me the receiver then made herself scarce.
It was Sara Meyers. ‘Mitch, I’m in London, but you’ve gone again. I’ve been into that shop where you used to work and someone there, Lesley I think her name was, said you’re in Devon now. You do get around. Listen, I’ve been in touch with Jo and Ally and we want to come and visit. It’s been way too long. Road trip. What do you say? Is there a beach nearby? We could have a picnic, stay in a B and B.’
I felt a rush of panic. No way could they come. They’d want to see where I slept, where I lived. I could just imagine their faces when they saw I was sleeping on a wooden floor in a corridor. And when they saw me. I hadn’t had a decent haircut in ages, hardly thought about what I wore to do my work in. It would be a disaster. I wasn’t ready. They’d see me as an unpaid servant, which I was, dressed like a bag lady in bright rainbow colours. I felt torn. Part of me wanted to see them. Should I risk their disapproval?
‘Mitch, are you still there?’
‘Yes, yes, but don’t come here.’
‘Why not? I’m dying to see where you are and I love Devon. We have so much catching up to do.’
‘Yes, but the thing is, I’m not staying here long. Er … probably returning to London any day now,’ I lied. ‘Everything’s up in the air at the moment. Can I let you know?’
‘Sure.’ Sara sounded hurt but we chatted generally for a while and I did my best to enthuse about the school idea. She didn’t sound impressed and filled me in about her work and what Ally and Jo were doing. Ally had got a job to start in September in a publishing house, Jo was temporarily back in Manchester. I felt a moment of confusion. Part of me missed them, part of me felt I’d moved on.
‘Mitch, we really would love to see you,’ said Sara. ‘Please let us know where you are. Friends for life, remember? We’ve all been a bit crap at it, but we can change that.’
‘Sure, course,’ I said.
‘And between us, I think Jo’s going to be getting married soon, within a year I’m guessing. You know she’ll want us all as bridesmaids.’
I smiled. ‘That was always the plan, wasn’t it? We’d be each other’s?’
‘I thought we could combine the trip with a sort of hen night or weekend. What do you say? The Fab Four back together.’
‘Sounds a plan.’
‘I know. Overdue. So stay in touch, OK?’
‘I will, I promise.’
*
Jo called a week later.
‘Mitch, is that you?’
‘It is. I’ve just been thinking about you.’
‘Me too, about you. God, you’re hard to track down. I’ve called a million numbers, then Sara told me I’d find you here. Guess what? I’m pregnant! I know. Up the duff. Would be me, wouldn’t it? Predictable to the end, but Doug, he’s the father, he’s asked me to marry him and my parents are being great … God, so much to tell you. Mitch, you there? Say something.’
‘I …’
‘Obviously I want my friends to be bridesmaids, you, Ally and Sara – I think Sara may have mentioned it to you. They’ve said yes. Will you? Please say you will? Remember how we all talked about it in school? How we’d all be each other’s bridesmaids? Will you come? It’s in about six weeks – better do it before I have to waddle up the aisle like a big fat whale in a wedding dress. It’s all planned. It wouldn’t be the same without you and I know I haven’t been in touch and I’m sorry about that but this is something I really want to share with you all.’
‘Of course I’ll come, Jo,’ I said, though my mind was already presenting negatives. How would I get there? I had no money. Where would I stay?
‘Brilliant. You’ve made my day. Write this down, hold on a sec.’ The line went quiet, then she returned and gave me the date and an address of a church up near Manchester. ‘Call me in a few days because we need to sort out dresses and so on. I’m so so happy you’re coming.’
‘Me too. I’ve got to go, Jo,
