to put off her visit to Leyton for a day. She was going to have to tell her parents-and more than likely her sister- that she still hadn’t made plans for the wedding. She wasn’t looking forward to it. Maybe a day out with Hazel would make it seem easier to cope.
When Hazel and Holly arrived on Saturday morning, Hazel examined Gemma’s bruised forehead, then gave her a pat on the arm. “Much better. I’d say you’re coming along nicely. But you’ve had a rough week, and we’re going to make the most of our day.”
Gemma was happy enough to get out of the house. Her whole family had been behaving oddly since the evening before; Duncan was preoccupied and seemed anxious to get rid of her, Kit was unusually serious and silent, and Toby kept breaking into hysterical fits of giggles over nothing. Gemma hoped he was just wound up over Holly’s visit, and not sickening for something.
Hazel whisked her off to Sloane Square, insisting on driving rather than taking the bus or the tube. “We’ll park in the garage at Marks and Sparks,” she said, “and walk up the King’s Road. It’s a lovely day for it.”
The Oriel Cafe, a bustling French brasserie, was a Sloane Square institution. They got a table by the window, and as Gemma sipped the glass of prosecco Hazel had ordered, she began to relax. Over their fish cakes and mussels, she told Hazel what she had learned from Alia the day before, and then about the vet, John Truman.
When she finished, Hazel’s dark eyes were sober. “We know these things happen-have always happened, in some form or another, but that doesn’t make it any easier when you actually confront them. That poor girl, whoever she was. And the others, because there must be others.”
“On top of that, Charlotte’s placement hearing is on Monday,” said Gemma. Now that things had started spilling out, she didn’t seem to be able to stop them. “I’ve rung the social worker again, but I haven’t heard back. I simply will not let that horrible Gail Gilles get her hands on that child. I don’t care what it takes.
“And, Hazel-” She paused, then blurted out the worry she hadn’t been fully willing to admit, even to herself. “Last weekend, I told Duncan I was dreading the wedding. I tried to explain that it wasn’t because of us. I thought he understood, but now he won’t talk about it. I’m afraid-I’m afraid I’ve totally screwed things up.” She gulped the last of her wine. When the bubbles went up her nose, she had an excuse for her watering eyes.
“Gemma.” Hazel leaned forward and clasped her hand for a moment. Her touch was warm and comforting. “You absolutely cannot save the world single-handedly, as much as you want to. I don’t see what more you can do about this case. Let Duncan get on with trying to find something more on this vet.
“As for Charlotte, try to have a bit of faith in the system. I know it’s not perfect, but you haven’t actually seen what social services can do. Let it go for a day or two, see what happens on Monday.
“And I’m quite sure Duncan understands about the wedding. In fact, he’s probably relieved. After all, what man wants to get dressed up in a monkey suit and put on a show. Give him a bit of credit, too. Stop worrying.” She pushed her glass aside and smiled. “And in the meantime, we’re going shopping.”
“Shopping?” Gemma thought about the children, the work she was still trying to catch up on, all the things that needed doing around the house. “But we hadn’t planned-I wasn’t-I shouldn’t-”
“Oh yes, you should.” Hazel waved the waiter over for the check. “Come on. We’re going to Peter Jones.”
“I need a new wardrobe after Scotland,” Hazel told Gemma as she led her through the women’s clothing collections in the Sloane Square department store. “I’m not prepared for London summers anymore.”
But she pushed things about on the racks with desultory interest, and didn’t take anything to try on. Gemma followed as Hazel wove her way through the aisles. Then Hazel stopped and lifted a dress, holding it up as she admired it. “Oh, this is perfect.”
It was a pale apple-green cotton, as fine as silk, with capped sleeves, a fitted waist, and a skirt that flared to the knee.
“It is lovely.” Gemma touched it. “But I’m not sure it’s really your color. You do better in bright things.”
“I suppose you’re right, more’s the pity. However”-Hazel held the dress up to Gemma-“it certainly suits you.” She inspected the tag. “And I think it’s just your size. Come on, try it on.”
“But I don’t need a dress,” said Gemma. “Where would I wear it? It’s a garden-party sort of thing-”
“Of course you need a dress.” Hazel gave her a stern look. “How often do you treat yourself to anything, Gemma? As for where to wear it, you’ll just have to come up with an excuse. Make Duncan take you out to dinner or something.” Hazel marched off towards the changing room, dress in hand, without giving Gemma a chance to argue further.
A saleswoman ushered them into the mirrored cubicle, asking if there was anything else they needed.
“Shoes,” Hazel told her, giving Gemma, who had worn jeans and flats, a critical eye. “You can’t try on this dress in those. And a sexy bra and knickers.”
“Hazel, you’ve gone completely mad,” Gemma protested. “I can’t-”
“Just tell her your sizes.”
Feeling giddy, Gemma complied. It must have been the prosecco they’d drunk with lunch, she thought. They were both a little mad.
Hazel carried on a whispered consultation with the clerk, and in what seemed a remarkably short time, the woman came back with some lacy wisps of underwear and a shoe box.
The bra and knickers were the same pale green as the dress, and each cream, open-toe shoe was adorned with a cream-colored, full-petaled fabric rose.
“I can’t possibly-”
“Just put everything on.” Hazel went out and closed the door with a snap. “Tell me when you’re ready.”
A few moments later, Gemma called out, “I can’t do the zip.”
Hazel and the saleswoman, who had been whispering again outside the door, came in together. “Breathe in,” Hazel commanded, and pulled up the long back zipper. Then she stepped away and gazed at Gemma in the mirror. “Oh,” she said on a sigh. “Oh, it’s gorgeous.”
Gemma stared at her own reflection. Although she would never have chosen the dress for herself, she had to admit it was beautiful. She looked-different. “It’s-I feel like a princess.” She smoothed the skirt.
“So you should. Now spin.”
Gemma spun obediently. When the dress belled out around her, she laughed aloud. Then she peered at the price tag, and her spirits fell. “It’s lovely, but I can’t possibly spend this much on myself…This is ridiculous.”
“No, it’s not, and yes, you can. If you don’t buy it for yourself-and the shoes, and the knickers-I’ll buy them for you.” Hazel glanced at her watch. “And you’re wearing everything home. I’ve just realized I’m late picking up Holly. Can we just snip the tags off?” she added to the clerk.
“Hazel, don’t be daft.”
“I’m not. Duncan and the kids will absolutely love it. Wait and see.”
It was only in the car on the way back to Notting Hill that Gemma said, “Hazel, that was the only dress in that color on display, and it just happened to be in my size. Not to mention the shoes were perfect. I’d almost think you picked them out beforehand.”
“Nonsense. I just have good shopping karma.” Hazel seemed very focused on her driving.
“You didn’t buy a thing.”
“Next time. This was your day.”
When they reached St. John’s Gardens, there seemed an unusual number of cars parked in the street, but Hazel was able to find a spot for her Golf. They got out and walked to the house, Gemma thinking, as she so often did, how much she loved the place. Just as they reached the door, Hazel said, “Oh, I forgot my phone. You go on.”
Gemma opened the door and stepped inside. She heard a childish shriek, and a hum of conversation that fell suddenly still. Looking round, she saw that the house was filled with people.
She gazed in shock at all the familiar faces-in the dining room and sitting room, spilling out of the kitchen-all staring back at her with ear-splitting grins. Tim and Holly. Melody. Doug Cullen. Gemma’s boss from work, Mark Lamb, and his wife, Diane. Duncan’s guv’nor, Denis Childs, and his wife. Her sister and brother-in-law. Her niece and nephew. Erika, and Erika’s friend Henri. Wesley, Betty, and Charlotte. And sitting stiffly on chairs in the dining room, her parents.
