Sophie Kinsella - Twenties Girl

He sighs heavily. I can see the disappointment etched in the lines under his eyes. Dad wants to find the good in everyone. It’s part of his makeup.

“Your brother’s success cast a long shadow over our family.” Mum’s voice is trembling. “It affected all of us in different ways. Now it’s time for us all to be free. That’s what I think. Draw a line.”

“I recommended Uncle Bill’s book to my book club, you know,” says Tonya suddenly. “I made eight sales for him.” She looks almost more outraged by this than anything. “And it was all lies! He’s despicable!” She turns on Dad. “And if you don’t think so, too, Dad, if you don’t feel livid with him, then you’re a mug!”

I can’t help giving an inward cheer. Sometimes Tonya’s forthright, trampling-over-feet way is just what you need.

“I am livid,” Dad says at last. “Of course I am. It’s just an adjustment. To realize your younger brother is quite such a selfish… unprincipled… shit.” He breathes out hard. “I mean, what does that say?”

“It says we forget about him,” says Mum firmly. “Move on. Start living the rest of our lives without feeling like second-class citizens.”

Mum’s got more spirit in her voice than I’ve heard for years! Go, Mum!

“So, who’s been dealing with him?” Tonya frowns. “Hasn’t that been a bit tricky?”

“Lara’s done everything,” says Mum proudly. “Talked to Bill, talked to the gallery, sorted everything out -and started her own business! She’s been a tower of strength.”

“Great!” Tonya smiles widely, but I can tell she’s annoyed. “Well done you.” She takes a sip of wine and swills it around her mouth thoughtfully. I just know she’s searching for some little vulnerable spot, some way to regain ascendancy…

“So how are things with Josh?” She puts on her sympathetic look. “Dad told me you got back together for a bit but then broke up for good? That must have been really tough. Really devastating.”

“It’s OK.” I shrug. “I’m over it.”

“But you must feel so hurt,” Tonya persists, her cowlike eyes fixed on mine. “Your self-confidence must have taken a knock. Just remember, it doesn’t mean you’re not attractive, Lara. Does it?” She appeals to Mum and Dad. “There are other men-”

“My new boyfriend cheers me up,” I say brightly. “So I wouldn’t worry.”

“New boyfriend?” Her mouth sags open. “Already?”

She needn’t look so surprised.

“He’s an American consultant over on assignment. His name’s Ed.”

“Very handsome,” puts in Dad supportively.

“He took us all out for lunch last week!” adds Mum.

“Well.” Tonya looks affronted. “That’s… great. But it’ll be hard when he goes back to the States, won’t it?” She visibly brightens. “Long-distance relationships are the most likely to break down. All those transatlantic phone calls… and the time difference…”

“Who knows what’ll happen?” I hear myself saying sweetly.

“I can make him stay!” Sadie’s low voice in my ear makes me jump. I turn to see her hovering right by me, her eyes shining with determination. “I’m your guardian angel. I’ll make Ed stay in England!”

“Excuse me a moment,” I say to the table generally. “I’ve just got to send a text.”

I get out my phone and start texting, positioning the screen so that Sadie can see it.

It’s OK. U don’t need to make him stay. Where have u been?

“Or I could make him ask you to marry him!” she exclaims, ignoring my question. “Too much fun! I’ll tell him to propose, and I’ll make sure he chooses a simply stunning ring, and we’ll have such fun planning the wedding…”

No, no, no! I text hurriedly. Sadie, stop! Don’t make Ed do anything. I want him to make his own decisions. I want him to listen to his own voice .

Sadie gives a little harrumph as she reads my message. “Well, I think my voice is more interesting,” she says, and I can’t help a smile.

“Texting your boyfriend?” says Tonya, watching me.

“No,” I say noncommittally. “Just… a friend. A good friend.” I turn away and tap in, Thanks for doing all that stuff to help me. U didn’t have to .

“I wanted to!” says Sadie. “It’s fun! Have you had the champagne yet?”

No , I text back, wanting to laugh. Sadie, u r the best guardian angel EVER .

“Well, I do rather pride myself.” She preens herself. “Now, where shall I sit?”

She floats across the table and sits on a spare chair at the end, just as Kate approaches the table, looking pink with excitement.

“Guess what!” she says. “We just got a bottle of champagne from the off-license round the corner! The man said it was to welcome us to the area! And you’ve had lots of calls, Lara; I’ve written down all the numbers… and the post arrived, forwarded from your flat. I didn’t bring it all, but there was one package I thought might be important; it’s come from Paris…” She hands me a Jiffy bag, pulls out a chair, and beams at everyone. “Have you ordered yet? I’m absolutely starving! Hi, we haven’t met, I’m Kate…”

As Kate and Tonya introduce themselves and Dad pours out more wine, I stare down at the Jiffy bag, feeling a sudden breathless apprehension. It’s come from Paris. It has girlish handwriting on the front. When I press it, I can feel something hard and bumpy inside. Hard and bumpy like a necklace.

Slowly, I lift my eyes. Sadie is watching me intently across the table. I know she’s thinking the same.

“Go on.” She nods.

With trembling hands I rip it open. I peer inside at a mass of tissue paper. I push it aside and see a flash of pale iridescent yellow. I look up, straight at Sadie.

“That’s it, isn’t it?” She’s gone very white. “You’ve got it.”

I nod, just once. Then, barely knowing what I’m doing, I push back my chair.

“I just have to… make a call.” My voice is suddenly grainy. “I’ll go outside. Be back in a moment…”

I thread my way through the tables and chairs to the back of the restaurant, where there’s a small secluded courtyard. I push my way out through the fire doors and head to the far corner, then open the Jiffy bag again, pull out the mass of tissue paper, and gently unwrap it.

After all this time. I’m holding it. Just like that.

It’s warmer to the touch than I expected. More substantial, somehow. A shaft of sunlight is glinting off the rhinestones, and the beads are shimmering. It’s so stunning I have a sudden strong urge to put it on. But instead I look up at Sadie, who has been watching me silently.

“Here you are. It’s yours.” Automatically I try to put it around her neck, as though I’m giving her an Olympic medal. But my hands sink straight through her. I try again and again, even though I know it’s no use.

“I don’t know what to do!” I’m half laughing, half perilously near tears. “It’s yours! You should be wearing it! We need the ghost version-”

“Stop!” Sadie’s voice rises in sudden tension. “Don’t…” She breaks off and moves away from me, her eyes fixed on the paving slabs of the courtyard. “You know what you have to do.”

There’s silence apart from the steady roar of Kilburn traffic coming from the main road. I can’t look at Sadie. I’m just standing clutching the necklace. I know this is what we’ve been chasing and hunting and wishing for. But now we have it… I don’t want to have arrived here. Not yet. The necklace is the reason Sadie’s been haunting me. When she gets it back-

My thoughts abruptly veer away. I don’t want to think about that. I don’t want to think about any of it.