Bryony Fraser - Sunshine on a Rainy Day - A funny, feel-good romantic comedy

‘Since not all of us made the exclusive guest list,’ Miks interjected, eyes rolling cartoonishly.

‘And I said, Oh, don’t worry, Zoe’s never early, we’ve got plenty of time, and now …’

We all stared at the pile on the floor again.

‘I solemnly swear never to be early to work again.’

‘Better,’ said Benni. ‘Darling, you know I find it immensely unnerving when you get all Motivated Teacher. Or is this Jack’s magical influence? Has marriage finally uncovered your work ethic?’

‘If my work ethic involves eating wedding cake from unlikely places – not like that , Miks – then you might just be right. If you mean am I likely to be willing to stay until 9 p.m. to attend a four-hour school performance of Annie for you, then no, I’m afraid my marriage certificate has not yet altered the fact that I still prefer home to school. Just. Much as you’re the best boss in the world, Benni.’

Benni, head of Science, smiled at me, then gave me a hug. ‘Don’t tell the Head about the prosecco. Anyway, I’ve given them a blow-by-blow of the actual wedding, so everyone can pretend they were actually there. I told them about the ceremony, your outfit, how drunk the priest got, how you punched a barman, how that fire spread so fast—’

‘I’m sorry you guys couldn’t all be there,’ I laughed.

‘ You didn ’ t invite us !’ called Miks.

‘But that’s it now. We eat this cake, we open these gifts – thank you, by the way – and then all of life is as before. Ok?’

A look passed between Benni, Miks and the dozen other Science teachers and technicians.

‘What? What’s happened?’

‘Nothing’s happened,’ soothed Benni. ‘But, darling, we’d all just like to take a moment to remind you what a great sport you are.’

‘Oh god.’

She led me back around to my space in the Science office, where the computer screen, keyboard, back and top of my desk were papered with ‘Mrs Bestwick’ signs, in a hundred different fonts and colours. I wanted to cry and set the desk alight immediately, but I threw my hands up and shrieked, laughing and shaking my fist at them. I left most of it there for the rest of the day.

I managed to escape comment throughout the day, but in my Year 11 class after lunch, my most promising and least delivering student put her hand up and said, ‘Miss Lewis! Miss Lewis! I heard you got married, Miss.’ At least my students didn’t think it was funny to call me by Jack’s surname, even if he did.

There was a buzz around the classroom: teachers aren’t supposed to have lives, eat meals and go shopping, let alone get married, which is so inextricably linked with sex. The thought of your teacher doing it with someone is enough to start a riot.

‘I did, Michaela.’

‘Why, Miss?’

Of all the questions, this was the last one I was expecting. I’d expected a barrage of Did I take a helicopter? Did I go in a carriage? Did I have a bridezilla meltdown? Was there a fight? But this …

‘That’s enough, Michaela. This is a Physics lesson, not a Facebook status update.’ The class hissed its approval.

‘Ooh, you got burnt by Miss …’

And that was the only mention I got all day. I felt like I had somehow got away with something.

By six o’clock, everyone had gone except me and Benni. She came over and perched at the edge of my desk, fingering the tattered ‘Mrs Bestwick’ print-outs.

‘You did well.’

‘Did I leave them up too long?’ I asked, indicating the celebratory remnants strewed around my desk. ‘Should I have taken them off sooner?’

‘No, that would have been too obvious. If I had medals to give, you’d be next in line, darling. After my mother, obviously, and possibly after my poor sons, but you’d certainly be on the shortlist.’

‘If I open my mouth can you tell me if I’ve any teeth left at all, or just stumps?’

‘It’s fine. People just like to make assumptions, particularly after something as black and white as a wedding. Give it another week and they’ll all be expecting the patter of tiny feet.’

‘And “oh my god, your babies would be beautiful” …’

‘I know, I know, we had the same. But with added, “And which one of you would be the mum?”’ She took my hand. ‘And yes, I know you haven’t changed your name. It was just Miks’s little joke. Ok?’

‘Yes, boss.’

‘Now, are you coming for a Monday night cocktail or do you need to ask your hubby for permission?’

‘You might have been my “mentor” – your words, not mine, I might add – since I started teaching, but—’

‘If you don’t know I’m joking then I’m going to have to put you up for a very long and boring disciplinary procedure.’

‘Drinks are on you then.’

‘Drinks are on me, darling.’

It was half ten before Benni and I had finished at the bar – departmental stuff had come up that required intense discussions over many glasses of melon daiquiri – and my entry into the flat was noisier than I’d intended. Smash! The front door. Crash! A low bookcase falling over. Crunch! The pile of recycling I was going to lie on for juuust a second.

‘Shhh,’ I recommended.

‘Zo, is that you?’ Jack called from the sofa.

If I stay quiet, he won ’ t know it ’ s me , I thought.

‘Zo, if that’s not you, it’s a woefully clumsy burglar and I’ll need to actually get up and do something about it.’

Shhh , I thought again.

Suddenly, Jack was standing over me.

‘Come on, you, let’s get you to bed.’

‘Bossy,’ I muttered, as he pulled me up and half walked, half carried me to bed. He removed my clothes, but as he tried to tuck me in I wrapped my arms around him, suddenly amorous.

‘Stay with me,’ I groaned.

‘I’ll get you a pint of water, then I’m coming to bed, ok?’

‘I don’t want a pint of water, I want you.’

‘You’ll want a pint of water when you wake up in three hours’ time, Zo.’

‘Yes, but I want you now ,’ I said, closing my eyes to give them a rest.

When I woke up again at 2 a.m., my mouth tasted like the sole of my shoe, and Jack was snoring next to me. There was a time, even a month ago, when he would have been with me tonight. He’d have been out, I’d have been out, we’d have eventually met up on our routes and we’d only just be getting in now. There might even have been dancing, Monday night be damned.

I wanted to wake him up and ask him why that hadn’t happened tonight, but when I rolled over into a sitting position I realised I wanted to die instead, and any heart to hearts would just have to wait until I was able to sit up without vomiting, or had actually died, whichever came first. In my Magic 8-Ball brain, I thought about work tomorrow and came up with ‘OUTLOOK NOT SO GOOD’. I’d email Benni and see if she’d mind telling the Head I’d passed on.