Penny Vincenzi - The Best Of Times

And there she was, Laura thought, waiting to feel all the ugly, angry things for this girl, this beautiful, sexy girl, in spite of her generosity towards her in the courtroom, this girl, smiling at the camera, laughing, dressed in shorts and a T-shirt and hugging the arm of her husband and saying, “Yes, that’s right, and none of this could have happened without the generosity of William and his parents in allowing it to be held on their land.”

“I imagine it could all have been pretty alarming to someone not used to these things,” said the interviewer, a rather uneasy-looking young man, dressed for some reason all in black.

“Oh, it was pretty alarming to all of us, used to them or not. Including William’s cows. But it’s all turned out brilliantly; we’ve earned shi-huge loads of money for the charity, and any minute now one of the newest, most exciting bands in the country is going to play So… go, BroadBand, go. And anyone in the vicinity, it’s not too late; come on down and join us. Thanks. Thank you so much.”

And funnily enough, Laura didn’t feel anything ugly at all, just a wave of relief that it was all finally over, the sadness and the bitterness, and a certain admiration for the new young Mrs. Grainger, who could so successfully turn tragedy into at least some kind of triumph.

“That looks fun,” said Daisy, looking rather wistfully at the camera, which was weaving now among the crowds, the bizarrely dressed young, fairies, nuns, angels, all dancing in the semidarkness, the children dancing too in circles, in and out of the tents and the barbecues, holding hands, and, “Look, there’s a whole family dancing there, and they’ve got sparklers, see? I wish we could go to a festival, Mummy; I’d really love that.”

“We will go, darling. Together. I’d like it too.”

It was Jonathan; he had come into the room and was standing beside the sofa, one hand on Laura’s shoulder. “If Mummy would like that.”

“Mummy would like it,” said Laura, not looking at him. “Maybe not that one, but…”

“No,” he said, “not that one,” and bent and kissed the top of her head. “All right?”

“Yes, I’m all right,” said Laura. And realised that at last she was.

“You did a grand job with this, Abi.”

Abi turned; it was Jazz, Merlin’s hugely sexy friend. How they could be friends, she wasn’t sure; she couldn’t imagine two people more different, but then, people still kept saying that about her and William…

“Thank you. Yes, I’m pretty pleased. It was Georgia’s idea in the first place, you know.”

“I do know. Now, there’s a sweetheart. Too good for Merlin, I keep telling her.”

“Really?”

“Well, you know. He’s seriously in love with himself. I’m well fond of him-I’d say he’s one of my best friends-but a little of him goes a long way; know what I mean?”

“I… think so,” said Abi carefully. “But he’s awfully sweet.”

“Course he is. Just… knows it, that’s all. But he’s all right.”

“Um… is the recording OK?”

“Yeah, it’s fine, darling. Sid, me little brother, he’s keeping an eye on it. Or rather an ear. Better go and check on him, I s’pose. See you later.”

“Shit. Look at that.” It was Georgia, her small face near to tears.

“Now what?”

“Look at that. Merlin and Lila. They’ve been dancing for ages…”

“So?”

“What do you mean, so? He’s my boyfriend.”

“So?” said Abi again. “You’ve been complaining about him for weeks. And he’s only dancing with her, for God’s sake.”

“Oh, I know. I’m sorry. I guess I’m just… confused. We do squabble an awful lot these days. It’s so sad.” She sighed. “Abi, what’s wrong with me? I can’t get it together properly with anyone. Even someone as lovely as Merlin.”

“I don’t know why you want to,” said Abi. “Half the country’s in love with you.”

“Oh, don’t be so ridiculous.”

“Yes. They are. You’re famous. What you’ve always wanted. You’ve got an incredible time ahead of you; you’ll probably be in Hollywood next…”

“Oh, right…”

“You will. You know what it is with you, Georgia? You just want so much. Fame, success, all that stuff. And you’re beginning to get it. Why don’t you just settle for that for a bit? Forget about lurve. You don’t have to marry Merlin, for God’s sake; you can just enjoy him. And then… well, let ‘then’ take care of itself. I would.”

“I s’pose you’re right,” said Georgia slowly. She sighed. “I do feel I’ve come rather a long way. Since I first set eyes on Merlin, fell in love with him.”

“You have. You’ve dealt with so much crap, had all this success; make the most of it. It may not last. And then you’ll kick yourself that you didn’t enjoy it more.”

“Yeah. Yeah, you’re right. Sorry, Abi. I’ve been a pain. As usual.”

“Well, that’s why we love you,” said Abi, grinning at her. “We’re used to it anyway. Oh, hi, Jazz. Everything OK?”

“Everything’s fine, yeah. Sid’s doing a good job. This is a great night, Abi. Congratulations are in order. Wondered if you’d like to come down and have a quick dance, Georgia.”

“I’d love to.”

“Right-o. Mind you, I’m a terrible dancer…”

“I’m sure you’re not.”

“Darlin’, I am. Not like our Merl. I know me limitations. Don’t mean I don’t enjoy it, though. Come on, then.”

He was all right, Abi thought, smiling, watching them go off. Dead sexy, funny, cool, with none of Merlin’s intense self-regard. Much more suitable for Georgia, really. Now she was doing it, trying to get Georgia settled. She shouldn’t be settled; she was a wild card, a loose cannon; she needed to make her own way. And she would. She really would.

“Right,” said Linda. “I’ve got a tent.”

“You haven’t.”

“Yes, I have. Look, it cost me fifteen quid, just like Abi said. Where shall we put it up?”

“There’s no room for it anywhere. You’ll be able to hear everybody else breathing, wherever it goes. Linda, do let’s leave and go to the hotel.”

“I don’t want to. I’m having an adventure. We’re having an adventure.”

“Oh, for God’s sake. The music, if you can call it that, is ghastly; it’s getting cold; I’m tired…”

“OK. You go. That’s fine.”

“You can’t stay here on your own,” said Alex irritably.

“Yes, I can. I’ll be fine.”

“Linda, you are not staying here on your own.”

“Well, I’m not leaving.”

“Oh, for fuck’s sake. Why do you have to be so bloody… dramatic?”

“I’m not being dramatic. I’m just entering into the spirit of the thing. Which, considering your hospital is going to benefit so much, I’d have thought you should too. You’re such a killjoy, Alex. You really are.”

“Well, thanks for that.”

He’d been waiting for her, not far from where Mary had been, on the far side of the small valley. He sat down in the grass, glared gloomily down at the arena.

“You know, sometimes I wonder if this is worth it.”

“What on earth do you mean?”

“Well… we only see each other for two days a week, sometimes less, the occasional evening, and when we do we fight. Where’s the joy in that?”

“I… don’t know. What are you trying to say?”

“That this is hardly an ideal existence, simply being together at the weekends. Maybe we should try again to find somewhere we can live together. Or… even… call it a day.”

“Do you really want to do that? Call it a day?” There was a shake in her voice.