Page 38 of Dancing Fools and All That Jazz
‘Monica, I am quite sure—’
‘No, not the hotel issue, look. A massive queue and roadworks ahead.’
We all groan, and I look anxiously at my watch. I find my heart is racing rather too fast and concentrate on doing some deep breathing.
We arrive on the platform, completely out of breath, just as the train is pulling into the station. The carriages are full, people standing in the aisles and at the end of each coach.
‘It’s packed.’ Bonnie shakes her head.
‘Well, at least we made it,’ counters Cath. ‘I’m for getting as close to the buffet car as we can.’
‘Good move, Cath,’ Ruby shouts and Asha laughs with them as they rush towards the buffet car to get on.
‘Remember, we will all meet up at the M&S food store outside the station.’ I try to make myself heard over the hubbub.
I cannot be sure if they heard me; they are all on what I can only describe as a high, their emotions completely unchecked as they shout and laugh to each other.
Well, I am certainly not standing all the way to London. My foot problem is exacerbated if I stand forlong periods of time, and I need them to be in top form to dance in Paris. Besides, I have a book I wish to read.
I set off down the crowded corridors, ignoring those who tut when I repeatedly say, ‘Excuse me.’ I will find a seat if I have to walk the length of the train, mark my words.
10
Asha
Once we have got over the euphoria of making the London train, I lean against the corridor wall of the buffet car next to Ruby and Ingrida and send Jay a message.
You are not going to believe this. I can barely believe it myself. Janine did not book our flights. Seriously. We did not find out until we got to the check-in desks. She has disappeared off the face of the Earth and we have no idea what she has done with our money. Anyway, we are still going. We managed to get Eurostar tickets and I am currently on the train to London. What a crazy rollercoaster. We still do not know if we have hotel reservations. I will call you when we get to Paris. Let Ma and Baba know what happened. Love you XX
‘Well, what a terrible turn of events,’ I say to the others.
‘I am still a little in shock,’ Ingrida replies.
‘You couldn’t make it up.’ Ruby shakes her head.
‘Where are the others?’
‘I think Bonnie and Cath, they are in next carriage,sitting in the aisle. I do not know where Monica and Fay have gone.’
‘What was Janine thinking?’
‘Probably what a bunch of frigging idiots we are.’ Ruby snorts.
‘She was always so quiet. Barely said a word. Jay is always saying to me, you cannot judge a book by its cover and in this case, it has proved true.’
‘I very much like this saying. I have picked up some awful books in the library, when I think they would be as good as cover.’ Ingrida smiles.
‘Who would have thought Janine was capable of doing such a terrible thing?’
‘But who knows anyone?’ Ruby purses her lips. ‘I mean for real?’
Ruby’s eyes are far away but then come back into focus as she adds, ‘I never really spoke to Janine. She was as quiet as a mouse.’
Ruby then perches on top of her upright case and turns her attention to her phone as she half listens, looking up every few minutes.
‘I spoke to her quite a bit – when she and I stayed to help Clarissa tidy the studio – although she did not tell me much,’ I tell Ingrida. ‘I mean, I was completely sympathetic when she told me about her mother the other year. It must have been just before the pandemic started.’
‘I hear she need full-time care,ja?’
