Page 40 of Dancing Fools and All That Jazz
‘So, do you have any spare rooms for the next three nights?’
Ingrida scans my face hopefully as I listen to the reply and say a brief, ‘Merci. Au revoir,’ before ending the call.
I shake my head. ‘Fully booked. Oh, and get this, the receptionist explained it was due to the large dancing competition taking place at theOpéra Bastillethis weekend…’
‘No shit.’ Ruby snaps her phone away and stands up. ‘I reckon we need a stiff drink.’
‘I need to go and tell Fay. Her phone is on the blink, but I have my charger here.’ I reach for it from inside my handbag. ‘I am sure she would rather book the hotel. Watch my case. I will go and give this to her.’
I squeeze my way down the moving train past all the standing passengers. Amazingly, Fay has managed to find probably the only empty seat in the furthest compartment. I sense from the glare on the face of the young man next to her that Fay had made him move all his belongings in order to free up the seat. He has a huge number of bagsnow both on his lap, on and under the table and spilling into the corridor. Fay steadfastly ignores him as I quietly report my findings.
‘Thank you, Asha. I am not surprised. Why would Janine book our hotel if she had no intention of booking our flights? I will look for somewhere. Now that I have managed to procure a seat,’ – she pauses to throw the young man a disdainful sneer – ‘and now I have the charger,’ – she leans across the man to plug it into the table socket – ‘I will make it my mission to get us accommodated. Thankfully, you can usually reserve hotels without having to pay up front.’
‘I hope we can find somewhere.’
‘Oh, Paris is a big place. There will be a hotel with space for us all, I am sure.’
I hope she is right; I do not fancy spending the night on the streets of Paris.
‘Thanks, Fay. Let us know how you get on via the chat group and hang onto the charger. I do not think I will be able to make my way back up the train a second time.’
There had been no sign of Monica in any of the carriages I have traversed, so I glance through the glass of the door into first-class beyond Fay’s coach and spot Monica sitting in a large, almost empty area. I wave, but she does not see me. She is using what looks like herhusband’s card to pay her upgrade to the ticket inspector.
All right for some.
As I battle my way back to the buffet car, I think about Monica. She has very symmetrical features and, I have to say, perfect teeth – I wonder who her dentist is – but she is quite distant and aloof. I thought we would get to know one another better when she helped Ma make the saris for our costumes, but she remained quiet and completely wrapped up in the sewing. It is hard to see how she and Ruby, seemingly so different, had such a close relationship – I guess what Ma would call chalk and cheese. I wonder who has caused the fall out, Monica or Ruby? Perhaps Ruby will tell us.
Cath and Bonnie are sitting cross-legged next to each other in the aisle of the crowded car next to the buffet car and have to stand to let me pass. They are laughing aloud and Cath bursts into song on and off. I can see they are getting annoyed looks from the weary passengers who are either putting on their headphones to block out the noise or shaking their heads in an irritated manner.
When I finally get back, Ruby presents me with a can of gin and tonic. Ingrida tentatively raises her can to me and Ruby raises a plastic cup filled with red wine.
‘Sorry, I do not drink.’ I hand back the can.
‘Would you like a tea or coffee?’
‘No, thank you. To be honest, I feel a little nauseous.’
‘It’s the motion of the train. Renowned for it.’ Ruby hands me a bottle of water instead. ‘I got you this too.’
‘Thanks.’
She opens the can of gin and tonic, saying, ‘Shame towaste this.’
To my surprise, she continues to sip both her red wine, which she must know is very bad for staining teeth, and the gin.
Ingrida only has the odd sip from her tin. From the grimace on her face, I am not sure she likes it and I think she has only accepted it so as not to offend Ruby.
‘Tell us more about your fiancé, Asha?’
‘I have been with Jay for almost six years. I cannot imagine being with anyone else.’
‘You find love at first sight?’ Ingrida asks.
‘Wow, you’re a romantic, Ingrida.’ Ruby smiles.
‘Jay and I were in the same classes at university and became good friends first. It was more a gradual realisation we were meant for each other.’
‘Was it love at first sight with you, Ingrida?’ Ruby asks.
