Page 115 of Alice Carver Manifests Her Perfect Life
‘I’m a bit uncomfortable with using “mental” pejoratively, Arrie,’ said Aziz.
‘Well said, Aziz,’ said Dad, reaching across for Aziz’s other hand.
‘Oh come on,’ said Arrie. ‘Mum, you’ll back me up? I mean it’s one thing having a mid-life crisis because you’ve got a big birthday coming up… ’
‘And quite another to go travelling,’ agreed Mum. ‘To Indonesia of all places. God, darling, haven’t you seenBangkok Hilton?’
‘Wrong country,’ said Astrid.
‘But she makes a bloody good point, Astrid,’ said Arrie. ‘Tell her, Roger.’
‘I loved Nicole Kidman in that,’ said Roger. ‘Pre the surgery. And I’ve always wanted to go to Bali.’
‘Fucking useless,’ said Arrie.
‘They’ll do bottom searches,’ said Mum, ‘mark my words. And they love the death penalty.’
‘I think we’ll be okay,’ said Astrid, meeting Aziz’s eye and smiling.
‘It’s so nice to see you two happy again,’ I said. ‘You’ll love Bali. When are you off, Astrid?’
‘Thirtieth of June.’
Mum looked panicked at the imminent reality and tried again. ‘Look, wouldn’t it be more sensible to have a couple of weeks in Spain, maybe even three?’
‘Not the same,’ said Astrid.
‘What about Verbier? Weren’t you planning a holiday there?’
‘We were. But we’re not now. We’re doing this.’
‘So presumably you’ll forget this whole medicine thing at least?’ said Mum.
‘I’m not sure,’ said Astrid. ‘Maybe I was a bit hasty looking to change my career. Maybe I just need a break. I guess I’ll, we’ll, reassess when I get home.’
Mum elbowed Dad. ‘Aren’t you worried Astrid’s going to destroy everything she’s worked so hard for?’
Aziz stroked the back of Astrid’s hand with his thumb.
‘She’s not destroying anything, Nell,’ said Aziz. ‘She’s exploring her options.’
‘Quite right,’ agreed Dad. ‘You only get one life.’
‘Bollocks,’ said Arrie. ‘You explore your options when you’re nineteen. And Bali! It’s bad enough that Alice thought it was acceptable to have gap years into her twenties but you’re forty next birthday, Astrid! Who has a gap year at forty?’
‘Us,’ said Aziz, calmly. ‘And strictly speaking, it’s a gapfour months. At the moment, our return flights are booked for 30 November.’
‘Maybe Alice had the right idea all along,’ said Astrid. ‘She made the most of her twenties. I spent my time working. And then my thirties doing the same. And what’s it all for? All the seventy-hour weeks, all the earning, all the stress. Do I just barrel on up the ladder until I retire?’
Arrie rolled her eyes. ‘Yes!’
‘I’m serious,’ Astrid insisted. ‘I’ve been so busy trying to succeed that I’ve never really had that time. For me.’
‘Yes, darling, and that’s why you’re successful. I mean, look at Alice.’ Mum inclined her head.
Everyone looked at me.
‘What can I say?’ said Mum. ‘I remember the day the head of St Hilda’s told me that Alice had the lowest maths score she’d ever seen in a child, but that with hard work anything was possible. Then she told me that Alice was also the laziest child she’d ever encountered. So obviously, given that, we’re proud of anything you’ve achieved, darling Alice.’
