Page 16 of The Notecard
‘What are you doing tonight?’ I ask, but before Hugh can answer, my laptop beeps and there’s a Facetime request from Laura. ‘Sorry it’s my sister.’
‘No, no, it’s fine, please go ahead,’ says affable Hugh. He is very affable.
I join Facetime and in a second Laura appears on screen.
‘Meg, I’m trying to do a group Facetime with Mum,’ says Laura quickly.
‘Okay,’ I say, taking a sip of my tea.
I see Laura is at home. Simon is in the background doing something behind her.
‘Hello, Simon,’ I say.
‘Hello,’ says Simon briskly. He’s bending over. He walks across, smiles, gives Laura a kiss on the cheek, waves at me and then says goodbye.
‘Okay, don’t do anything. I’m going to get Mum on here too,’ says Laura.
‘What’s the occasion?’ I ask.
‘Wedding stuff. We have cake tasting next weekend, and we need to discuss the hen weekend. Right, stop talking, and I’ll get Mum.’
I look across at Hugh. He smiles at me and I smile back. I wanted to spend this time scrolling through Beth’s Instagram and thinking about my round-the-world trip. I want to buy my ticket this week. I’m going to visit STA Travel, the one on Ludgate Hill where I got the brochures, and ask them some questions. I know my route. I just need to get it booked. Once that is done, I think I’ll start telling people. I need to buy the ticket to make it seem real.
‘Okay, Meg, still there?’ says Laura.
‘Still here.’
The screen changes and Mum appears suddenly. Well, Mum’s chin appears.
‘Mum you need to do something, we can only see your chin,’ says Laura.
‘Oh, right, sorry. I’m not very good at technology and all that,’ says Mum.
‘Pointing a camera at your face isn’t technology,’ says Laura sharply.
‘Hello, Mum,’ I say.
‘Oh, Megs, hello,’ says Mum. ‘It’s amazing isn’t it? We’re all at home and yet we can all see each other? The modern world, eh?’
‘Still just your chin, Mum,’ says Laura.
I look across at Hugh. I smile at him and he smiles back before taking a sip of tea.
‘Who’s that? Who are you smiling at?’ says Laura.
‘Oh, it’s just Hugh.’
‘Whose Hugh?’ says Laura.
‘Keri’s friend? Boyfriend? Hugh.’
I’m not sure if they have defined their relationship yet. Hugh gets up and walks over. He bends down so he can see Laura and Mum’s chin.
‘Hello,’ says Hugh.
Laura suddenly changes and she’s smiling.
‘Hello, Hugh, I’m Laura, Meg’s sister. I’m getting married to Simon in August. Mum, we can still only see your chin. You need to move or something.’
