Page 82 of Christmas at the Movies
At the moment, the only stories Sarah was telling were of the bedtime variety.
Once on the train, Sarah checked her bag to make sure she’d packed her medication. James had taken her to the GP the day after her meltdown and the doctor had diagnosed post-partum anxiety. Apparently, it was more common among women, such as Sarah, who had experienced miscarriages and traumatic births.
The medication had already helped enormously, but so had the army of friends James had rallied to provide support. Ian had brought them casseroles for dinner. Pari and Meg called every day to see how Sarah was doing. Roger agreed to do extra shifts at the cinema to ease the burden on James. And Nora and Simon had come over to babysit so Sarah could nap.
‘It feels so weird,’ said Sarah. ‘To be out and about without any little ones in tow.’
‘I’m glad to have you all to myself,’ said James, taking her hand.
Sarah rested her head on her husband’s shoulder and dozed for most of the journey, waking up just as they were pulling into Paddington.
‘I still can’t believe Pari lives in such a posh house,’ said Sarah when they arrived at the house Pari had nicknamed the ‘Pink Palace’. As a stand-up comedian, Pari had been so broke that she used to steal tea bags and toilet paper from the BBC.
They found a bottle of champagne chilling on the kitchen counter and a note from Pari.
Make yourselves at home – and have fun! xxx
James removed the foil and popped the cork. He poured two glasses.
Sarah took a sip, relishing the taste of the fizzy wine. She didn’t need to worry about her milk for two whole days.
‘Here’s to your health.’ said James, touching his glass to hers.
Sarah took a big gulp of her champagne. She had never been so grateful to have her health back. ‘Thanks for making me go to the doctor,’ she said. ‘I’m sorry I was such a basket case.’
James set his glass down and pulled her close. ‘You never need to apologise for being ill, Sarah,’ he said. ‘Forbetter, for worse, in sickness and in health – that’s what we promised each other on our wedding day.’
Over the past decade, their marriage vows had been tested by the strain of opening a cinema, becoming parents and losing a loved one. But Sarah adored her husband even more than she had as a bride. The stresses they’d faced together had made their love grow stronger.
James went over to the window and looked out. They were a stone’s throw away from Portobello Market and all of Notting Hill’s trendy cafés and restaurants. ‘The world’s our oyster – what do you fancy doing today?’
Sarah considered all their options. They could go to a gallery. Or go Christmas shopping. They could have cocktails in a fancy bar or take a long walk along the river. ‘You know what I’d really like to do … is see a movie.’ Despite owning a cinema, she hadn’t been to see a film in months.
James grinned at her. ‘And that is why you are the perfect woman.’ He took out his phone and looked up the film times.
They decided to see a Japanese film calledTokyo Godfathersat the Prince Charles.
Afterwards, for old times’ sake, they went out for Chinese food at Wong Kei. London had changed a lot since they’d left for the Cotswolds – people whizzing around on Boris Bikes and construction for the Olympics in full swing – but some things remained the same. The restaurant’s portions were still enormous and the servers reassuringly grumpy.
And just as they had on their first date, they talked about the movie they had just seen – an animated story about a motley trio who rescued a baby girl from the trash on a cold December night.
‘It’s so sad to think anyone would do that to a baby,’ said James.
‘I felt sorry for her,’ admitted Sarah.
‘The baby?’ asked James.
‘No,’ said Sarah. ‘The woman.’ In the film, the baby had been snatched – and then abandoned – by a woman crazed with grief after a stillbirth. Sarah remembered how distraught she’d been after her miscarriage. She also knew all too well how hormones could mess with your mind.
She’d felt sorry for the baby’s mother too, desperately worried about her missing child.
She was no longer plagued by irrational anxiety, but the fear of losing a child would never go away. It was every parent’s worst nightmare.
Thinking of her own baby at home, she pulled out her phone to check for any messages from her mum.
All fine here. Hope you and James are having fun.
‘All good?’ asked James.
