Page 106 of The Happy Hour
‘True,’ Jess said. ‘But I don’t think Felicity was expecting to be swamped. This is more cathartic for her than anything. And it’s good for us, being here all together.’
‘Let loose from the market,’ Susie said with a smile. ‘I’m in charge of the blanket collection, and I already know that I’m going to end up buying whatever’s left. I can use them in my new Better Babies designs.’
Jess narrowed her eyes at Felicity, who was on the other side of the room, laughing at something Olga was saying. ‘I wonder why she put you in charge of the soft furnishings.’
Susie gasped. ‘You don’t think—’
‘I do,’ Jess said. ‘Roger’s in charge of the jewellery, and I noticed a few elegant watches on that table. If there are no takers, then...’
‘That sly old feline,’ Susie said, with a mixture of annoyance and respect that nearly dragged a laugh out of Jess. She went back to her blankets, and Jess smiled as a young couple approached her table.
‘Hello,’ she said. ‘See anything you fancy?’
The woman was blonde and smiling, and the man was handsome, with eyes that were a very particular shade of blue.
‘Let’s just have a look,’ the woman said. ‘Did you make these?’
‘I did. I sell them in a shop in the market, and online too. Today is a special sale.’
‘I’d quite like one of everything,’ the woman said with a laugh. ‘My parents live in Blackheath, and Jake and I are moving into a new flat, so we’re looking for some things to decorate it with.’
‘Afewthings,’ the man – Jake – added. ‘It’s about the size of this room, not the whole house. Hester’s getting a bit carried away.’
‘It’s more space than we had in New York.’ Hester gave Jake an adoring gaze that made Jess’s stomach twist with envy. ‘And look at this! Have you ever seen anything more perfect?’ She held up a frame, and Jess thought that the universe was really laughing at her now, because it was one of Ash’s quotes – the same one Peggy had bought that day in the shop.Flying isn’t as hard as itlooks, just make sure a part of you stays tetheredto the ground.
Jake laughed loudly, and a couple of people turned to look at him. ‘Flying isn’t as hard as it looks,’ he repeated. ‘You’re right: this has to go up on our wall.’ He took his wallet out, handed Jess a ten-pound note, then kissed Hester on the lips.
Jess busied herself wrapping the frame, and tried not to think about the very real possibility that she would never get to kiss Ash again.
When the band took a breather, Lola, Braden and Spade congregated at Jess’s table, drinking coffee and orange juice, and dissecting their set. Spade saw something over Jess’s shoulder, and his grin split his face.
‘My dudes,’ he said, as Enzo and Carolina came to join them. Enzo’s wife looked just the same as Jess remembered her, except that her dark hair was cut into a bob, tucked chicly behind her ears. Another woman, slightly shorter and slimmer than Carolina, could only be her sister.
‘Enzo, Carolina, hi,’ Jess said. ‘And you must be Sofia. It’s so lovely to meet you.’
‘You too.’ Sofia gave them all a shy wave.
‘Lovely Jess!’ Carolina wrapped her in a gentle, vanilla-scented hug.
‘And this is Lola,’ Jess said. ‘And Spade and Braden. They’re the Market Misfits.’
‘We can’t thank you enough for what you’ve done,’ Carolina said. ‘Sofia has admitted that she prefers making jewellery to organising teenagers. Our business of two is now a business of three.’
‘My hands were made for delicate work.’ Sofia waggled her long, thin fingers. ‘Sometimes the worst situations lead you in the right direction, eh?’
‘Absolutely,’ Lola said. ‘I’m going to buy a necklace to celebrate. Which pieces have you enjoyed making the most?’ As they talked, Enzo flashed Jess a carefree smile. It was the happiest she could remember seeing him.
They called time on the sale at three o’clock, when there hadn’t been any visitors through the door for half an hour.
‘Not too bad,’ Felicity said, surveying what was left. ‘Roger and I will sell the rest of the jewellery, then I’ve got a home clearance man coming round to give me a price for everything else I don’t want. I think he’s under the impression that Mrs Felicity Chester is deceased, and he’s coming to rake over her possessions.’
Susie looked aghast. ‘That’s horrible.’
‘It’s true, in a way,’ Felicity said. ‘The old Felicity Chester is gone, replaced by a shiny new version.’
‘I love both versions,’ Spade said, slinging his arm around her shoulder, his headlock-hug much more gentle than usual. ‘But this one has space for my guitar collection.’
‘We’re going to raise a toast,’ Wendy said, carrying a tray of champagne flutes into the living room.
