Page 112 of Just Do It
‘I know so!’ she said, taking my arm. ‘And don’t worry if the odd one falls asleep. They do that from time to time. Don’t take it personally.’
‘You must have read my mind.’
‘I read your face,’ she replied, laughing. ‘Anyway, I’d better stop hogging you and let you mingle and revel in the success of all this.’ Professor Kareski spread her arm to encompass the exhibition as she spoke, her colourful Bakelite bangles clacking together. She gave me another hug then turned and disappeared into the throng of chatter and laughter, the sounds echoing in the crisp, new space that was everything and more we had hopedit would be. Finn had promised that the build would go to plan, and he’d been as good as his word.
My thoughts drifted across the ocean to where he was now furthering his career. Had that move led to a new relationship too? I knew it would only take one question to Greg to find out… No! If it had, then what did it matter? We were no longer together. Our relationship had been a flash in the pan. The result of too much champagne and pure lust. There was no way that it could have lasted. Even though, in private moments, I still wished so hard that it had.
‘There you are!’ Colette jolted me from my thoughts and swept me up into a huge hug. ‘This looks amazing! I’ve no idea what most of the exhibits signify, but it all looks brilliant!’
‘Thanks,’ I replied, laughing. ‘I can do you a private tour sometime, if you like?’
‘Really?’ Greg’s eyes lit up as he hugged me too. ‘That’d be amazing, wouldn’t it, Col.’
‘Yes, we’d love it.’
I smiled at the familiar shortening of my friend’s name, a privilege that, in all the time I’d known her, only I had been given. It would be so easy to wish I’d never gone out that night, never met Finn. But the biggest and best reason I didn’t regret that night was that it had brought these two people together. Colette had never been as happy as she was with Greg and, as far as Finn had been concerned, Greg felt the same. The love they had for each other practically radiated from them. It was really quite nauseating – but only when I was in a bad mood. Most of the time it was absolutely wonderful.
‘I just need to pop to the loo. Can you look after him for a moment?’ Colette asked me.
‘I’ll try not to lose him.’
My friend grinned then strode off across the hall on her sky-high ultra-thin stilettos, garnering admiring glances as she didso. I looked up to see Greg’s eyes following her, a smile on his lips.
‘You’ve got that dopey look on your face again.’
He let out a laugh. ‘I know. I can’t help it. Which brings me to something else. Can I ask you a favour?’
‘So thank you all for being here tonight.’ Inis finished her speech. ‘And enjoy the exhibition!’ A round of applause echoed in the hall as I walked up to meet Inis coming off the small dais that had been put in place for her presentation.
‘Was that OK?’ she whispered.
‘Perfect. Can I borrow the mic for a minute?’
I looked out at the sea of faces that had begun to turn towards me, some of them a little irritated that their soiree and unlimited champagne was being interfered with yet again.
‘Good evening. I apologise for interrupting your evening but this won’t take long. Tonight there is a very special guest here.’
The crowd began looking a little more interested now, casting glances left and right trying to spy who it might be. Colette gave me a silent ‘Ooh’ and peered at the gathered throng.
‘Colette? Would you mind joining me up here?’ Her head swivelled forward and her eyes locked on to mine, confusion writ large on her face. She didn’t move. ‘Hurry up, woman!’ I laughed, jolting her out of her shock. The crowd made a clear path and I held out a hand to assist her and her mad shoes onto the tiny stage.
‘What are you doing?’ she whispered, forgetting in her daze that the mic was on. A ripple of amusement drifted over the guests.
‘I have someone here who wants to ask you something.’ With that, I kissed her cheek, gave her a massive hug and stepped back. Greg held out his hand to help me step down and I handed him the mic. Behind me, Colette already had her hand to her mouth, tears glinting in her eyes.
‘I’ll go and get a box of tissues,’ I said.
He nodded his thanks, gave me a quick hug and took to the stage. It was cramped but to his credit, he made it work, getting down on one knee and taking her hand. I glanced around as everyone watched and listened. It wasn’t only Colette who needed tissues now.
‘Oui!’ Colette cried, sobbing now. ‘I mean, yes! Yes, yes, yes!’
A huge cheer went up as the applause broke out, accompanied by whoops and more cheers.
‘Shame they weren’t that enthusiastic about my presentation,’ Inis said, catching my elbow and laughing as she dabbed at her eyes.
‘Thanks for letting this happen.’
‘Why wouldn’t I?’
