Page 26 of Chocolate Cake for Breakfast
‘You did ask me that once.’
Maddy makes a face. ‘Okay, I’ll admit my diet could beimproved. But if Ididstart eating rabbit food again, I’d keep itquiet, farts included. And there’s no way I’ll ever turn into one of thoseannoying women who say, “Wedo this” and “Wedo that”, whilelooking very smug about being in a couple.’
‘What?’ Fen looks genuinely appalled. ‘I don’t do that. DoI?’
‘No, of course you don’t,’ laughs Ellie. ‘Maddy’s justwinding you up. But are you really eating raw veg and nothing else?’
Fen nods. ‘Fish sometimes, but yes, mostly fruit and veg.’She makes a face at Madison. ‘Just becauseyou’vegot the constantmunchies, doesn’t mean we’reallchamping at the bit to shove cake intoour face! Some of us actually have will-power.’
There’s a general murmur of approval and Jaz raises her hotchocolate at Fen. ‘You go, girl. I might even join you.’
I glance at Maddy. She looks a bit fed up at beingover-ruled, but one of the great things about Madison is that she doesn’t sulk.The storm in a teacup blows over quickly and she’s back to laughing and jokingalong with everyone else.
Meanwhile, Fen is telling us what she’s had to eat so fartoday. ‘A green smoothie for breakfast – that’s broccoli, celery, kale, ricemilk and spirulina with half a banana for a little natural sweetness – and thenfor lunch, we...I... had a hugesalad with ten different salad vegetables and some crushed nuts.’
‘Sounds painful,’ murmurs Maddy, and Jaz, hiding a smile,digs her in the ribs. But Fen thankfully didn’t seem to hear, anyway, and isnow describing in great detail the nut roast Rob cooked earlier for theirdinner.
‘Well, I think it sounds brilliant,’ says Ellie. ‘It makescomplete sense to look after yourself if you want to live a long and healthylife.’
‘Okay, okay, I give in,’ says Madison, holding up her handsin surrender with a smile. ‘You’ve got enormous will-power, Fen. And I havenone. I actually applaud you.’
Fen shoots her a suspicious look. ‘I’m waiting for thepunchline.’
‘Honestly, there is none. I really wish I could be thathealthy.’
‘Well, so you should!’ says Fen rather piously, pursing herlips. ‘I don’t want to be a party pooper, but it’s people like you, Madison,who end up overweight and diabetic, and then wonder why.’ She shakes her headand takes a virtuous sip of her water.
Madison doesn’t argue. She just sinks a little lower in herchair after Fen’s lecture, and I feel a pang of sympathy for my friend.
But she cheers up a bit when the wine starts to flow andeveryone starts choosing clothes to try on, parading in front of thefloor-length mirror that Ellie and Zak brought down earlier.
Once upon a time, I’d have joined in, laughing and chattingas much as everyone else, but tonight I prefer to just sit and observe. I makean excuse that I’m quite tired because of the medication I’m on and that I’mnot allowed alcohol and everyone accepts this without question, which allows meto sip my water and fade into the background, where I’m most comfortable thesedays.
At seven-thirty, my phone alarm goes off and I unpack mysnack – a banana and a little tub of flaxseeds. The alarm is quite loud, butthankfully the girls are having too much of a laugh to notice.
‘Where’s Primrose?’ asks Fen. ‘I thought she said she wouldget Sam to babysit.’
‘Not sure,’ says Ellie. ‘I haven’t seen her for ages, whatwith her being so busy with baby George.’
I’ve met Primrose once. I was walking along Sunnybrook HighStreet with Madison and we ran into her. Maddy introduced us and we chatted fora while. Primrose was really friendly with a lovely, sparkling personality, andI’m gathering from the conversation tonight that she gave birth to her baby sonjust before Christmas.
‘She’s probably too knackered to leave the house,’ pointsout Jaz. ‘I know what I was like when Emma was tiny. A sleep-deprived zombie.’
‘Actually, I bumped into her the other day in thenewsagent’s and she said motherhood was proving to be much easier than she wasexpecting,’ says Fen. ‘She said little George was sleeping through the nightand she felt absolutely fine.’
‘Wow. That’s amazing.’ Jaz nods approvingly. ‘Good for her.I must ring Primrose and take Emma over. She was fascinated last time she saw thebaby.’
‘Oh, speaking of Primrose. Here she is now,’ says Madison,looking out of the window.
There’s a big welcome for their friend and lots of askinghow she is. Primrose, who looks a little peaky (although maybe it’s the light)smiles broadly and says she’s feeling wonderful and that Sam’s at home withbaby George.
‘Drink?’ asks Fen.
‘Yes, please. A vodka and tonic?’
She sits down at the table with Madison and me, and as soonas Fen hands her the drink, she thanks her and takes a big glug of it, thencradles it in her hands. I notice she has her jumper on inside out.
Perhaps not quite as together as she’s making out, then?
