Page 36 of One Golden Summer
“Hello!” Saffron waved her hand in front of Ginger’s face. “Milan? Designer dress? Your sister trying to help?”
If Saffron had stamped her foot, Kirsty wouldn’t have been surprised. She could picture them as sisters when they were younger, with a similar scene playing out.
“I’ve already sorted a killer dress from a boutique Kirsty recommended on the High Street, so no need for Milan or anything over the top.” Ginger’s voice softened. “I know you mean well, but I’m doing this my way.”
Saffron went to respond just as her phone rang. She checked it. Her shoulders hunched. Then she spun on her heel and walked off.
Ginger nodded towards her. “That’s her agent, Pearl. Saffron needs to sack her. Pearl only has Pearl’s interests at heart. Every time Saffron speaks to her, she hunches a little more. I want her to be happy, and it’s not going to happen with Pearl in the picture.”
They arrived at the front of the queue, and Ginger ordered three white coffees, which they took to a nearby outdoor table.
Saffron joined them after a few minutes.
“Everything okay?” Ginger asked.
Saffron put her phone on the table, along with her pad and pencil case. “Just Pearl. Movie stuff. The usual. I’d rather not talk about it.” She sipped her coffee. “Back to your party and the dress I won’t be buying you. Are you going to let me do anything for your party, or was it just lip service to shut me up?”
Ginger patted Saffron’s arm with her hand. “What about music? You could put a playlist together for me. You’re young and hip.”
Saffron snorted. “What I know about music you could write on the back of a postage stamp. But I can look into it.”
“I would love that.” Ginger was throwing Saffron a bone.
Lizzo’s latest track began to play through the café’s speakers. Saffron quirked an eyebrow. “I know Lizzo, met her at a party. I could ask her to play live! How awesome would that be?”
Ginger began to laugh, and it soon turned hysterical.
Saffron frowned. “What did I say?”
“Not Hollywood, Saff! I don’t want a famous singer. I just want normal music with normal people.” Ginger covered her heart with her palm. “For once, I want to be the star attraction, not anyone else.”
“Okay, I hear you.” Saffron drummed her fingers on the wooden table. “A live band, though? Does that meet your approval?”
Ginger scrunched her forehead before nodding. “Do some research. Run some by me. I don’t mind a live band. So long as it’s not a 15-piece orchestra flown in from New York. Or Maroon 5.”
Saffron’s face spelled affronted. “I’ve gotsometaste.”
Chapter 12
“Ican’t believe the view.” Ginger whistled, standing on Saffron’s veranda. “And, I can’t get enough of the sea air.” She spread her arms out, as if embracing her new way of life. “If I were you, I’d never want to live anywhere else.”
Saffron uncorked one of the bottles of red Kirsty had delivered. “It’s much more relaxing here than my place in London.”
Ginger, with a glass in hand, sat in one of the padded outdoor chairs with anoomph. “There was a time I’d never live anywhere else than London. Now, I can’t imagine going back.”
Saffron leaned against the wooden railing, facing her sister, a sense of tranquillity washing over her. “Do you think this is your forever place?”
“My forever place?” Ginger laughed, her eyes clouding over with nostalgia. “I haven’t heard that phrase in so long.”
“It used to be one of our staple conversations when we’d stay up late, unable to sleep because our parents had thirty of their closest friends over for after-dinner drinks that lasted until dawn.” Saffron let out an anguished sigh.
“I still feel like I’m catching up on lost sleep.” Ginger yawned, half-covering her mouth. “Do you remember the time Mum actually swung from the chandelier, pretending to be Tarzan after Dad wouldn’t take up the dare?”
“How could I forget? Who would have thought hundreds of crystals smashing to pieces could make such a deafening sound?” Saffron closed her eyes, her heartbeat speeding up. “When I had to film a scene that involved jumping off the side of a burning building, which was all staged, mind you, I froze on the first ten takes. I kept hearing the shattering of glass, followed by Mum’s screams.”
“How’d you finally jump?”
Saffron opened her eyes and gave Ginger a wistful smile. “I remembered you whispering in my ear that we’d never be like them. Irresponsible. Careless. Never thinking about the consequences. For them, it was all about being the life of the party and getting a laugh, to hell with the carnage.” Saffron set her glass down on the railing, her throat constricting. “To this day, I’m still kicking myself for not seeing the truth in the early years. Thinking how cool our parents were for being involved in the West End glitterati scene. All of their friends wanted to be like them. Rich. Fabulous. Adored.” She threaded her fingers and batted her eyelashes. “Idolised.”
