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Melanie tried to smile, but she could already see it in her head. Please God let Councillor Houghton have the answer to this one.
‘Right, my lovelies.’ Selena grabbed her drink and downed it in one go. ‘I’ll get that list together for you by the end of the day. Oh, actually you’d best give me your number Mel so I can contact you if anything comes up.’
Numbers were exchanged and before Melanie could really comprehend what had just happened, her cheek was kissed and Selena floated away, leaving behind a slightly citrusy scent, and that crystal for Melanie.
Melanie sat back down and played with the fringing on the cloth bag.
‘What can I do to help?’ Paige asked.
Melanie was about to respond with, ‘I don’t know,’ but a voice she hadn’t heard in two years interrupted.
‘Melanie! Is that you?’
Melanie felt her skin freeze, her heart slow to a solitary beat. She hadn’t even turned around yet, because she already knew.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Paige
Paige watched as Melanie shrank. Melanie had her back to whomever it was that was shouting, and while Melanie couldn’t see who it was, Paige could see who the shrill voice belonged to. She was leading a group of about five people and somehow Paige immediately knew who she was. She watched as Melanie turned around, and stood up, straightening her skirt and pushing up her glasses as she did so.
‘Melanie, it’s so good to see you.’
Melanie didn’t reply with words but allowed herself to be pulled into an embrace and her cheek kissed. There was a chorus of hellos from the rest of the entourage, but still Melanie hadn’t said a word.
‘I’d heard you finally got your business set up. You’ve been talking about it for years. You must be so excited. Louisa’s done such a great job, she always was a dedicated one. Is she here? I’d love to say hi to her too.’
Paige watched the interaction, looking out for clues and insights. The first thing she was picking up was the tone; she almost sounded sincere, but Paige had trouble believing it.
‘Did you hear? Pru and I are engaged.’ The woman that Paige just knew had to be Laura, Melanie’s cheating ex, thrust her hand under Melanie’s nose, as Melanie forced a smile.
‘Congratulations.’ Melanie’s voice and facial expression were neutral but her posture had changed and now Melanie was statue still.
‘After we parted ways, Pru and I reconnected and gosh when you know you just know.’ She looked back at Melanie, her smile all tucked in cheek, scrunched up nose and expressionless eyes.
‘Anyway, we were nearby and thought we’d stop in. We didn’t expect to actually see you in here, but now we have I’m sure you’ll be able to find us a table, right? It would be so good to catch up and find out how you’ve been since . . . well . . . you know.’
Paige had had enough. The Melanie that ran a business, cared for her nephew, that had a devoted staff team, that had won around Paige’s own ragtag group of friends in no time at all was nowhere to be seen. The Melanie that Paige knew had vanished, and it stung to witness this; a sharp pain right in her chest. Paige stood up, deliberately scraping her chair back and standing tall.
‘I’m Paige, who are you?’ She was deliberately arrogant in her own tone.
‘Oh, erm, hi.’ She’d faltered for a second but soon enough that big grin was back, the one that was all teeth and no eyes. ‘I’m Laura. A good friend of Melanie’s.’
‘Really? She’s never mentioned you.’ Paige’s tone sliced straight through the thin veneer of pretence.
‘Who are you to Melanie then?’ Laura asked, her smile nowhere to be found.
‘A good friend.’
‘And yet I’ve not heard of you either.’ Paige glared, unaffected as Laura’s shark-like smile returned. ‘But it has been a while. Why don’t we all sit together? It would be so lovely to catch up and to find out more about you, Paige.’
‘I don’t think—’ Paige began.
A polite cough interrupted them all. ‘Hi there, I’m Cleo the manager. I couldn’t help but overhear and I’m so sorry but unfortunately we’re all booked up today.’
Paige watched as Laura made a point of looking around the room, noting the empty tables with a raised eyebrow. ‘I’m sure Melanie can fit us in.’
‘I’m afraid we can’t. The tables are all booked.’ Cleo’s tone was completely professional, but brokered no debate. ‘And I apologise for the disruption, but if you reserve a table online, you can use this special code here’ — Cleo pulled out a flyer that had a written code on it — ‘and that will get you a thirty per cent discount when you come back again.’ Cleo had, unbeknownst to the group, subtly shepherded them out towards the door.
