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Melanie shot a look at Louisa. ‘Are you serious?’
‘A glowing review calling us a wonderful fit to an amazing community, and a must-see venue for all wannabe influencers. The food was paired so perfectly with the drinks that the reviewer said they will come back to sample more.’
‘Why didn’t you tell me?’
‘I only found out yesterday and I wanted us to really be able to celebrate. But I think you need to know now. You did that, we did that, well, the whole team. But we are co-owners of Manchester’s newest and most loveliest bar. You did that, Mel. You are not helpless. You practically co-parent Alfie. You navigate the relationship between your mum and your sister like a goddam miracle worker. Not to mention that bloody art project and the way you handle the Neighbourhood business stuff. Mel, I . . .’ Melanie was surprised to see Louisa’s eyes water. ‘I couldn’t have done any of this without you and that miracle app of yours.’ Louisa sniffed. ‘But no crying, that’s not my style. You can go for it though.’
Melanie smiled. ‘Gee, thanks.’
‘Come on, Mel, tell me what’s wrong so we can fix it and start celebrating.’
‘Oh that bloody app,’ Melanie said, and just like that the floodgates opened and the tears flew and so did the words. ‘I accidentally gave Paige full access to the app, not just the art stuff — everything. She had access to our work one, to my personal one. Oh, and the best bit, she was broken, and I somehow fixed her, and so she used all the things on the app that she could do and fixed them. The prosecco fairy, was her. The rucksack; I knew it was new. The social media boom from Sophie, Polly and Mya was because Paige had seen we were struggling. All because she felt guilty.’
‘I’m not understanding — what on earth did you fix?’
‘She’s a psychic or some shit, or she was, then she wasn’t but then I fixed it. But the point is I knew none of it. I knew absolutely nothing of any of it. What do I actually know about Paige? I know that her mood changes faster than we get through prosecco. She’s been grumpy, or she’s been trying to get in my pants. I know nothing of any importance. She never really opened up to me, in any meaningful way. And yet . . .’ Melanie finally slowed down to catch her breath. ‘And yet I know enough that my heart is breaking and I feel betrayed, but worse than that, I feel like helpless Mel again. Like I need to be saved. That’s not who I was, and it isn’t who I want to be.’ Melanie sniffed.
‘What should she have done?’ Louisa asked.
‘She should have told me she was broken, she should have told me when I accidentally gave her full access to my whole entire life with that app.’ Melanie felt the hurt turn to a more powerful and hot anger in her belly.
‘And what would you have done?’ Louisa asked, her tone level and calm.
‘What?’
‘Well, we both know what she should have done, but no one’s perfect. So, I’m interested, what would you have done? Would you have told a person you didn’t know that you were broken in some way?’
‘Well, no.’
‘Hmm.’ Louisa raised her eyebrows.
‘Whose side are you on?’
‘Yours. Of course. But I’ve never seen you as happy as when you’re with Paige, and I don’t even get to see it all that often. But when I see you at work I can tell when you’ve been with Paige or when you’re about to see her. And yes, you don’t need rescuing, you’re not helpless, but you are terrible at looking after yourself, and from what you’ve told me there has been at least three occasions where she’s made sure you were eating properly, and I have to say I’m a little bit grateful to her for that. I’m always trying to get people to feed you here, but you scare them away.’ Louisa laughed, but Melanie scowled.
‘I’m an adult. A fully grown up, tax-paying adult.’
‘Who sometimes makes questionable decisions just like the rest of us.’ Louisa nodded.
Melanie’s phone rang and for a split second her heart expanded at the thought that it might be Paige, but it wasn’t. And Melanie didn’t have time to mull over her reaction. She picked up. ‘Hey.’
‘Mel, sorry to mither you but Councillor Houghton and Selena are here. I’ve shown them to a table.’
‘Thanks, Cleo, we’ll be there right now.’ Melanie hung up her phone. ‘We don’t have time to unpack all of this. You need to go and make small talk while I try and sort out the mess that is now my face.’ Melanie sighed and held her face in her hands for three seconds. ‘Right, come on then. Business mode.’ Melanie put her phone in her bra and stepped out the car. She got to the staff toilet and saw herself in the mirror. Sophie was right that really was a good waterproof mascara. But the concealer was no match for the dark circles under her eyes.
‘Shit. Shit!’ Melanie’s head was a mess and she just hoped Louisa would be able to get through this meeting because in that moment, Melanie wasn’t sure how much more she could take. Taking a deep breath, she straightened her spine and tried a smile. Yeah, forget the smile. Professionally neutral was probably the best she could manage. And so Melanie stepped out the loos and made her way to the table where no doubt some new drama was about to unfold.
‘Ah Melanie. Good to see you. I don’t have long so I’ll just cut straight to it.’ Melanie nodded and then looked around until Cleo caught her eye and non-verbally she asked for a drink.
‘Selena, have you and Councillor Houghton met?’ Melanie asked.
‘Oh yes,’ Selena said laughing, ‘we’ve met a number of times to discuss funding, haven’t we?’
‘Yes, and I’m still looking over your latest proposal.’
‘Of course.’ Selena’s nod was serious but Melanie got the sense there may be no love lost between the two of them.
‘Anyway, two things. The first one, this noise order is absolute nonsense. Ignore it. The other contender for these premises has a bee in their bonnet about being unsuccessful and instead of moving on they keep contacting me and trying to make completely unfounded accusations. This is just their latest attempt.’
