I’m pondering whether or not to tell her, when Madison justblurts it out. ‘You do realise you’ve got your jumper on inside out, Prim?’
Primrose looks startled.
‘It’s okay,’ adds Madison, grinning. ‘We’re all friends hereif you want to get undressed!’
I’m expecting Primrose to laugh, but she looks quitepanicky. And instead of brushing it off with a joke or pulling her jumper off,she picks up her drink and gulps the rest of it down.
Catching my eye, she puts down the glass and gives me anervous little smile, something which Madison doesn’t notice because she’salready jumping up to pull a pair of jeans she’s spotted from the pile ofclothes. Everyone is laughing and chatting and trying things on in front of themirror. I seem to be the only one noticing Primrose’s vacant look as she staresinto her empty glass.
‘Oh, Primrose, I bought you a present,’ says Jaz, comingover. ‘She plonks herself down in Madison’s empty seat and hands Primrose aplastic bag. ‘I know from experience that the new baby gets all the gifts andattention, but the poor mum tends to be completely sidelined! So...time to pamper yourself!’
Primrose puts the bag on the table in front of her with aslightly puzzled look.
Wondering if she’s going to open it, I lean forward alittle. ‘Ooh, how exciting. A present!’
Primrose blinks a few times. Then she reaches for the bag andpulls out the contents: a bath-time gift set that includes a scented candle.She holds it up so that I can see it.
I smile. ‘Ooh, lovely. You’ll be able to switch off andtotally relax. I bet you haven’t been able to do much of that lately.’
Jaz laughs. ‘How true.’
Primrose looks at Jaz and starts laughing herself. ‘Howtrue,’ she repeats, and carries on laughing, although to me, the sound is quitejarring. I’m also vaguely aware that she hasn’t thanked Jaz for the kindthought.
‘Another drink, Jaz?’ calls Ellie, waving a bottle of wine,and Jaz leaps up to join her, leaving me alone with Primrose.
I try to engage her in conversation but somehow, I don’tfeel as if I’m getting through to her. She answers all my questions politely,but she seems tense, and after about half an hour of watching the trying-onsession, she suddenly gets up and announces she needs to get back.
Everyone crowds around her at the door, making plans to meetup or have coffee at her place.
‘Where’s Fen?’ Ellie looks around. ‘Hang on, Prim. She’llwant to see you before you go.’
Jaz points at the kitchen. ‘She’s probably in there, tidyingup.’
We all troop to the counter and go through the back. Thekitchen door is closed and when Ellie opens it, we all gather round, staring atthe sight confronting us.
Fen is bending over the island, spoon in hand. She’s chewingfuriously, a rapt smile on her face as if she’s found paradise. For a fewseconds, she’s so engrossed, savouring the creamy chocolatey taste, she doesn’teven realise we’re there as she digs into the cherry chocolate gateau foranother mouthful.
Madison coughs and Fen looks up, her face a picture ofguilty horror.
I’m half-expecting her to deny everything, like a childcaught in the act, but it would be pretty useless given there’s a large dollopof whipped cream gracing her upper lip.
‘Shut up, shut up, shut up!’ she squeals, as we stareat her in astonishment. Quickly shoving the remains of the cake on anotherbench, she pops a cover on top of the plate then pushes it firmly out of reach.
Amid the teasing that follows – even Fen sees the funny side– I look around for Madison. But she’s escaped into the café and is bendingover the counter, going red in the face with the effort of keeping her gasps oflaughter to a minimum.
*****
As Primrose is leaving, Jaz calls, ‘You’ve forgotten yourbath stuff,’ and she hurries to the door to hand it over.
‘Thank you so much, Jaz.’ Primrose beams around at everyone.‘So lovely to see you all and I’ll catch up with you very soon.’
‘Say hello to Sam,’ calls Katja, but Primrose is alreadywalking away and doesn’t seem to hear her.
Everyone returns to the clothes pile, pulling out moregarments to try on, but I remain by the window, watching Primrose thoughtfully.Was I the only one who noticed her big smile vanish the instant she turned herback on everyone? I know a lot about putting on a brave face and pretendingeverything’s fine. I’ve been doing that with Dad ever since I returned from thehospital. The fake smile that says,Hey, of course I’m fine. Don’t worryabout me. Look, I’m smiling, so I must be okay!
I watch her as she plods across the green, head down,shoulders hunched in her big coat. The bath set slips from under her arm andshe stops and picks it up. She studies it for a moment as she walks on, and Ithink what a lovely gesture it was of Jaz’s to think of Primrose like that.Hopefully, it’s cheered her, to think she has such good friends.
But next thing, my mouth falls open.
