An announcement tells us the movie will start in ten minutes and Alice heads off to find the portaloos, giving me the chance to set up the surprise picnic dinner I packed. Ellie came over last night to help me prepare it all. Savoury muffins in baking paper wraps, stuffed peppers, a goats’ cheese salad. It looks pretty good all laid out now, even if being in the kitchen with Ellie was a terrifying experience. I’m still scarred by her shouting ‘Don’t scorch the peppers.’ ‘Chop it FINELY.’ Not sure my nerves have recovered from the stress yet.
‘Oh wow this looks so good! Did you make all of this?’ Alice asks.
‘I had a little help from Ellie.’
‘It’s lovely that you’re so close with your brother’s wife.’
‘They actually met through me,’ I say. ‘Ellie and I studied together at uni. She’s my best friend as well as my sister-in-law.’
Alice takes a plate and eagerly fills it with food, handing it over to me before making one for herself and licking her fingers. ‘Please tell her I said thank you. I love goats’ cheese.’ Her enthusiasm warms me like the sun, which has just started to set and is casting a golden glow over Alice. She looks luminous. As she pulls her jumper off, I catch the briefest glimpse of her belly button and I want nothing more than to graze my fingers along it.
‘Are you covering all possible weather bases with your outfit today? Thunderbolt jumper, rainbow T-shirt …’
‘Sunshine necklace,’ she adds, reaching for the delicate gold chain hanging under her T-shirt.
‘That couldn’t be more apt given that you are a ray of sunshine,’ I say.
‘Oh stop it,’ she grins, sighing contentedly. ‘I think this is the most perfect picnic I’ve ever had. Delicious food, one of my favourite movies about to start and the company isn’t too bad either.’
‘Steady there,’ I laugh. ‘My ego might not take any more. Okay, are you ready for a pop quiz?’
Alice claps. ‘Love a quiz. Can I eat at the same time?’
‘Of course. I’m going to throw someNotting Hillquotes at you and you can tell me who said them.’
Alice looks thrilled.
‘Who said … “whoopsidaisies”?’
‘Easy. William Thacker, played by Hugh Grant, as he struggled to get into the private park. Do I get extra points for detail?’
‘Sure,’ I say, pretending to mark down her score on an imaginary piece of paper. ‘Who said … “demi capu”.’
‘I love that guy! Martin from the bookshop, I think his name is James Dreyfus in real life?’
‘I’m impressed. “Surreal but nice”?’
‘William again.’
‘Very good,’ I nod.
I look over at her, leaning in intently. That competitive streak again. And I think, it’s now or never.
‘“I’m just a boy, standing in front of a girl, asking her to love him.”’
Alice pauses for a moment, looking puzzled. Then she shakes her head and says, ‘You got that the wrong way round. It’s Anna Scott, played by Julia Roberts, who says that. Remember? In the bookshop. She asks William to love her and he turns her down and it’s just the most painful bit of the whole film. So the quote is: “I’m just a girl,” etcetera.’
Deep breath.
‘What if I didn’t get it wrong? What if it’smetalking, now?’ I ask. ‘What if I’m saying to you, Alice, that I’m here in front of you asking you if you want to spend more time with me. I like you Alice. I completely respect that you don’t want to get in too deep, too soon but I’m trying to ask, very ineloquently, if you’d be up for seeing each other exclusively? Christ, where is Richard Curtis when you need him?’
Alice smiles at this.
Please say yes!
Never have I wanted to hear a person speak more.
This silence is spreading out like the Ice Age.
