Page 35

Adam

A glitterball hangs from the ceiling and music booms out in the venue’s café, which has been transformed into a dance floor.

I’m watching Walter do a circuit of the packed room.

He’s speaking to all the guests, including our nanny, Anna, who’s brought a gaggle of friends.

It’s incredible his son and daughter-in-law made it at short notice.

Harry became teary-eyed and repeated his dad’s line about the party being organised on a whim, but also admitted he’s whipped the older kids out of school and his wife has taken unpaid leave.

Why would they do that when it’s not his birthday or another special event?

And why did Sophie look as if she’d seen a ghost when she spotted Walter earlier?

They were talking earnestly away from everyone else, but by the end of their chat it looked as though a weight had lifted from her shoulders and she became more like her old carefree self.

She’s currently dancing with Wren and her classmates to Harry Styles’ ‘As It Was’ .

Walter joins them with Chico, his grandsons and Harry.

They make a big circle, clapping their hands as each one struts their stuff in the middle.

Hopefully, they don’t spot me lurking on the sidelines.

.. my dancing is as bad as my surfing. That could be due to my lack of co-ordination or because my limbs turn to liquid whenever I’m around Sophie.

‘Why are you lurking in the shadows?’ Ollie arrives, clutching drinks. ‘Your dancing is legendary, and don’t get me started on your karaoke skills. They deserve a wider audience.’

‘Erm, I’m sitting this one out, thanks.’

‘Shame. I fancied a laugh.’ He passes me a can. ‘The surfing was insane! Have you been in?’ He clinks his lager bottle against my Diet Coke; he’s calling a cab but I’m driving Wren home.

‘I’m surprised you missed the spectacle. You’d have found it hilarious.’

‘Remind me how you got us all in for free today? It’s that old guy, right? The one dancing with the pretty girl over there?’

I nod, taking a slow sip. ‘That’s right.’

‘What’s the occasion? I’m guessing a big birthday?’

‘No! Just a party that his family have flown around the world to attend with only a few days’ notice.’

Ollie raises an eyebrow.

‘I’ve no idea why and Sophie changes the subject when I ask.’

‘Mysterious. But who’s Sophie?’

He follows the direction of my gaze to the dance floor.

‘Oooh, her. Wait! That name rings a bell.’ He looks at me. ‘Don’t tell me this is childhood sweetheart Sophie, of the famously brutal Hallmark break-up? The Sophie otherwise known as she-whom-no-other-woman-can-ever-live-up-to?’

‘Hmmm. I think she prefers the title Ms.’

‘It is! Holy crap.’ He thumps me on the arm. ‘Well done, Adam! You’re back together?’

‘No. This is a business arrangement... I mean, she’s making a quilt for Wren.’

Sophie looks up from dancing and gives me a dazzling smile that makes my legs turn to jelly and my heart flutter. It’s the happiest I’ve seen her since we’ve been reunited, and I grin back. We don’t break our gaze, electricity fizzing between us.

‘Gotcha,’ Ollie drawls sarcastically. ‘This is totally professional and not personal at all. She probably looks at all her customers that way! You know, like she wants to shag their brains out on her sewing table.’

I shake my head, but I’m secretly pleased I haven’t imagined the mutual spark of attraction.

A girl wearing a party tiara and a tall muscly guy with spiky blond hair approach Sophie.

The man’s hand lingers on the small of her back as he whispers in her ear.

There’s an ease between them, as if they know each other intimately.

I feel a sharp pang of jealousy. Is he an ex or currently on the scene?

‘You have competition,’ Ollie observes. ‘He’s a ten and probably a personal trainer, whereas you’re barely scraping a six today. Did you get any sleep last night?’

‘Thanks for the pep talk. It boosts my confidence.’

‘Shut Up and Dance’ blares out, stirring memories.

Sophie played this song whenever I became stressed in the run-up to my A levels.

We would dance in her bedroom, flailing our arms around and not caring how ridiculous we looked.

Sophie managed to look cool and me less so, but I always felt better afterwards.

Sophie beckons me to join her. Before I can shake my head, Ollie gives me a hard shove and I fly forward, almost falling over.

‘What are you waiting for, mate?’ he calls after me. ‘Carpe bloody diem and all that.’

I walk towards her, with what’s left of my dignity. I know, with 100 per cent certainty, that none will be left after the song has finished.

‘This is me,’ Sophie says, staring out of the car window.

I pull over to the kerb and turn off the engine outside a block of flats close to Temple Meads station.

I’ve given her a lift back from the party, which ended at midnight with Walter belting out Frank Sinatra’s ‘My Way’.

Wren is fast asleep in the back seat, her head lolling against the giant panda she’s decided to keep in the car for company.

I shift in my seat, facing her. ‘I had the best time today.’

‘Me too. Walter definitely knows how to party.’

‘I feel bad we didn’t bring him anything... apart from us!’

‘That’s a big enough present,’ she says jokingly. ‘Talking of which, I have something for you.’

‘Whaaaat?’ I run a hand through my hair. ‘Now I feel doubly guilty.’

‘It’s not that exciting.’

She rummages in her rucksack and passes me a plastic bag. I pull out a cake tin and a pack of batteries. I stare at them, baffled.

‘The batteries are for your smoke alarms, and Wren wants to make a cake with you.’

I’d completely forgotten both!

‘I told you not to get your hopes up. It’s only a practical gift.’

‘No, it’s kind and thoughtful! I wish...’ My voice wavers. ‘I should have brought something for you.’

‘Can you gift-wrap a new job and put a bow on top?’

‘How about I distribute your quilt flyers in the staff room?’

‘That would be great.’ She unclips her seat belt. ‘Actually, there is something else you could do.’

‘Name it!’

‘I’m heading back to Modbury on Friday to sort through Mum’s old stuff and finish your quilt. I’ll need breaks. I’m open to walks, bike rides or surfing, if your plans change and you end up at your mum’s.’

My heart thumps faster. That definitely sounds like an invitation to spend more time with her personally rather than professionally.

‘Yes!’ I say without hesitation.

‘Really? I thought this would be a much harder sell.’

‘I’ll need to cancel Wren’s holiday club and sort out a few things first, but I can work from Mum’s house.’

I think about the message I received from Tom. I still haven’t replied.

‘Does this mean you’ve changed your mind about the school party?’ I ask hopefully.

‘No! I’m giving that a wide berth.’

I’m debating whether to mention Tom getting in touch when she looks over her shoulder at Wren.

‘Will this earn you more Dad points? Wren sounded keen to see her grandma.’

‘Yes! She’ll be delighted. I’ve been pretty bad about arranging regular meet-ups. I must admit I’ve been avoiding Mum.’

‘You’ve fallen out?’

‘It’s nothing as dramatic as that.’

‘So not pistols at dawn?’

‘Only blunt daggers.’

She stares at me quizzically.

‘We’ve been rubbing each other up the wrong way ever since I came back from Stanford. It’s easier to avoid the whole situation.’

‘What are you arguing about?’ she asks, getting straight to the point.

‘Everything! It’s not great returning as The Big Disappointment. I might put my title on a badge to stop it from being the elephant in the room.’

She’s the first person I’ve admitted this to. It’s not something I’d mention to Ollie; he’d probably turn the discussion into a joke, and we’d change the subject.

‘I’m sure she doesn’t think that about you. Why would she? Look at everything you’ve achieved.’ She nods towards Wren. ‘Deep down, I bet she’s incredibly proud of you.’

‘Hardly!’ I scoff.

‘Just because she hasn’t said it doesn’t mean she’s not thinking it.’

I stare at her, surprised she’s defending Mum. My parents weren’t exactly her biggest fans. They worried she was a distraction from my studies and never tried to make her feel welcome.

‘Hmmm.’

‘Hmmm,’ Sophie repeats back. ‘If you don’t mind me saying, no one in your family has ever been the world’s best at discussing what matters.’

‘I have no idea what you mean,’ I say, pretending to be offended.

‘Sure you do.’

She stares at me intently. I shiver, battling my rising emotions. This is my chance to tell her how I wish I’d been more open about my feelings for her , but the seconds tick by as I search for the right words.

Sophie wipes something from her cheek. ‘It’ll be good for Wren to spend more time with your mum if you’re busy working.’

We’re back to talking about my family and the opportunity to be truthful has slipped away, as it did at the zoo when Wren interrupted us.

‘I must admit I felt guilty when I saw Walter with his son and grandchildren. Mum should get to know Wren better, and vice versa.’ I take a deep breath, attempting to work my way up to what I want to say.

‘I’d like the three of us to spend more time together.

.. you, me and Wren. That’s not just because you’re making the most amazing, beautiful quilt but I. ..’

Despite everything I feel for her, the word jams in my throat.

I touch my tattoo. I can’t bring myself to say the ‘L’ word even though I feel it so strongly my heart might explode.

Sophie only re-entered my life around two weeks ago; there’s no rush to tell her.

I can’t risk destroying the fragile relationship we’re slowly rebuilding by saying or doing the wrong thing.

I’ve discovered how badly that can turn out with Wren.

‘You make me happy. Aagh! Sorry... that sounds lame.’

She faces me, her lips parted. ‘No, it didn’t. And ditto.’

I smile as she borrows the word I quoted whenever she used to say she loved me.

Does she remember its deeper meaning? Perhaps she does have stronger feelings for me, rather than just fond memories.

The gap between us narrows. I don’t know if I leaned closer first, or she did.

We may have intuitively moved at the same time, our bodies totally in sync.

We spring apart guiltily as Wren wakes up with a loud yawn.

‘Are we home yet?’ she asks sleepily.

‘No. I’m dropping Sophie off. Go back to sleep.’

‘Okey-dokey. Night night, Sophie.’

‘Night, Wren. Night, Panda.’

Sophie’s fingers brush against mine before she opens the door and climbs out. She peers back in with a dazzling smile that makes my heart beat faster.

‘Goodnight, Adam.’

‘Bye, Sophie.’

I watch her run to the front entrance. She turns and waves before disappearing inside. Sophie needs to know how much she means to me, even if I haven’t managed to say it properly. I pull out my phone and forward a picture Ollie took of us dancing. Within seconds, she responds with a heart emoji.

Returning home has never looked more appealing! I tap out a quick message for Mum to read in the morning.

Sorry I haven’t let you know about Easter sooner! Been busy with work. Thought I could visit for a week with Wren. Is Fri, April 4 good? Or we can come later if that’s not convenient?

She’s awake unexpectedly late and responds within seconds.

Fantastic news! I look forward to seeing you both. Come on Friday. Let me know what Wren wants to eat and I’ll stock up! xx

This will be the perfect opportunity to show Wren my old haunts and see more of Sophie.

She was happy today, surfing and dancing.

It felt more like old times. We came close to kissing in the water and just now.

We might find our way back to each other, as long as I don’t mess up everything.

The reunion party is another great chance for us to spend time together, if Mum agrees to babysit.

A bigger if is whether I can persuade Sophie to come.

She’s understandably reluctant but this could be good for both of us.

We can try to leave the ghosts of the past behind and move on.

I’m going to say yes to things, as Sophie suggested.

Carpe bloody diem , to quote Ollie .

I retrieve the school email and RSVP before clicking on Tom’s DM and telling him about my plans. He’s also online and replies.

Great news! Looking forward to it. BTW are you in touch with Sophie?

I message back : Yes! We recently met after all this time!

He types: That’s good to hear. Is she coming to the party? I’d love to catch up with you both.

Hopefully , I write. She’s heading back to Modbury next week.

I throw my phone on the passenger seat and turn on the engine.

I have fourteen days to change Sophie’s mind.