Page 27 of The Good Neighbour

“Is it fancy dress?” Hugh asked.

“Shit,” Josh replied. “It is and we’ve got four days to choose what we’re going as and making it. The theme is Hollywood.”

“Fucking bingo,” Hugh replied and held his glass up.

Josh giggled. This was going to be fun.

CHAPTER SEVEN

The week passed quickly. After much deliberation, Josh and Hugh decided to go to the party as Barbie and Ken from theBarbiemovie. Unfortunately, the work of creating the outfits had to be left to Josh. Hugh and Michael were working with some other writers in the West End in the day and had picked up a week’s residency in a pub south of the river.

“I bet you didn’t mind measuring him up,” Suzanne said as she cut some lurid pink lycra.

Josh shrugged. “It was a necessary evil.”

They were in the studio where they’d spent most of the week. The collection was coming on nicely so he’d persuaded Suzanne to help him make two pink and green roller-skating outfits. Hugh said that he’d find Josh a peroxide wig so that he’d make the perfect Ken.

Suzanne had leapt at the chance for a bit of fun.

“Thanks for helping me,” Josh said.

“Martha and Sidney could have done this, you know.”

They worked from home in a flat by the river. Suzanne had told him all about it. They lived to create clothes. This would come in very handy.

“That’s taking the piss. It’s hardly Cut work,” Josh said. “Truth be told, I’d been worrying.”

“About what?”

“That I can still make clothes. It’s been a long time.”

Josh had always made a point of making the prototype garments himself. To create the curves meant the design spoke to him. It told him what needed to be improved on.

“You’re a fucking maestro on that machine,” Suzanne said. “I doubt very much that’s changed.”

He beamed at her. Spending so much time with Suzanne over the past few days had been fun.

“I’m sorry?—”

“If you’re going to apologise for leaving me alone again, I’m going home. I thought we agreed that was all done with. We’re looking to the future.”

They shared a glance over the cutting-out table that sat in the corner of the studio. Another grey London day soaking people going about their business. The downpour drummed against the roof. Josh loved dramatic weather.

“Talking of looking to the future,” Suzanne said. “I have news.”

“What’s that?”

“Polly’s pregnant.”

Josh nearly dropped his scissors. “What? I had no idea.”

Suzanne nodded. “We’ve been keeping it quiet until we passed the three-month mark. There’s been a couple of setbacks.”

Josh ran round the table and pulled her into a bear hug. “Oh, darling. I’m so pleased for you. How is she?”

Suzanne’s eyes filled with tears. “She’s doing fine. We’re both so fucking excited.”

He hugged her again.