Second Chance - Jane Green [109]
But then, late yesterday afternoon, all she could think about was having a drink. Just one. Not to get drunk, just… just because she could. The thought became an obsession, and no one would know if she disappeared for a quick drink. Just one. Why not?
‘Saff!’ Holly looks up from whisking the eggs and grimaces at the sight of Saffron, bleary-eyed, hung-over, skin an odd shade of grey. ‘Oh if they could see you now.’ She shakes her head in amazement, thinking of all the publicity shots of Saffron over the years, gorgeous and glamorous, posing on red carpets all over the world in floor-length beaded gowns.
A world away from this creature now. Not a scrap of make-up, old grey sweats and a baggy jumper, long glossy locks held back messily in a clip.
‘Oh don’t,’ Saffron groans, coming over to give Holly a kiss. ‘I feel horrible. If they could see me now they’d have a field day.’ Paul and Olivia exchange a glance – thank God they didn’t bring that paper home.
‘Oh look at your chickens!’ Saffron says, seeing Daisy and Oliver, bundled up in hats and gloves, playing outside the kitchen window. ‘Aren’t they gorgeous!’
‘I’m surprised you can see them under all those layers.’ Holly smiles. ‘But thank you. I think they’re pretty damn gorgeous, even though I’m ever so slightly biased.’
‘Coffee?’ Paul says brightly, placing a mug in front of a grateful Saffron.
‘Mmm.’ She takes a sip, looking sheepishly around the table. ‘I think I owe you all an apology,’ she says quietly. ‘I’m so sorry about last night. I didn’t mean to…’ She stops, sighing. ‘It won’t happen again. Honestly. I don’t know what came over me, but I won’t let it happen again.’
The others just look at her, not saying anything, and Saffron raises her hand, dipping her head in contrition. ‘I know, I know I’ve said that before, but this time I mean it.’
‘In actual fact–’ Anna starts setting the plates around the table as Paul brings the eggs over–‘you’ll probably be too busy to think about sneaking off to the pub again.’
‘Busy? How?’
‘We’ve decided to try to get this house finished.’ Paul sits down and helps himself to bacon. ‘We’ve assigned everyone jobs, and you and Anna are starting with tiling the bathroom.’
Saffron starts to laugh. ‘Ow,’ she groans again, holding her head. ‘Shit, that hurts. You have to be kidding
… Me? Tiling a bathroom?’
Olivia’s mouth opens in amazement. ‘Tell me you haven’t seriously become that much of a diva.’
‘No!’ Saffron exclaims in horror. ‘It’s just that I’m hopeless at anything like that. I’ve never tiled a thing in my life. I mean, fine, I’ll do it, just as long as you don’t mind wonky tiles.’
‘You’ll be fine,’ Anna brushes her off. ‘I’m doing it with you and I’ll show you what to do. It’s easy. Of course you could do the floor-sanding instead if you want.’
‘No, no,’ Saffron shakes her head, looking at the vast expanse of rough, stained wood in the living room, ‘tiling’s fine.’ She starts to laugh.
‘What’s so funny?’ Paul looks up.
‘Just that I never expected to be here tiling a bathroom. Life seemed so settled, and then… It’s just so bizarre how everything in life can change in a heartbeat.’
‘Tell me about it.’ Holly snorts. ‘Just so you know, I think I’ve left Marcus.’
‘You have? Good girl!’ Saffron exclaims.
‘Why good girl?’ Although it’s not as if Holly doesn’t know.
‘Because he’s a pompous, stuck-up arse, that’s why.’
‘Saffron!’ Olivia admonishes her.
‘Why? It’s true, isn’t it?’ And at this, Holly starts to laugh.
‘You haven’t changed at all.’ Holly grins. ‘You still say exactly what’s on your mind.’
Saffron shrugs. ‘I’d rather be honest, although I apologize if I upset you. I could have been less mean.’
‘Don’t worry,’ Holly says. ‘He is a pompous arse.