Second Chance - Jane Green [31]
‘Holly!’ Saffron says. ‘You remember? You did! You went out with Robin Cartledge for ages. How funny that you should remember that, Sally.’ She shoots Holly a look.
Holly does a double take. This is Sally Cartledge? Sally Cartledge was the mousiest girl in the class, with a nose that earned her the nickname Concorde. She was one of the clever girls who never seemed to discover boys, who left school to go to Oxford and was never heard from again.
But how can this possibly be Sally Cartledge? This willowy, brunette beauty with immaculate make-up and legs that go on for ever. Holly stands in shock and squints slightly at Sally, trying to see anything of the old Sally in her, but no. Nothing.
‘We’re going over there,’ Sally trills. ‘But so lovely to see you. Can we swap cards? I’d love to get together some time.’
As she and Eric walk off, Saffron breathes a sigh of relief. ‘Jesus. Thank God she brought up Robin or I would have had no idea who she was.’
‘How is that Sally Cartledge? What has she done to herself? When did she become beautiful?’
‘I’d say after she paid the plastic surgeon for the nose job, Restylane implants in the lips, Botox everywhere else, got her teeth fixed, and probably spent a few years doing something like the Zone.’
‘But God. I’ve never seen such a dramatic transformation. I wouldn’t have had a clue it was her.’
‘Good, huh? I ought to have got her surgeon’s name.’
‘Why? What would you have done?’ Holly is horrified.
‘Oh darling,’ Saffron laughs, ‘I’ve already had my boobs done twice, Botox is basically as essential as brushing your teeth, and I’d quite like to have my eyes done.’
‘What do you mean, have your eyes done? Have what done to them? They look fine.’
‘No. See these pouches?’ Saffron points to the skin under her eyes. Holly leans forward but sees nothing.
‘Nope.’
‘Get closer. See? This little bulge? It’s fat that’s dropped and I’m desperate to get it removed. The easiest operation in the whole world, and it should take years off me.’
‘Whatever happened to growing old gracefully?’
‘Not in film these days, my darling. Now you have to use all the help you can get.’
‘I think you’re bonkers. I can’t see anything at all.’
‘Maybe not, but I can. All I see when I look in the mirror these days are pouches. Anyway, P said he’ll pay for it.’
‘He will? Why?’
Saffron shrugs. ‘He paid for his wife’s work, and he paid for my two boob jobs. At seventeen million a picture, I think it’s just a drop in the ocean. Anyway, he enjoys it. Says he likes spoiling his little girl.’
‘Hmm. That sounds like a healthy relationship.’ Holly grins. ‘Oh shit. Marcus is over there. Quick. Duck.’ She grabs Saffron and scoots behind some other people.
‘Yes,’ Saffron says with an ironic smile. ‘And you’re clearly the expert on healthy relationships. Don’t worry, you don’t have to explain anything now, but there’s definitely something up with you two. God, where did all these people come from?’
‘Who knows? I mean, I know everybody loved Tom, but half these people don’t look like they even knew him. Ssssh. They’re starting.’
Holly and Saffron stand quietly as a hush descends and music starts softly playing from the speakers, Linda Ronstadt’s voice as clear as a bell as her voice reverberates around the church.
So goodbye my friend
I know I’ll never see you again
But the love you gave me through all the years
Will take away these tears
I’m okay now
Goodbye my friend
And the grief that had been waiting at the door is welcomed in as, finally, people start to cry.
Tom’s dad, Peter, is the first to speak. He walks up to the pulpit and clears his throat, and Holly’s first thought is how very old he seems, standing up there. She remembers