Out Late with Friends and Regrets (20 page)

Fin sighed. Cantlesham seemed to be getting further and further away, less and less like reality. But she needed to focus on the place in order to make the transition to Harford as advantageously as possible. Inside her head she had already left. She would have to try and think of
 
it as her springboard, rather than a dead weight around her neck.

“Let’s find a nice caff,” she said. “I’ll buy you a cup of tea and a bun before I bugger off back to the boondocks.”

“It’s the least you can do,” said Ellie.

Just off the phone to Rosemary, and then she rang Ellie. It was still a novelty, having two people to ring up and tell her news to.

“Hello?”

“Hi, is that Ellie?
 
How are you?”

“Yes, of course it’s me; I haven’t had
that
many women in the house since that never-to-be-forgotten night. I take it I’m speaking to my erstwhile lover, hmm?”

“This is she.”

“I’m in great form, thanks, Fin. Looking forward to Saturday?”

“Of course! I think I’m getting better with new people, and I’m so excited at the thought of a hallful of Harford’s intelligentia.”

“I take it that was meant to be ironic?”

“Oh, aren’t you university types all shimmering with brain-power?”

“You’re obviously an inverted snob of the worst kind, Madam! Yes, well, I suppose most of them
have
a brain, but some are too thick to tie their own shoelaces, dazzling degrees nothwithstanding!”

“Ah, that soothes my inferiority complex. But what I really phoned to tell you, Ellie-”

“You’ve sold the cottage?”

“Well, accepted an offer, which isn’t quite the same thing, of course, but I’m crossing every digit. It was odd, not at all the people I thought might buy it –”

“Always the way. So what are you going to do about a flat in Harford?”

“I’m just going to send nearly all the furniture to auction, and rent the first habitable place on offer.”

“Well, that’s good, Fin, at least that frees you up. No hassle, no storage expenses.”

“And it’s going to make the move a lot easier. I can do it myself in a hired van, in fact. I’ve had a look at a couple of flats to rent online – they’re all expensive, but I’m avoiding anything infested with students, like you said.”

“You’ll thank me, believe me. If you’re travelling light you can afford to settle for a little studio flat over a shop or something -
not
a chippie or a pub, preferably, if you value your sleep. When will you know?”

“Dunno. I’ll be holding my breath for it to happen at all, although Victoria says they want to complete quickly. Keep your fingers crossed for me, Ellie, won’t you.”

“Course. Anyway, about Saturday: I take it you’ll want to stay over?”

“Glad to know you trust me!”

“Oh, I’ll be wearing the double-gusset knee-length knickers, just in case you get frisky.”

“Got my period this week, anyway,” said Fin, “so you needn’t worry.”

“Dear me, child, shows how much
you
know. Some of my former lovers were just as randy when they had a period as any other time. It’s not all about penetration.”

“Well, well. Another piece of invaluable lesbian lore! What if you get lucky at the party, though? You’re not going to appreciate me around.”

“Oh, I don’t know, a threesome might be quite something! No, I don’t suppose I’ll be on the pull tonight, and in any case I’d go back to her place, the lucky girl. If it
really
came down to it I’d farm you out to Rachel and Dave, they’re always good for emergency crash accommodation. Look, I’m sorry, Fin, but I’m going to have to go.”

“Sure. Just one more thing, though, Ellie, what’s the dress code?”

“You worry too much, Fin. The birthday girl is just as likely to turn up in overalls. There’ll be lots of variety, from uber-glam trannies to the Oxfam-chic crowd. Most people will make a bit of an effort, I suppose. Wear what you feel comfortable in. You always look good, being so slim, you bitch.”

“Ffff!
 
And finally-”

“I’ve
got
to go, Fin-”

“What about a present?”

“Oh,
I
dunno, a decent malt would do it. Now
goodbye.
”

“’Bye Ellie.”

Early July really showed off River Park to its best advantage: trees blowsy with green, the river glinting in the distance and the old part of the university rising off the hill beyond.

Fin couldn’t wait to live in the city; there was a buzz about Harford that even penetrated the peaceful park. At least, it was peaceful today, Monday; at the week-end the paths would have been thronged with people.

Fin had decided to spend the day in town getting to know its districts and seeing a few flats. She had three booked to see and some others to look at from outside, and had made the effort to get up really early to beat the rush hour. It was still only breakfast time, and her 5a.m. tea and toast was now a hungry memory. There hadn’t even been a workmen’s café open when she had arrived, so she had walked around the main streets of the city centre, getting her bearings, before walking through the park. The grass was dashed with plastic and cardboard waste from the week-end, and the park’s sheds and conveniences were covered with territorial artwork; but the sun was shining on her future and only a bacon roll could enhance her mood even further.

The waitress actually smiled as she took Fin’s order, offering a choice of ciabatta or croissant with the bacon. The very smell of the coffee as she went through the doors practically guaranteed satisfaction: powerful, aromatic. This was one of many bistro bars in the vicinity, and Fin had picked it because of its chic décor. So what if that made it more expensive – how many days out did she get over the course of a year, for God’s sake? The pleasant manner of the girl in her black Mao suit and long apron would have made it worthwhile anyway. An equally personable blond boy in identical uniform set down her coffee, and assured her the food would not be long.

The coffee indeed proved to have the perfect kick and flavour, and by the time the hot roll arrived with its abundant filling of crimped and crisped bacon wiggling out of the sides, she felt that the day was bound to go well.

Sitting in her personal ray of sunshine which penetrated the acid-etched window, eyes half shut and in the full afterglow of the perfect breakfast, Fin was brought back sharply by her ringtone.

“Hello.”

“Hi there, Fin! It’s Dek.”

“Hi Dek. What’s the problem?”

“I’m afraid there’s just been a ram-raid on the shop, and all the takings and stock have gone. And then the swine set light to the place.”

“You’re fired.”

“OK.
 
Actually, I’m quite hurt that you think there’s a problem, just because I ring you up.”

“Ah, diddums. So in fact you’ve rung to tell me that you’ve sold out and we’ve had a record-breaking first half-hour to the week?”

“Not exactly, though I have got us an order for a hundred and sixty logo Ts for Barchem Pharmaceuticals.”

“Good God! How the hell did they hear about us?”

“I e-mailed them. I spotted a thing in the paper about them; it just so happens they’re having a big safety event at their Harford factory, a PR job, you know the sort of thing.”

“Well, I guess I need to say good work, Dek. What did you quote?”

“Ah, now, I did have to give them a bit of a good price, to get them interested. Was 20% off the usual quantity price OK? There’s a good chance it could be an annual order, they said. I would have asked you first, but I had to come up with something on the spot. I hope that’s all right, Fin.”

“Mmm. More than I’d have offered, but still. Yes, Dek, well done.”

It really was well done; Dek was an inspired salesman, and his attitude had impressed Fin more than she had expected.

“Anyway, there’s something else I have to speak to you about.”

“Oh yes?”

“I’ve sorted out all the dead wood, like you said, to sell off really cheap in a late summer sale. There’s rather a lot of it, I’m afraid.”

“Dek, don’t mark it down till I come in tomorrow, will you? With all due respect, I’ve been doing this job for a long time.”

“Trust me, Fin. Of course I won’t do anything till you come in, but I want to show you this range I think will transform our takings-”

“I wasn’t thinking of taking on any more suppliers, Dek.”

“Oh, you really need to see this stuff, I’ve got their catalogue. Really well made, and they don’t sell to the multiples; heard of Roxoff Urban?”

“Yes, actually. It’s young and grungy, and very expensive. Definitely not Cantlesham.”

“Want a bet?”

“Well, in view of your enthusiasm, I suppose we could try a couple of hundred quidsworth, see how it goes
. If
 
I like it.”

“Sorry Fin, but a couple of hundred isn’t going to cut it. But I know it will sell, I just
know
it.”

“Shit, Dek, you scare me witless. But you seem so keen, of course I’ll have a look. Just remember, it’s a small shop, in a secondary position-”

“Yes, it is, but we can do
so
much
more
with it, Fin. I’ll come in and paint the front one Sunday, and those carpet tiles really have to go – and the website could do with a facelift, definitely - we can really turn it around, I’m positive, and without spending a lot, either.”

“
Dek!
”

“What?”

“Shut up! I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“The Roxoff rep can be here at two tomorrow, if I confirm.”

“For fuck’s sake!”

“Don’t swear at the staff, boss. ’Bye.”

“Goodbye, Dek.”

The party, apparently, began outside, where a shifting pool of people sucked on their cigarettes before entering the venue, somehow managing loud and multi-layered conversations as they did so.
 
Hearing the sound as an aural abstract from the distance of the gate, Fin was reminded of roosting starlings, and smiled as she paused to watch the waving and gesticulating, and the sheer energy of the communication taking place. These people talk
at
each other, she thought. And God, how they love to talk.

She moved into the lobby, nodding at one or two of the assembly she thought she recognised from Rachel and Dave’s. Confidence, that was all it took; her targets may or may not have been at the soiree in Mornington Road, but they would obviously think they knew her from somewhere. And anyway, why not smile at a stranger? For all its size, the University was just a hell of a big club. She felt she looked good, and yes, appropriate, too, in good jeans and T with a waistcoat. There was something else, too: her tutorial with Ellie, for all that she couldn’t recall it in its entirety, at least had altered her perspective. No longer fogging the shop window with frustrated sighs, she could now stroll the aisles with unhurried anticipation.

The gymnasium was decorated with streamers, balloons and banners, and reminded Fin so much of certain American teen movies she had watched on the telly, that she almost expected to see the hall filled with bouffant skirts and hairdos, and youths sporting serpentine quiffs and sideburns. But Ellie had been right: styles covered a wide spectrum, and nothing would have looked out of place. There was even a young couple who had obviously been much influenced by Sandy and Danny, though both were girls.