Sapphire (4 page)

‘I want you to have a look at it actually, I’m having trouble with my Internet connection – can you try and fix it while I make dinner?’

Sapphire sighed and walked over to the computer. Her dad used to be the one who fixed everything in the house and sorted out all the bills. When he died that role had fallen to Sapphire. Her mum didn’t even know what direct debits she had, or how to budget. It had been hard for fifteen-year-old Sapphire coping with her grief over her dad and trying to sort out her mum at the same time. She vividly remembered the feeling of dread she had
when she returned from school to find her mum still in her pyjamas, unable even to get dressed.

Sapphire sat down in front of the screen and clicked on the Internet icon. Immediately an error message popped up. This was just what she needed after the day she’d had.

‘Have you done it yet?’ her mum demanded coming back into the room, ‘I have to get back online.’ There was a sense of urgency in her voice.

Sapphire shook her head, ‘I’ve no idea how to do it.’

‘I thought you were supposed to know all about that kind of thing,’ Christine replied, a little tetchily.

‘Well, I don’t – isn’t there someone on your course you could ask?’

Now Christine looked positively agitated, ‘I really need to go online tonight, I’ve got some things I have to do.’

God, what could possibly be this urgent? Sapphire sighed, realising that she would get no peace from her mum until the problem was sorted. She reached for her mobile. There was nothing for it – she would have to call Jay and ask him to help even though that would entirely go against her principle of not introducing her boyfriends to her mum. But she needed her mum off her case.

‘Babe! Are you okay?’

He sounded so pleased to hear from her. Too pleased, Sapphire thought.

‘I’m fine, I just wondered if you might be able to help me out with something.’ Of course, Jay being the sweetie that he was, agreed to come right over. There was just the little problem of introducing him to her mum.

From the moment Jay walked in it was toe-curlingly embarrassing.

‘So you’re Sapphire’s new boyfriend then?’ Her mum’s first question.

‘Not that new, it’s been three months.’ Both Jay and Christine looked at Sapphire accusingly.

‘Well, I’m sorry, Jay,’ Christine replied, slightly sulky, ‘She never tells me anything.’

‘Can we just get on with fixing the computer and cut the guilt trip, Mum?’ Sapphire asked.

Christine shrugged and muttered something about checking on dinner. As soon as Sapphire thought she was safely out of earshot she put her arms round Jay and kissed him, ‘Sorry, I just like to keep my private life separate from my mum, she always ends up asking so many questions and it does my head in.’

‘Whatever,’ Jay replied, ‘I don’t get what your problem is. I told my family about you.’

‘We’re just more dysfunctional than you,’ Sapphire tried to joke.

But Jay still looked pissed off. ‘So I am your boyfriend then? And not just your fuck buddy?’

‘Of course you’re my boyfriend,’ Sapphire replied.

God! What was wrong with being a fuck buddy! Why did she seem to have picked the only man in Brighton who seemed to want more!

Jay had Christine back online within ten minutes. Inevitably, as if Sapphire hadn’t suffered enough, Christine invited Jay to stay for dinner.

‘Prepare for the interrogation,’ Sapphire whispered as Christine served up spaghetti bolognese.

As soon as Christine sat down she started the questions. ‘So where are you from, Jay?’

Sapphire cringed inside; surely her mum wasn’t going to make a comment about Jay being mixed race?

‘Brighton born and bred.’

‘What about your parents?’ Christine ignored the furious looks Sapphire was shooting at her. What had she done to deserve such an annoying parent?

‘Mum’s from London and Dad’s from Luton.’

‘Oh.’

‘My granddad was Jamaican.’

Please let there be no more questions like this, Sapphire prayed. But then her mum surprised her. ‘I always think mixed race people are very good-looking. Oh, is it okay to say mixed race? Sorry, it’s just that living in Brighton you don’t meet that many—’

‘Ethnic minorities?’ Sapphire quickly put in just in case her mum was going to say something way unPC.

‘It’s fine to say that. I love Brighton and can’t imagine living anywhere else, but it is a bit too white.’ He paused. ‘I didn’t have a great time at school.’

‘Didn’t you?’ Sapphire had never talked to Jay about his schooldays. Well, the truth was she hadn’t really talked to Jay about that much of anything.

‘I had to move secondary schools because I was racially bullied.’

Sapphire looked at him with concern, ‘Were you, babe? I’m sorry.’

Jay shrugged. ‘It was a long time ago, but it has left its mark. I think something like that always does.’

Before Sapphire could ask him any further questions, Christine spoke, ‘Sapphire was bullied at school. This horrible group of girls picked on her after her dad died, can you believe it? Calling her names, ganging up on her at a time when she was very vulnerable. I was so angry.’

Had her mum been angry? Sapphire couldn’t remember her being anything other than completely grief-stricken and powerless to help her daughter.

‘Mum! Jay doesn’t want to hear about that, it was years ago.’

‘I didn’t even know you’d lost your dad,’ Jay replied.

Cue more accusing looks from Jay and Christine. This was exactly why she didn’t like introducing boyfriends to her mum – too many questions, stirring up too many emotions.

‘Well, it hadn’t come up.’ Face it; she wasn’t with Jay for the sparkling conversation.

This was turning out into the night from hell! Sapphire hated being put on the spot like this. Though at least there was one good thing: Christine clearly hadn’t remembered that it would have been Sapphire’s fifth wedding anniversary today. Most years she remembered the date only too well and there’d be a rehash of Sapphire’s failed marriage and why Alfie had been unfaithful – Christine had always adored him. Sapphire had often suspected that Christine blamed Sapphire for the break-up of the marriage.

Fortunately conversation then turned to other things: how Sapphire’s business was going, how her aunt was who lived in America, Jay’s own family. But it was a relief when dinner was over. Usually Sapphire would be expected to stay until around ten but tonight her mum actually seemed in a bit of a hurry to get rid of her, saying that she had to get on with her computer work.

‘You don’t think mum’s got an online porn addiction do you?’ Sapphire joked as she and Jay walked back along to the seafront to her flat.

Jay ignored the comment. ‘Why didn’t you tell me your dad had died?’

Immediately Sapphire could feel herself clamming up. ‘I just don’t like to talk about it, that’s all. What is there to say anyway? He died, it was shit, I still really miss him, my mum’s life still seems shit but life goes on, doesn’t it?’

Jay sighed and put his arm round her. ‘Sapphire, you don’t have to put on an act for me.’

‘I don’t put on an act.’

‘Whatever. Back to yours?’

Sapphire was all set to say no but actually the thought of being in the flat on her own was not an appealing one right now – she’d only end up thinking about Alfie or her dad or both.

‘Yeah, and thanks for helping out with Mum. I appreciate it.’

‘No worries, but you now owe me one.’

‘Go on then – name the sexual favour of your choice.’

‘Yeah, I have that anyway, but I also want you to meet my family.’

Bollocks! Sapphire reluctantly agreed but she was determined to put the meeting off for as long as possible.

‘It’s my dad’s birthday in a few weeks’ time, come round for dinner.’

Shit, it wasn’t going to be easy getting out of that one. She’d have to pull out all the stops to come up with an excuse.

‘Great,’ she replied, without making eye contact with Jay. ‘I can’t wait. Now, about that sexual favour . . .’

‘
CAN YOU GIVE
me really long lashes?’ Sapphire asked Jazz who was making her up for the school reunion. Now there was no getting out of the event, Sapphire was determined to be glammed up to the max.

Jazz tutted, ‘God! You’re so demanding!’

Sam was already dressed and made up and was looking at herself in the mirror. She turned this way and that, considering herself from every angle. She was wearing a red halter-neck dress with a full skirt, and Sapphire thought she looked pretty good, given that the diet hadn’t been going so well. But Sam was in full moan mode, ‘I look fat, don’t I? I’m wearing magic pants and you can still see my stomach. God, I hate my body!’

Sapphire and Jazz exchanged eye rolls, which Sapphire then regretted as it felt as if her false lashes were going to fall off.

‘Don’t say that, you look great!’ Jazz exclaimed.

‘Very sexy,’ Sapphire added, ‘Perhaps you can spice up the reunion by copping off with someone.’

‘Who exactly?’ Sam demanded.

‘Cal’s going.’ Jazz replied.

Cal Bailey, the former premiership footballer, had been a couple of years above them at school. He was one of the best-looking men that Sapphire had ever met. As far as Sapphire was concerned there wasn’t a chance Cal
would fancy Sam. Sam clearly thought so too, as she shook her head.

‘What about Dave Greenwich?’ Sapphire suggested instead. Not exactly a looker but a nice-enough guy if she remembered.

‘Thanks a lot!’ Sam exclaimed, sounding offended, ‘You mean Dave Fatwich! With the personal hygiene problem?’

Oops, Sapphire hadn’t meant to upset Sam. But before she could make it up to her friend Jazz tactfully said, ‘Sam is way out of Dave’s league. And isn’t Cal still hung up on Angel?’

Cal had recently moved back to Brighton after an injury had permanently ended his footballing career and after the break-up of his marriage to the glamour model Angel Summer six months ago. Now he was concentrating on trying to set up a series of football academies. Sapphire had met up with him the previous week for a drink and all Cal had done was talk about his wife.

‘Yep, he’s gutted.’

‘Shouldn’t have played away then, should he?’ Jazz said, who had been shocked to learn that Cal had been unfaithful. Cal and Angel had been her pin-up couple, their relationship her idea of the perfect marriage. They’d been the nation’s golden couple for a while.

‘No, he shouldn’t,’ Sapphire agreed, thinking of her own marriage break-up. Then, because this was not a topic of conversation likely to put her in a good mood, she asked, ‘Anyway, shall I go for my Vivienne Westwood corset dress? Or my skinny jeans?’

‘Corset dress,’ Sam replied. ‘I can’t be the only one showing cleavage.’

Half an hour and a taxi ride later, the girls arrived at the school hall and immediately felt completely overdressed
as nearly everyone else was in jeans. There were groups of people milling around chatting, while a mirrorball spun round, sprinkling the hall with silver circles of light and the DJ played tracks from the nineties. No one was dancing. It was as cringey as Sapphire had feared, God, it even smelt the same – the unmistakeable smell of floor polish mixed in with sweat, smelly socks and Lynx. Definitely not Sapphire’s scene.

The girls exchanged rueful looks and immediately headed for the bar, well, the trestle table that was acting as a bar, and grabbed three plastic cups of lukewarm white wine. Sapphire took a sip and pulled a face, ‘This is vile!’

‘Lucky I brought my own supplies of vodka, isn’t it?’ Sam replied, pulling a sleek silver flask from her bag and offering it round.

‘On to the hard stuff already, ladies?’ They all turned round guiltily mid-pour to see Cal looking amused.

‘Want some?’ Sam asked holding out the flask.

Cal shook his head. ‘I’m driving.’

‘God, Cal, you’re good, drink is probably the only thing that’s going to get me through this.’ Sapphire replied as they quickly exchanged kisses.

Jazz and Sam got caught up with talking to one of the girls they were at school with while Sapphire remained with Cal. Her friend was as gorgeous as ever, the same male model good looks, olive skin and dark brown eyes, but he looked tired and his eyes had lost their mischievous sparkle. The separation from his wife, who was currently living in LA with a baseball star, was taking its toll.

Despite his looks and success, Sapphire had never really fancied him. That chemistry simply wasn’t there between them. Instead, when Sapphire went out with one of Cal’s mates they had become good friends and had somehow remained friends after the break-up. It was a
friendship that people outside their circle found impossible to understand and they were always convinced that there must be something more.

‘So, how’s it going?’ she continued. The last time they’d met Cal had done nothing but talk about Angel, and his daughter Honey. She sensed that tonight wouldn’t be any different.

‘Situation normal, all fucked up,’ he replied, running a hand over his short black hair, as if to fend off the question. ‘But let’s not talk about me, I went on enough last time about myself, what about you?’

‘I’m good, work’s going well.’

‘And what about your boyfriend? Are you still seeing him?’

Sapphire nodded. She wasn’t used to thinking of Jay as her boyfriend, but she supposed he was.

‘Three months. Isn’t that your record?’

‘I’m not that bad, Cal,’ she protested, though it was true. Her flings never usually lasted beyond the three-month mark.

Cal smiled. ‘I was just teasing you. But maybe this one’s worth holding on to for a change.’

Sapphire shook her head. ‘I don’t know, Cal, I’m really not into relationships.’

‘All I’m saying is if you find a good thing, don’t throw it away.’ He looked serious again, his eyes full of sadness.

‘Cal, you shouldn’t be so hard on yourself. You made a mistake. Maybe one day she’ll forgive you?’

‘Like you forgave your husband?’

Sapphire’s face hardened, ‘I’m sure you’re absolutely nothing like Alfie.’

‘And speak of the devil, here he is.’