Chapter 37
37
‘Quick, I need some help in here. My friend is choking.’
I ran back into the corridor and, thank goodness, the wedding planner just happened to be walking past the toilet door. I practically screamed at her. She followed me back into the ladies’ room and we both went over to Claudia. I put my hands on her shoulders and tried to calm her down.
‘Don’t worry, Claudia, we’re going to get you sorted out. Just try not to panic.’
Becky went up behind her and performed the Heimlich manoeuvre. I wasn’t aware that you could do it from a seated position but it clearly worked as the olive shot out of Claudia’s mouth and splatted on the far wall. We all watched the squished debris sliding downwards and Claudia and I slumped against the sink unit. Becky took a deep breath, smoothed her hair back into place and promptly left as quickly as she had arrived, totally underwhelmed and not at all affected by the fact that she may have just saved someone’s life.
The intense silence that followed was palpable.
Claudia reached out for my hand and squeezed. I knew that I should probably withdraw it, but didn’t.
‘Oh my God, Jo, thank you! I honestly thought you were going to leave me to die.’
I smiled sweetly.
‘Oh. As if.’ I overexaggerated my words, pretty sure that she would know that I didn’t mean it.
‘I think if the roles were reversed, I probably would have done, you know.’ She had the good grace to look quite ashamed at what she was saying.
‘Well, it’s a good job it was this way round then, wasn’t it?’
Groaning loudly, I stood.
I reached down to her and offered her my hand and after only a slight hesitation she reached out and pulled herself up.
‘Jo, I have something to tell you.’
‘Can it wait? I think we both need a stiff drink.’
‘Yeah, maybe you are right? But maybe without the olives this time, eh?’
We grinned at each other and left the bathroom. Funny how things turn out.