Epilogue
Anna paused on the threshold to the London gallery and took a deep breath. Daniel put his arm round her in reassurance. ‘There’s no need to be nervous — the pair of you are going to blow them away. And you look gorgeous.’
‘Thank you.’ The deep red dress she’d bought for the occasion clung to her curves and she knew she looked good in it. She’d also had her hair and make-up professionally done. She’d learned over the last twelve months that, if she was going to be photographed, she was going to make sure she looked her best. ‘At least this one isn’t all down to me.’
In the six months since Anna’s move to Cheshire, Eva had made a remarkable recovery. She’d regained her mobility, thanks to her prosthetic limb, and was living life to the full. Whenever Anna had been back in London they’d met up, and Anna had documented everything she needed for Eva’s book. As they had discussed many months ago, the book signing would take place along with an exhibition of Anna’s photographs, managed by the indomitable Charlotte.
‘You’ve done all the hard work,’ Daniel said. ‘Now all you have to do is relax and bathe in the glory.’
Instantly her mind slipped back to her last exhibition when she hadn’t bathed in the glory but had been left dripping in champagne. She just hoped tonight didn’t hold any unexpected surprises, at least not of the unsavoury kind.
‘You know I’m not very good at that, and you also know my past history with exhibitions.’
Daniel laughed. ‘Yes, but a lot has changed since then, so we’ll just have to hope that it’s third time lucky tonight.’
He was right. A lot had happened in the last six months. She’d been hesitant at first about the move north, but she could honestly say that she’d never been happier. It had been a relief to settle into family life with Daniel and Ben, and to be out of the limelight. Her camera was still her constant companion whenever she went walkabout. She, Daniel and Ben often took trips so that she could photograph the landscape, usually in competition with Ben, who was developing his love for photography too. But in helping Daniel set up the photography school, she’d realised where her real love lay, and that was in teaching. She loved it when new students came in, with lots of enthusiasm and ambition but little understanding of the complexities of their art. She often felt she learned as much from the students as they did from her, and the best thing was that it was completely out of the limelight.
Her relationship with Lucinda had developed too. They were never going to be friends, but at least they showed each other mutual respect. Daniel had kept his word and made sure that they didn’t have to socialise with her crowd. In fact, they lived an almost reclusive life, concentrating on the school, each other and Ben.
But now, she knew that tonight was going to be the exact opposite. Tonight was going to be glamour and glitz, and the only reason she was doing this was for her friend Eva. Their relationship had grown stronger during Eva’s recovery, and it was a joy to be there for each other through both the hard and the good times.
The investigation into the explosion had finally reported its conclusions, and Anna vividly remembered the day when they had found out that it could have been easily avoided. For June it had been a cold day, and she remembered how some of the models had complained about the temperature. One kind soul, thinking they were doing them all a favour, had lit the central heating boiler to provide them with some heat. But they had failed to pay any attention to the stickers on the boiler, highlighting that it was faulty and should not be lit. All day the pressure, due to defective safety valves, had been building up, eventually exploding just as the models had been lining up for the final walk down the catwalk.
‘To think that people died, and me and others lost limbs, over something so stupid,’ Eva had said when she’d read the report.
Anna didn’t know how she could lift her friend’s spirits. All she could come up with was, ‘It all seems so senseless, but there’s nothing we can do to change the past.’
And miraculously Eva smiled and said, ‘No, but we can change the future, and that’s exactly what I intend to do.’ And then she told Anna that, as a result of the Instagram posts, she’d been contacted by a charity who helped amputees come to terms with their loss, and to adapt to their new lives.
Eva became an ambassador for the foundation and was busier and more fulfilled than ever before. When she told Anna she needed a personal assistant, Anna immediately introduced her to Daisy. They hit it off and Daisy thrived in her new job. She moved out of her mother’s house and was revelling in all the opportunities for travel.
Now, as Anna walked through the door into the gallery, she smiled as she recalled telling Daisy all those months ago, ‘ You never know what’s around the corner .’
‘Ah, here you are,’ Eva called out. ‘Better late than never!’
‘I just didn’t want to overshadow you,’ Anna quipped back. ‘I thought I’d give you time to have the limelight to yourself. How are the book sales going?’
Daisy grinned. ‘They’re going really well. Everyone wants a copy. I wouldn’t be surprised if Eva hits the bestseller lists before the week is out.’
‘Don’t.’ Eva groaned. ‘It’s all very well people buying the book, but what if they think it’s rubbish?’
‘They won’t,’ Anna said reassuringly. ‘The photographs alone will make it a good buy.’
They laughed.
‘Talking of which, Charlotte has done a brilliant job,’ Daisy said.
‘As ever,’ Anna replied. ‘It drives me mad that she’s such a control freak, but she is brilliant at what she does.’
‘Actually, there was something I wanted to talk to you about,’ Eva said. ‘Not tonight, obviously, but perhaps we could catch up before you go back to Cheshire.’
‘Yes, I’d love to have a proper catch up. But you’ve got me intrigued. Can you give me a hint?’
Eva grinned at her. ‘Well, depending on how the book goes, and despite my nerves I’m hoping it goes well, I’ve got an idea for book two.’
‘Go on.’
‘Well, now that I’ve got a platform, there are lots of stories to tell about the bravery and strength of other survivors. And of course, there’s no book without photographs.’
‘That does sound like something I would be interested in,’ Anna replied. She’d been pondering where to go with her photography for some time now, but she had wanted to find something that could make a difference. This sounded like the perfect project. And working with Eva again would be an added bonus. ‘Let’s catch up tomorrow then.’ She glanced to the queue that was forming behind her, waiting for Eva to sign her book. ‘But for now, I’ll let you get back to your public, while I go and have a look at these snaps that are on display.’
She took Daniel’s arm and they moved towards the first prints.
More than any of her previous exhibitions, the photographs blew her away. They began with some that Daniel had taken on the catwalk prior to the explosion, and followed with ones that showed Eva when she was first in hospital.
‘God, I love the way you’ve captured her emotions,’ Daniel said as they walked slowly round the exhibition.
‘I was lucky,’ Anna replied modestly. ‘Eva has a very expressive face.’
‘No, it’s more than that. She knew you were taking the photos, but you seem to have captured her so that it looks as though she is almost unaware. You’ve documented perfectly the highs and lows of her recovery. Look at the joy on her face here, that she’s managed to propel herself right to the end of the bar.’
‘That was in the early days,’ Anna agreed. ‘She said her arms were screaming in pain at the effort of lifting her upper body. She used the gym regularly, but nothing had prepared her for that. It took her weeks to be able to get to the end of that bar, but she persevered, and I’m so glad that I managed to capture the moment she made it. Again, I was lucky she was a very good subject.’
‘And I’d say you’re too modest.’ Daniel kissed her lightly on the lips.
As they reached the foyer of the gallery once more, the door opened to reveal Anna’s dad and his new partner, Jane. They’d met at the cookery class Andrew had joined and had developed a friendship, which had led to something more. Her dad looked so much happier than she’d ever seen him, and she was grateful to Jane for bringing that joy into his life.
‘Dad! Jane!’ Anna went to join them and enveloped both of them in a hug. ‘I’m so glad you came.’
‘We wouldn’t have missed it for the world,’ Jane said.
‘She’s been like a cat on hot bricks all day,’ Andrew said.
‘Well, why wouldn’t I be? It’s the first time I’ve been to an exhibition like this. And to know the artist too — well, that’s just the icing on the cake.’
‘Oh, you’ll have to get used to that, with our Anna,’ Andrew said proudly.
‘Says the seasoned pro.’ Anna laughed. ‘Here, take a glass of champers and go and have a look.’
‘I’ve heard so much about these pics,’ her father said. ‘I can’t wait to see them.’
‘I’ll catch up with you later.’ Anna smiled as she watched them walk away arm in arm.
‘They seem very happy together,’ Daniel said, coming to stand by her side.
‘They do, don’t they? I’m so pleased for them. I can’t believe how much life has changed in such a short time. It seems that everyone I love or care about is in a good place in their lives.’
‘I agree. It’s a shame Harry couldn’t make it, though.’
‘I know, he would if he could, but he’s got a deadline for a big assessment, and you know how conscientious he is. I’m just glad he’s happy.’ Despite a disruptive few months in the run-up to his exams, Harry had received top grades and had gone to the university of his choice in Durham. Sometimes, when he had a free weekend, he came to stay with them rather than making the longer journey down to London, and he and Daniel got on well together.
The person who had changed the most, though, was Jack. After being arrested, he’d really turned his life around. A spell in prison, much shorter than any of them had anticipated, had confirmed to him that this wasn’t the way he wanted to live his life. Ever since he’d been helping other youngsters turn away from crime.
He was smiling as he approached her now. ‘This is amazing, I’m so proud of you.’
‘And I’m proud of you too.’ She gave Jack a hug. They were closer now than they’d ever been, as he was no longer the angry young man who’d turned on her all those months ago.
When she and Daniel were alone again, Daniel said, ‘It’s hard to believe that hiring a drowned rat of an assistant could have led to such great things.’
Anna agreed. ‘Oh, yes, especially when the person who hired the drowned rat was such a rude man.’ She held up her glass. ‘I propose a toast.’
‘What, to us?’ he asked.
‘No. To Charlotte, for getting you to hire the drowned rat. She has proved beyond doubt that first impressions don’t mean a thing.’
THE END