Chapter 43
Saturday morning was sunny for September, but a sharp northerly wind bit at Felicity and James’s cheeks as they got out of the car.
Today was the open day at Animal Saviours, and Felicity and James had arrived super early to hang bunting and sweep floors and make frantic phone calls to find alternative food vans when two of the ones they booked broke down on the same day.
‘They’ll be here,’ said Andrea, in her weird, slightly chipper voice that she only used when she knew Harry was coming to visit.
‘They’d better hurry,’ muttered Felicity. ‘Maybe it’s too cold. Maybe they’re all hibernating.’ And then a thought struck her and it struck her so hard and fast that cold ice ran down her spine. She edged away from Andrea, slowly.
‘Just got to go and check something,’ she said hastily, and then turned and ran before Andrea could even reply.
Felicity burst into the staff room where Charlie and James were obediently laying out cups and investigating the ancient urn they’d borrowed from Charlie’s dad to see why it wasn’t boiling yet. Which basically involved tapping the light on the front and frowning.
Charlie’s face lit up when she came in.
‘Morning, Charlie.’
‘Morning yourself,’ he said with a wink, and James threw him a look.
‘Er, James, can I borrow you a second?’
James raised his eyebrows but obediently followed her. ‘Come here,’ said Felicity and dragged him by his shirt into the cat room.
‘I really don’t think we have time for this, Felicity,’ he said suggestively.
She shook her head. ‘Honestly. What do you think I am?’
‘Insatiable?’
‘Stop it. Look. I’ve got a major problem.’
‘What is it?’
‘Ooh, I feel sick.’
‘Tell me.’
‘Just give me a minute, I think I might throw up…’
James moved to stand beside her and rubbed her back. ‘Please tell me what’s going on.’
Felicity took three deep breaths, then gritted her teeth. Waves of nausea and embarrassment washed over her. ‘Don’t be mad, okay?’
‘With you? How could I ever be mad with you?’
‘You haven’t heard what I’m going to say yet.’
‘Well, try me.’
‘Oh, James. Help. I’ve forgotten to actually send out any invitations. No one knows this is happening. I’m such an idiot.’
Pins and needles were creeping into her fingers and up her arms and Felicity wondered if she might be having a panic attack. James, however, just threw back his head and laughed.
‘Keep your voice down,’ hissed Felicity, trying to shake the pins and needles out of her hands.
‘Sorry,’ said James, still laughing.
‘It’s not funny,’ she said firmly.
‘It is a bit.’
Felicity peered at him. ‘Okay, it is a bit. Or it will be later I’m sure, but right now, stop laughing and do something.’
James put his hands on her shoulders and looked her square in the eye. ‘Don’t throw up on me please.’
Felicity’s stomach roiled as if in protest.
‘You don’t need to worry,’ he said, still looking her right in the eyes. It was something they’d been working on, on her therapist’s advice. Maintaining eye contact. All she had to do was not look away. Don’t look down.
‘I’m quite worried actually,’ she said. ‘No one’s going to come. This is going to be a disaster and Animal Saviours is going to have to close and it’s all my fault.’
‘Right, but you see that’s the opposite of not worrying.’
Felicity nodded.
‘You don’t need to worry,’ he went on, ‘because your dad will come and he’s the only person we actually need to come. He’s told all his readers. Or at least, all of Diana’s readers. Blessed Diana and her followers can save the day all by themselves.’
‘That’s true I guess.’ She shrugged.
‘But also, you don’t need to worry because you actually asked me to do the advertising, and I sorted it.’
‘You did?’
James smiled. ‘I did.’
‘Felicity!’ came a shout from the corridor. It was Andrea. ‘Come quickly. There are loads of people coming. Action stations, everyone.’
Felicity’s heart nearly stopped in her chest. She kissed James full on the mouth and he laughed and pulled her into a hug. ‘I delegated that job,’ she whispered. ‘I forgot.’
‘Yes, you did.’
‘And you did it.’
‘Yes, I did.’
‘Thank God for you, James Cowley.’
‘He did do a spectacular job with me, it has to be said.’
‘That He did,’ said Felicity, smiling. ‘Plus, you always did look hot in an Animal Saviours top.’
‘This old thing?’ said James, gesturing down at himself in the rather tight-fitting polo shirt, left over from his days volunteering at the centre when they first met.
‘Come on, God’s gift. Let’s go.’
And they marched out of the door to meet the crowds James had indeed conjured up out of nowhere.