Chapter Four #3
And she sent back a standard rejection letter saying she’d “keep my details on file.”
I was so totally mortified, I never told anyone. Especially not Mum and Dad.
“You should listen to some of Kerry’s business tips, Emma,” Dad is saying sharply. “Maybe if you paid more attention, you’d do a bit better in life.”
“It’s only a walk!” quips Nev with a chortle. “It’s not a miracle cure!”
“Nev!” Mum frowns in half reproof.
“Emma knows I’m joking, don’t you, Emma?” says Nev easily, and fills up his glass with more wine.
“Of course!” I force a merry smile.
Just wait till I get promoted.
Just wait. Just wait.
A sudden image of the cranberry drink spraying over Doug Hamilton pops into my head, and I feel a twinge of unease. Not one of my best moments. And when I got home yesterday night, I found a message from Paul on my mobile, asking how the meeting went and saying we’d speak on Monday.
But I have to think positive. He wouldn’t not promote me just because of one mistake, would he? I mean, if it was anyone’s fault, it was the design department’s! They should make better cans. Or the drink should be less fizzy….
“Emma! Earth to Emma!” Kerry is waving a comical hand in front of my face. “Wake up, dopey! We’re doing presents!”
“Oh, right.” I come to. “OK. I’ll just go and get mine.”
As Mum opens a camera from Dad and a purse from Grandpa, I start to feel excited. I so hope Mum likes my present.
“It doesn’t look much,” I say as I hand her the pink envelope. “But you’ll see when you open it….”
“What can it be?” Mum says, looking intrigued. She rips open the envelope and takes out the flowered card, and her whole face lights up. “Oh, Emma!”
“What is it?” says Dad.
“It’s a day at a spa!” exclaims Mum. “A whole day of pampering!”
“What a good idea!” says Grandpa, and pats my hand. “You always have good ideas for presents, Emma!”
“Thank you, love! How thoughtful!” Mum leans over to kiss me, and I feel a surge of pleasure. I had the idea a few months ago. It’s a really nice daylong package, with free treatments and everything.
“You get champagne lunch,” I say eagerly. “And you can keep the slippers!”
“Wonderful!” says Mum. “I’ll look forward to it! Emma, that’s a lovely present!”
“Oh, dear!” says Kerry with a little laugh. She looks at the large creamy envelope in her own hands. “My present’s slightly upstaged, I’m afraid. Never mind. I’ll change it.”
I look up, alert. There’s something about Kerry’s voice. I know something’s up. I just know it.
“What do you mean?” says Mum.
“It doesn’t matter,” says Kerry. “I’ll just…find something else. Not to worry.” She starts to put the envelope away in her bag.
“Kerry, love!” says Mum. “Stop that! Don’t be silly! What is it?”
“Well,” says Kerry. “It’s just that Emma and I seem to have had the same idea.” She hands Mum the envelope with another little laugh. “Can you believe it?”
My whole body stiffens.
There’s complete silence as Mum opens the envelope.
“Oh, my goodness!” she says, taking out a gold-embossed brochure. “What’s this? Le Spa Meridien?” Something falls into her hands, and she lifts it. “Tickets to Paris? Kerry!”
She’s ruined my present.
“For both of you,” adds Kerry a little smugly. “Uncle Brian, too.”
“Kerry!” says Dad in delight. “You marvel!”
“It is supposed to be rather good,” says Kerry with a complacent smile. “Five-star accommodation…The chef has three Michelin stars.”
“I don’t believe this!” says Mum. She’s leafing excitedly through the brochure. “Look at the swimming pool! Look at the gardens!”
My flowery card is lying, forgotten, amid the wrapping paper.
Suddenly I feel close to tears. She knew. She knew.
“Kerry, you knew,” I suddenly blurt out, unable to stop myself. “I told you I was giving Mum a spa treat. I told you! We had that conversation about it, months ago. In the garden!”
“Did we?” says Kerry casually. “I don’t remember.”
“You do! Of course you remember!”
“Emma!” says Mum sharply. “It was a simple mistake. Wasn’t it, Kerry?”
“Of course it was!” says Kerry, opening her eyes in wide innocence. “Emma, if I’ve spoiled things for you, I can only apologize—”
“There’s no need to apologize, Kerry love!” says Mum. “These things happen. And they’re both lovely presents. Both of them.” She looks at my card again. “Now, you two girls are best friends! I don’t like to see you quarreling! Especially on my birthday!”
Mum smiles at me, and I try to smile back.
But inside, I feel about ten years old again.
Kerry always manages to wrong-foot me. She always has, ever since she arrived.
Whatever she did, everyone took her side.
She was the one whose mother had died. We all had to be nice to her. I could never, ever win.
Trying to pull myself together, I reach for my wineglass and take a huge swig. Then I find myself surreptitiously glancing at my watch. I can leave at four if I make an excuse about trains running late. That’s only another hour and a half to get through. And maybe we’ll watch telly or something….
“A penny for your thoughts, Emma,” says Grandpa, patting my hand, and I look up guiltily.
“Er, nothing,” I say. “I wasn’t really thinking about…anything.”