Girl Online (22 page)

While the professional photographer takes some posed shots of the groomsmen and the guests, I sneak around with my much smaller camera, taking impromptu shots. I get a few lovely close-ups of the detail on some of the dresses and a super-cute shot of two of the flower girls whispering in each other’s ear. Then, just as someone announces the bride’s arrival and the guests all rush to their seats, I take a really romantic picture of Jim at the top of the aisle, looking so nervous and hopeful and handsome as he waits for Cindy to appear.

In the end, they decide not to put on British accents to read their vows, which I’m really glad about. The vows are so beautifully written and heartfelt. They’ve added in all these really fun, personal details like Cindy promising not to moan about Jim watching baseball and Jim promising to learn to love reality TV. By the time the ceremony’s over, I’m a gooey emotional wreck.

As the guests all start tucking into the wedding breakfast, Mum pulls me over to one side. Her eyes are bright and sparkly and she’s grinning from ear to ear.

“Pen, you’ll never guess what! I’ve been asked if I’ll theme a party. Here in New York.”

“What? When?”

“Next week.” Mum looks over at the head table. “You know the maid of honor—the big lady with all the hair?”

“Yes.”

“Well, it’s her thirtieth birthday on the day before New Year’s Eve and she’s asked if I’ll help her organize a mods-and-rockers theme for it.”

“Wow! But—but we’re flying home tomorrow. How are you going to do it?” I get a horrible sinking feeling at the prospect of Mum staying here and us all having Christmas at home without her.

“She’s said she’ll pay for us to all stay on longer—to have Christmas and New Year in New York. And they’ll pay for us to rearrange our flights too. These people are seriously rich, Pen, money’s no object to them.”

I stay rooted to the spot as I try to process the news. “We’re going to stay here for Christmas?”

Mum nods. “Yes. I’ve called your dad and he’s fine about it.”

As soon as I start feeling excited, my brain instantly starts searching for reasons why this can’t possibly happen—why it has to be too good to be true. “But what about Tom? And what about Elliot?”

“Elliot can stay too,” Mum says with a smile. “Well, hopefully he can; I’ll need to call his parents. And Tom will be fine. He texted me this morning asking if he can spend Christmas with Melanie and her family.”

I’m now so excited I feel like dancing the conga all the way through the dining room. I don’t, though, because there are way too many trip hazards.

I’ll be spending Christmas and New Year in New York. I’ll be able to see Noah. My life cannot possibly get any better.

“And Sadie Lee has invited us to spend Christmas with her, at her home in Brooklyn,” Mum says, instantly proving me wrong. My life can and did just get a trillion times better.

• • •

Elliot and Dad join us for the evening reception. Elliot looks amazing in a vintage suit and cravat. I look down at my servant’s attire and sigh. It’s hardly what I’d have chosen to see Noah in—I feel so dowdy, but at least I look in character. We all gather around as Cindy and Jim start their first dance together as husband and wife. Cindy has changed into a stunning twenties flapper dress. It’s made of shimmering silver-blue satin, which changes color in the twinkling lights like a moonstone. As I watch the band play the opening chords of “Unchained Melody,” my skin tingles as I think back to yesterday, when I first spotted Noah sitting on that same stage in the dark. It’s only three hours till midnight now. As I glance at the ornate clock on the wall, I feel even more like Cinderella—only in my case I’m looking forward to midnight, rather than dreading it.

“Penny, why haven’t you gotten changed?” Mum whispers in my ear.

I turn to face her. “What do you mean? Into what?”

Mum frowns. “I thought I told you about the dress. Didn’t I tell you abut the dress?”

I look at her blankly.

“Oh my goodness! I must have been so busy I completely forgot.” Mum grabs my arm.

“Downstairs, in my room, there’s a dress for you.”

“What kind of dress?”

Mum smiles. “You’ll see.”

“But don’t I have to stay in theme?”

“You will be.” Mum’s smile gets increasingly mysterious and she passes me her key card.

“OK then.”

I turn to go—and quickly snap a picture of one of the flower girls crawling under a table, clutching a chicken leg.

• • •

As soon as I walk into Mum and Dad’s room, I start to laugh. Dad’s side of the room is practically empty, apart from a copy of a sports biography on his bedside table and his suitcase placed neatly against the wall. Mum’s side looks like a tornado has hit it—a clothes and cosmetics tornado. I pick my way through the chaos and go over to the bed.

There, laid out on top of the covers, is a beautiful flapper dress. It’s made from emerald-green silk, with a beautiful fringe of silver beads around the bottom. There’s a matching beaded headband lying on the bed next to it and a pair of black Mary Jane shoes. I can’t believe that’s really for me, but there’s a note on the hanger marked: F
OR
P
ENNY
.

I’m so excited I can barely breathe. But then, of course, my good old inner voice starts going to town.
What if it doesn’t fit you? What if it looks stupid on you?
However, as I pick up the dress, I can’t imagine it looking stupid on anyone. I wriggle out of my starchy servant’s outfit and pull the dress over my head. The material feels so soft it gives me goose bumps as it brushes against my skin. I actually gasp out loud when I see my reflection in the full-length mirror. The dress fits me perfectly and makes me look so grown-up and so—well, so
interesting
, like an old movie star. I put on the shoes and then look at my hair. I’d tied it up in a bun for my servant look but it’s not really working with the dress.

I shake it loose and grab a brush from Mum’s dressing table. Once I’ve got it under control, I plait both sides and pull them up into a milkmaid braid. Then I place the headband on top. Finally, I sit down at Mum’s dressing table and put on some liquid eyeliner and some more mascara. A quick dusting of powder and a squirt of perfume and I’m finished. I go over to the full-length mirror for a final check.

I suddenly get a flashback to the day I was getting ready to go and meet Ollie, and how nervous and unsure I’d felt. Now I look at myself and I can’t stop grinning. It’s hard to believe that was only a week ago—it feels like a whole lifetime. And I feel like a whole new person. I put on the shoes, pick up my bag, and head for the door.

Chapter Twenty-Six

When I get back to the wedding suite, I find Mum and Dad and Elliot sitting at a table in the corner of the reception room.

“Darling!” Mum says.

Dad gapes at me. “You look . . .”

“Flapper-tastic!” Elliot exclaims.

“Thank you!” I do a twirl and the beaded fringe at the bottom of the dress fans out around me. Then I sit down with them. “Thanks so much, Mum.”

“My little girl’s growing up,” Dad says wistfully.

“Dad!” I say, blushing with embarrassment.

“OK, I need to try calling my parents again,” Elliot says. “Keep everything crossed that they say I can stay for Christmas.”

Mum and I immediately cross our fingers. Dad crosses his eyes.

“So, Sadie Lee tells me that Noah’s coming by to see you later,” Mum says as soon as Elliot’s left.

I nod.

“Hmm, I think I’d better meet this Noah,” Dad says.

“You will,” Mum replies. “We’re going to be spending Christmas with him.”

Just hearing her say this makes a heavenly chorus ring out in my head. Then I realize it’s the text notification on my phone. The text is from Noah.

So, any chance you can escape from the party early? I don’t normally like long goodbyes but this time I’ll make an exception. (I told you you’re making me act all weird!) N

How early?

Now early?

Are you here?!!

Yes—in the service car park. Just say the word and I’ll come meet you in the kitchen . . .

Mum and Dad are getting up to dance.

“That was Noah,” I say. “He’s here already. Would it be OK if I go and see him in the kitchen?”

“Of course,” Mum says.

“Bring him through here,” Dad says over his shoulder as he leads Mum to the dance floor. “I’m sure Cindy and Jim won’t mind.”

I slip off into the kitchen and find Sadie Lee wiping down one of the huge stainless-steel counters. I’ve barely seen her all day as she’s been holed up out here overseeing all of the meals.

“Hello,” I say.

“Hello, sweet girl.” Sadie Lee turns to me with a beaming smile. Her face is slightly flushed and a few strands of grey hair have made their way out of her bun but apart from that she still looks effortlessly chic. She looks me up and down. “Why, don’t you just look adorable!”

“Thank you, it’s my evening attire.”

“It’s beautiful, that’s what it is. Let me get a look.” Sadie comes over to take a closer look at the beading on my dress. “You look just like a picture I have at home of my grandmother. She was one of the original flapper girls. Oh my! Noah’s eyes are going to pop right on out of his head when he sees you.”

At the mention of his name, I instantly blush and feel super-self-conscious. “He just texted me to say he was here—in the car park.”

Sadie Lee nods and gives a knowing grin. “I know. He’s on his way up.”

“Thank you for inviting us to spend Christmas with you.”

“Oh, honey, you are so welcome. I love having a full house at Christmas. It will be just like—” She breaks off and I guess she must be thinking about Noah’s parents.

“I was so sorry to hear about—about the accident,” I say quietly, hoping that it isn’t too forward of me.

She gives me a sad smile. “Noah told you?”

I nod.

“He’s very taken with you, you know.”

I smile back at her. “I—I really like him too.”

Sadie Lee comes closer, and her voice takes on a more urgent tone. “I’m so glad he’s met someone he can talk to. He’s under—”

“Hey, what’s up? Oh my!” I turn to see Noah staring at me, his eyes wide.

“What did I tell you!” Sadie Lee nudges me. “Popping right out of his head.”

“You look—majestic!” Noah says, still standing rooted to the spot over by the door.

“Thank you,” I say shyly. “So do you.”

Noah’s wearing black skinny jeans and a scuffed leather biker jacket, over a pale grey hoodie. His hair looks shinier and softer than yesterday, like it’s freshly washed, and his eyes look even chocolatier than I remember them. As he starts to smile, the dimples return on either side of his mouth. He looks so cute I can’t decide whether I want to hug him or take a picture of him.

“Do you have it?” he says, glancing quickly at Sadie Lee before returning his gaze to me.

“Sure do,” she says, bringing a wicker picnic hamper out from under the counter.

“I was wondering,” Noah says to me in a fake posh voice, “if you would like to accompany me on a picnic.”

“A picnic?”

“Uh-huh—but not just any old picnic,” he says with a twinkle in his eye.

“Oh no?” I say, playing along.

“No. I’m talking about a moonlit picnic.”

Instantly my heart sinks—there’s no way Mum and Dad will let me leave the hotel.

“On a secret roof terrace,” Noah continues. “Right behind this very kitchen.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

Sadie Lee starts to chuckle.

“I would be honored,” I say. I look at Sadie Lee. “Please could you tell my parents where I’ve gone? They’re through in the reception, probably embarrassing themselves on the dance floor.”

“Sure thing, honey.” She looks at Noah, concerned. “But isn’t she going to freeze out there, in that dress?”

He shakes his head. “Don’t worry, G-ma, I’ve got it covered.”

“Now why doesn’t that surprise me?” Sadie Lee says with a chuckle. “OK, y’all have fun—and don’t go keeping her out there too long. We don’t want her folks thinking she’s been abducted.”