The Wedding Countdown (32 page)

‘What about the shops here?’ suggests Wish.

‘We’ve looked,’ says Roma. ‘There’s no sign of her.’

‘Coffee shops?’ I say. If there were straws in sight believe me I’d be clutching them.

‘Those too,’ Roma whispers. ‘What shall we do?’

The concourse swells with people, some towing wheelie bags, some carrying children and others gazing rapt at the departure boards as though having a religious experience. The roar of train engines fills my ears and the smell of diesel makes my empty stomach churn.

‘Could she already be on the train?’ wonders Wish.

‘No,’ Nish says. ‘It arrived while we were here and we’ve been at the barriers ever since, so there’s no way that we’d have missed her.’

The four of us exchange glances.

‘What are we going to do?’ whispers Roma.

I have absolutely no idea. Do I send Roma home without Fizz and carry on searching? Or do I keep her with me and call home to explain the situation? The thought of how let down and worried my parents will be is enough to make me feel like diving under the nearest intercity, but it isn’t looking as though I have any choice but to tell them. With a sigh, I reach into my coat pocket and fish out my mobile.

‘I need to speak to Mum and Dad,’ I tell Roma, who bursts into noisy sobs. ‘I have to. We can’t pretend any longer. She’s missing.’

‘Who’s missing?’ asks a voice, and Fizz peers over my shoulder. ‘God,
baj
, you’re not about to grass me up to the olds are you?’

‘Fizz!’ shrieks Roma, flinging her arms around her twin and hugging her tightly. ‘You’re safe!’

I sag against Nish. Sure enough there’s Fizz, sipping a Starbucks as though nothing has happened.

‘Of course I’m safe!’ says Fizz. ‘Like, duh! Didn’t you get my note?’

‘You didn’t have your phone on!’

‘God, Mills,’ says Fizz. ‘I wish you’d chill out. You’re worse than the olds. What did you think was going to happen to me?’

Now she’s here I’m full of emotions that fight each other with more fury than Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader. Half of me wants to fling my arms around Fizz and the other half is itching to slap her. Has she no idea of the trauma her selfish behaviour has caused?

No, of course she hasn’t, because this is Fizz we’re talking about, the guilt equivalent of Teflon.

‘We were worried sick,’ I snap. ‘Wish and I have been looking for you.’

‘What for? I wasn’t lost. I told you in my note I’d meet you here. Why do you always make such a fuss?’

‘Because, teeny-weeny brain,’ I say furiously, ‘I’m supposed to be looking after you! Imagine if something had happened?’

Fizz curls her lip. ‘I’m seventeen, for God’s sake. I think I can find my way around London. And anyway, I was perfectly safe. Raza was with me.’

WHAT?

‘There he is now,’ adds Fizz, and sure enough Raza is making his way across the concourse, immaculate in his black cashmere coat and with Fizz’s bag over his shoulder. ‘Ask him if you don’t believe me.’

‘Don’t worry, I intend to.’

‘Hey, angel.’ Raza puts the bag down and gives me a winning smile. ‘God, what
are
you wearing?’

‘I’ve been out looking for my sister.’ I ignore his charming comment. ‘She says she’s been with you. What’s going on?’

‘Whoa!’ Raza puts his hands in the air. ‘Calm down! I’ve been with Fizz, it’s true, but only because I picked up your message and went out to search for her. And, as you can see, I’ve found the prodigal sister and brought her safely back. So don’t have a go at me.’

‘Really?’ Wish says. ‘Where was she, Raz?’

Raza and Fizz glance at one another.

‘Where were you?’ I demand.

‘Mills!’ Raza’s voice is a hiss, which brings back unpleasant images from my dream. ‘Don’t hassle Fizz, she’s feeling pretty silly right now.’

She is? I look at Fizz’s smug face and doubt this. I don’t think Fizz has ever felt silly in her life.

‘She went to find PoppadRUm,’ continues Raza. ‘It occurred to me that was where she might be after you upset her so much yesterday, so I drove over and, sure enough, there she was waiting to see her heroes. I persuaded her to come back with me and here she is, safe and sound.’

‘Is this true?’ I ask Fizz.

‘Yeah,’ she mutters, but won’t meet my gaze, looking instead at the toes of her new knee boots. ‘I went to see the band.’

Why is she lying? What truly awful thing has she really done and why is Raza protecting her?

What the Hell is going on?

‘Why didn’t you call?’ I ask Raza. ‘I was frantic.’

‘My phone’s dead. Jesus, Mills, what is this? An interrogation? You might thank me.’

I say nothing. I don’t like liars – even when, as I’m sure is the case here, they’re lying to protect someone.

‘So everything’s fine,’ says Nish, little realising the concourse floor has turned to quick sand. ‘What a relief! You guys had better get on the train; it’s due to leave any minute.’

Wish looks at me and there’s such concern on his face that I feel alarmed. We both know Raza and Fizz are lying. What I need to know is why.

‘Hell!’ exclaims Raza, looking at his Rolex. ‘You’ve got about two minutes! Have a safe journey, girls. It’s been fantastic to meet you. Mills,’ he adds smiling at me, ‘I’ve got to shoot; I’ve left all my briefs to do today, but I’ll see you tomorrow evening.’

‘Raza, I really need to talk to you.’

‘We will talk,’ he promises, backing away. ‘Tomorrow.’ Blowing a kiss, he vanishes into the crowd, leaving me confused and unsettled. Fizz and Roma are busy saying their goodbyes and need to rush to make the train, which means that I’ve no time to question Fizz.

‘Just put her on board,’ whispers Wish, ‘and get her safely home.’

I’m not sure what he’s implying but I’m uneasy. I can’t wait to have Fizz safely back in Bradford. When the train pulls out of the station, the twins pressing their noses against the glass and mouthing ‘I love you’, it isn’t sadness I feel but an enormous sense of relief.

‘Let’s go for lunch.’ Nish links arms with Wish and me.

‘Sorry guys,’ says Wish. ‘I promised Minty I’d meet her.’ He looks ruefully at his leathers. ‘I don’t think this is quite what she had in mind though for lunch in Knightsbridge.’

I’d forgotten all about Minty. She’d kill me if she knew I’d had my arms around her man, however innocent the reason.

‘Thanks for everything you’ve done, Wish, I really appreciate it.’

‘Anything for you, Mills,’ Wish says softly. ‘You know that.’

And actually, I think I do.

‘I’m stuffed.’ Nish places her hands on her concave belly. ‘I couldn’t eat another thing.’

‘I’m not surprised!’ I laugh, because Nish hoovered up her own pizza and dough balls as well as half of mine, and had to be torn away from the sweet menu.

‘Stress makes me hungry,’ she says.

‘And every other emotion,’ I tease. ‘Seriously, Nish, you must have the opposite of the fat gene. It’s so unfair.’

‘I’ll swap my skinny body for your looks any day,’ says Nish. ‘Especially if it means I get gorgeous guys running after me. And talking of running, it was lucky Raza caught up with Fizz.’

‘Mmm,’ I say.

I don’t want to discuss Raza right now. Nish is biased anyway and bound to jump to the wrong conclusion even though Raza probably has a totally innocent reason for covering up for Fizz.

What do I mean, probably? Of course he has a good reason and he’ll tell me tomorrow, I know he will.

‘This is on me.’ Nish counts out some notes and places them on a saucer.

‘Thanks,
saheli
. I’ll just nip to the loo.’

The loo is a delight and full of Molton Brown products. I experiment happily with the hand cream, check my reflection in the antique mirror and sniff the fresh flowers. No wonder Eve raves about this place; it’s certainly elegant and tasteful.

I wander back through the restaurant, admiring the tasteful décor and the glamorous diners. I like the secluded little booths for romantic couples to dine in. The couple on my left is holding hands across the table and deep in whispered conversation, enjoying their candle-lit privacy. I feel a bit voyeuristic peering in and am just about to look away when the female diner tips back her head and laughs at something her companion has said, a deep throaty smoker’s laugh.

I stop dead.

Eve Daniels?

It is! It’s the very same Eve who’s supposed to be hard at work, not being wined and dined by a man. The guy she’s with is older than Eve with a thick pelt of silver hair and deep laughter lines fanning out around his eyes. He’s really familiar looking and I know I’ve seen him somewhere before.

Not wanting Eve to think I’m doing an Auntie Bee on her, I beat a hasty retreat. Fortunately they’re far too busy gazing into each other’s eyes to take notice of anyone else. Eve has a mystery man! Who’d have thought it? I knew the whole working at weekends thing was far too good to be true, but I’m amazed that Eve has managed to keep this a secret for so long. She normally has a bigger mouth on her than Zippy.

Just wait till I grill you tonight, dear
saheli
of mine!

As I push open the door and join Nish outside I’m still wracking my brains to recall where I’ve seen the distinguished man before. Then it comes to me: I saw him at Wish’s birthday party. Just before I went onto the balcony with Raza I’d noticed Eve chatting to him while Nish was dancing with Jamal. Well, what a dark horse! She pulled at Wish’s party and kept it to herself.

‘You took your time,’ grumbles Nish.

‘You’ll never guess who I’ve just seen.’

‘Amaze me.’

‘Eve! And she’s with a man!’

Nish’s eyes are saucers. ‘The sneaky cow! I knew there was no way she’d be working. Who was he?’

‘I don’t know. But I’ve seen him before, at Wish’s party. He’s the older guy with grey hair she was talking to.’

‘Yes!’ Nish punches the air. ‘I bloody knew it!’

‘You knew she was seeing a guy she met at the party?’

Nish grins. ‘He’s not some guy that she met at the party, Mills, he’s some guy that she
invited
to the party.’

‘She did?’ I’m taken aback because Eve kept that quiet. ‘Who is he then?’

‘
He
,’ says Nish, her voice brimming with triumph, ‘my dear Amelia, is none other than Eve’s much maligned boss!’

‘Damien? But she hates him!’

‘Yeah right, course she does,’ Nish snorts. ‘Isn’t it obvious? They’re together and she’s been keeping it a secret, the sneaky moo!’

As I try to get my head around this revelation I wonder whether anyone I know is telling me the truth. Raza has lied, and Fizz and now Eve. Is there anyone I can trust?

Right now it doesn’t feel like it.

Chapter 28

‘Mills,’ Raza purrs over the intercom. ‘Come up.’

He buzzes me in and I glide upwards in the lift, checking my appearance in my powder compact just in case something disastrous has happened during the taxi ride over. Although my emotions are in turmoil I still want to look perfect for this evening.

I’ve made a real effort to look good tonight. I’m wearing a long cream skirt teamed with a cute pink cashmere ballerina-style top by Mui Mui that I picked up in the pre-Christmas sale. I’ve also borrowed Nish’s Prada pumps and matching bag, so I’m well accessorised. I’ve pulled my hair into a chignon and my only make-up is a slick of lip gloss and a coat of mascara, so the overall effect is understated and elegant.

That’s the idea anyway. I hope I don’t look like a lost member of The Royal Ballet Company.

I’m really nervous, which I know is ridiculous because I’ve been seeing Raza for three months and he’s never been anything other than gentlemanly. But I’ve never been alone with a guy before, and the way I’ve been brought up makes me feel this scenario is far from wise. Maybe I should have suggested we went out for dinner?

The elevator door swishes open and I take a deep breath. Get a grip! He’s cooking dinner, that’s all. But no matter how many times I try to reassure myself, and despite the stunning Jo Malone basket that Raza had biked over to my office, I’m on edge. Tucked in my bag is the note that accompanied this extravagant gift.

To making it special x

What exactly does this mean? Marriage is the logical conclusion because he’s certainly going all out this evening with the special meal and the whole romantic scenario. Raza and I have never been alone in the flat. He must have something really important to say.

He’s going to propose!

A headache starts to beat behind my eyes. There’s no way I can contemplate such marriage until I get a few straight answers. First Raza has some serious explaining to do regarding why he covered up for Fizz.

If only I could have talked all this through with someone. But Nish is so anti Raza, Eve didn’t come home and Wish wasn’t at work today. It sounds pathetic but I feel really alone.

I was frantic to discuss the events of yesterday with Wish and when I arrived at work he was the first person I looked for.

‘He’s not here, darling!’ trilled Raj, from his usual morning position mainlining caffeine by the espresso machine. ‘Didn’t you hear? Wacky from PoppadRUm’s dumped Roopa Roy and she’s gone spare!’

Nahin!
There went my exclusive.

‘Apparently,’ continued Raj, ‘she’s trashed her penthouse at the Savoy and is threatening to jump. Nina wants those pictures! Why the urgency to see Wish?’

‘I need the shots he took at the PoppadRUm gig,’ I said, which was true.

‘He printed lots out really early.’ Kareena looks up from
Heat
magazine. ‘They’re on his desk.’

I booted up my Mac and collected the pictures from Wish’s work area.

‘Can I have a peek?’ Raj peered over my shoulder.

‘Be my guest,’ I said.

Together we flicked through the prints and I found myself taken aback by the raw power of Wish’s talent. Somehow his lens managed to see through the façades of his subjects and right into their souls. There was a close-up of Wacky, the light catching his face and making him look fragile and lonely, and another of Pram grinning widely, the camera capturing his cheeky personality. Even the A-list celebs were shown in a fresh way as though Wish had a magical insight into their deepest thoughts.