Wags To Riches (34 page)

   “Me?” Adam says startled.  “What do I need to do?”

   “Just keep pouring champagne in the top glass” I say brightly.  “You’ll be fine!”  Hey – I’ve had three glasses already and I don’t care if it all goes everywhere.

Adam walks into the centre of the marquee and up to the tower, before taking the bottle of champagne and the microphone from the barman.  “Well – I’d just like to say thank you to all of you for coming and sharing my birthday with me” Adam says and the crowd applauds “And I would especially like to say thank you to my lovely girlfriend Gail for organising all this for me”.  I can feel myself blush and as the crowd claps again, Adam gives me a dazzling smile.  He then starts to pour champagne into the top glass of the tower.  Oh God – lets watch them fall everywhere.  The glasses below start to fill and everyone claps again.  Hey - That looks fantastic! I think and applaud heartily.
Where’s Sharon? I wonder, looking around.  Can’t see her anywhere.  She should see this – this was her idea.  I quickly go outside the marquee to look for her and spot her stood alone near one of the trees looking troubled.

   “Sharon!” I call, hurrying across the grass towards her.  “You should see this – Adam’s started pouring champagne into the tower and it’s fantastic!”

   Sharon gives me a watery looking smile.  “Great – I’m glad it worked” she says in a small voice.

   “What’s wrong?” I ask concerned.  “You’ve not fallen out with Tony again have you?”

   Sharon shakes her head.  “No” she says quietly.

   “Well – what’s the matter then?” I ask.  “Don’t you feel very well?”

   “No – I’m fine” she replies and takes a deep breath.  “It’s just – I think – I think I might be pregnant”.

   “Sharon that’s fantastic!” I say, delighted.  “Congratulations!”

   “Only” she continues, “It might not be Tony’s”.

   “WHAT?” I say gaping at her.  “You’re joking?”

   Sharon shakes her head.  “You know Gaz from the club?  Well - it might be...” she trails off.

   “Oh my God!” I say, feeling completely shocked.  “Are you serious?”

Sharon nods and her eyes fill with tears.  “I’ve been so stupid” she whispers.  “I’ve got a pregnancy test in her bag, only I daren’t do it.  I’ve just been hoping and hoping that my period would come”.

   “Oh dear Sharon!” I say, horrified.  I don’t believe this.  One minute I’m thinking about champagne bubbles and the next
- babies!  “Look,” I say firmly, “You need to do that test.  You need to find out if you are or not – you can’t carry on like this”.

   “I know.  You’re right” Sharon replies.  “I’m going to do it now” she says, “before I lose my nerve”.

   “Let’s go into the house” I say, still in a state of shock from Sharon’s disclosure.  As we make our way up to it, Sharon starts telling me about what happened.

   “It was just after we’d had that massive fall out at Gina’s wedding” she says, “We’d made up - me and Tony, but I was still really hurt and I bumped into Gaz down town.  He was out with some friends and we were both really drunk and ended up back at his place and well – one thing led to another”.  She looks over at me.  “I didn’t mean it to happen Gail, it just did.  I was trying to laugh it off and put it behind me, you know – forget all about it, but then I missed a period.  Neither of them knows anything about it.   Please don’t tell them Gail,” she says pleadingly, “Especially Tony.  It would kill him”.

   “I won’t say anything to either of them” I promise as I rummage in my handbag for my door keys and open the back door.  We step into the kitchen, the stillness of the house a stark contrast to the noise and laughter outside.

   “Right – where’s the loo again Gail?” Sharon asks.

   “It’s just through here” I say, walking over to the door that led into the reception area and pointing across at another door opposite.

   “Right”.  Sharon starts walking towards the door and then stops.  “Shit – I think you need to time this test – you have to wait for a couple of minutes or something.  I haven’t got a watch on – have you?” she asks anxiously.

   “No I haven’t.  Erm - hang on, I’ve got a timer in the kitchen” I say and go back to fetch it.  Unfortunately it’s shaped like an egg.  I hand it to Sharon who looks at it with a wry smile on her face.

   “Rather appropriate really” she says and goes into the bathroom.  I lean back against the wall.  Oh my God.  I don’t believe this.  This is Adam’s party and I’m supposed to be the hostess with the mostess, smiling and making polite chit chat to people and looking fantastic and what I am doing instead?  Stopping slappers flirting with Adam, fretting about sausage rolls that have gone bloody AWOL and now I’m waiting for Sharon while she does a pregnancy test after a one night stand with the fit looking waiter from the bloody football club!  What a great night!

   “I suppose this explains the remark you made when we went for champagne during the match?” I say.

   “What was that?” Sharon calls.

   “Oh you know – what you said about Gaz looking after your every need?” I say dryly.

Inside the bathroom, I can hear Sharon laughing bitterly.  “Well – yes I was busy congratulating myself on doing to Tony what I still think he did to me, regardless of what he says.  I just never dreamt I would end up in this mess.  Right – I’m putting the timer on now” she adds.  “I’ve just got to wait three minutes”.  We both fall silent, waiting.

   “Are you still there Gail?” Sharon calls.

   “Yep, I’m still here” I say, sitting down on the floor near the door.  “I’m not going anywhere”.  I’m still carrying my champagne flute and drink the rest of the contents, before standing the glass near the wall.  I look at my shoes and smile.  At least my shoes still look fantastic, even if everything else is a bit shit.

   “I do love Tony you know.  It’s just he hurt me so bad – all this business about Sarah Symthe.  I know that’s no excuse for what I did – but I’m suffering now if that makes anyone feel better” Sharon says in a tearful voice.

   “It’ll be alright – we’ll sort it out,” I say sympathetically, “I don’t know how – but we’ll sort it” and then suddenly I can hear the kitchen timer ringing.  I stand back up and take a deep breath.  “Well – we’ll know any second now” I say, more to myself than to Sharon.  After several minutes, the bathroom door opens slowly and Sharon’s teary face peers round it.  “Well?” I say.

Sharon’s face breaks out into a wide smile.  “It’s negative!  I’m not pregnant!” she says and I rush to hug her.

   “Oh thank God for that!” I say feeling immensely relieved.  “Just promise me you will never do anything stupid like that again!”

   “I won’t, I swear” Sharon says firmly.  “I mean it.  From now on – it’s just Tony and me.  Even if Brad Pitt gets a job at the club” she adds and we both laugh.

   “Now go and find Tony,” I say smiling.

   “I will.  Thanks Gail,” she says and we hug each other again before going back out into the garden where we see Tony talking to Tim. 

   “Tony’s there” I say, nodding towards him and Sharon hurries over to him.  I walk past them and smile.  Right – I’ll get back to Adam and start looking around for him.  Where is he?  Then I see him stood on the lawn alone, near one of the flaming torches, peering through the crowd.  I think he’s looking for me too.  “Adam!” I shout and as he sees me, his face breaks out into a smile.  I smile back at him and we just look at each other for a second before he comes up to me, picks me up and spins me round in the air.

   “Thank you so much for this Gail – it’s fantastic!” Adam says as he puts me down on the floor.  “I’m having such a good time!”

   “Well – good!  You deserve it!” I say warmly, giving him a big kiss.

   “Where the hell have you been anyway?  I’ve been looking all over for you.  Are you alright?” he asks.

   “I think I need a drink,” I say shaking my head.

   “Of course.  What do you want?  Champagne?” Adam asks.

   “Anything” I say and go to sit down at one of the tables on the lawn while Adam gets some drinks.  He returns moments later with two glasses of champagne and moves his chair to sit next to me.

   “What is it Gailey?” he asks, taking hold of my hand.

   “Oh it’s just Sharon” I say, shaking my head before taking a drink of champagne.

   “Oh God – they’ve not fell out again have they?  I’m not having them ruining all your hard work by having a shouting match on the dance floor!” Adam says angrily, standing up.

   “No – they’ve not fell out” Gail says quickly, “This is more about what happened when they fell out last time.  Please sit down” and I tell
Adam what has just happened.

   Adam whistles quietly.  “Bloody hell!” he says finally.  “They are as bad at each other those two”.

   “You won’t tell him will you?” I ask, “I know he’s your mate and everything…”

Adam looks at me and shakes his head.  “There’s no way I’m telling him that Gail – he wouldn’t thank me for it and like I said, they are both as bad each other.”

   “Why – do you think he did sleep with Sarah Smythe?” I ask, surprised.

   “I don’t know” Adam says, “I went to bed early that night and was completely out of it by ten o’clock.  All I will say, is Tony does not help himself as he was flirting with Sarah in the hotel bar all night”.  He runs his hand distractedly through his hair.  “At the end of the day, it’s not any of my business is it?  I don’t want to get involved”.  He takes hold of my hand again and smiles at me.  “Anyway, this is
my
birthday party” he says and proceeded to drink his entire glass of champagne, “And I intend to have a fantastic night!  Come on Gail” he says, smiling his sexy lopsided smile at me, “Let’s get on that dance floor and show them how it’s done!”

   “You’re on!” I say grinning back at him, “I’m just in the mood for a boogie” and I quickly drink my champagne and follow Adam onto the dance floor.

What a brilliant night.  I’ve had such a good time.  I wave
goodbye to the last few guests, thinking about the night.  I did think with Chanel, the sausage rolls and all that with Sharon that it was not going to be a good night, but afterwards, it got much better.  It was great dancing with Adam and it was great to be able to catch up with Alex too I think as I watch the DJ put the last of his stuff into the van and drive off.  Thing was though, when Alex was talking about work, it seemed another world away and I was having difficulty recalling the people and the delivery systems she was talking about - although that could have been due to all the champagne I’d drunk by that point.  I wave at Tony and Sharon as they drive off, watch the caterers go and then turn to go back inside, shutting the front door thankfully.  It’s now nearly three am and I feel happy, but tired.  And now I’m going to take my shoes off.  Oh God – that’s marvellous.  I carry them into the lounge, where Adam is slumped on the settee looking a little worse for wear, but still gorgeous.  He smiles at me as he comes in.

   “Come on you!  Bed!” I say and we go out of the room, me carrying my shoes and Adam’s jacket and we start to make our way upstairs.  Adam stumbles slightly and starts giggling.  “Adam - how many have you had?” I ask him laughing.  “If it’s any consolation I feel a bit tipsy myself”.

   “I’m all right!” Adam says loudly and puts his arm around my shoulders.  I slip my arm round his waist and we continue walking upstairs, both of us holding the banister either side for support.  “I’ve had such a good time tonight Gail – thank you” he says.  “Although I fear I may have had a bit too much to drink!”

   “At least you haven’t lost your shoe like Terry did!”  I joked and we start to giggle uncontrollably.  Eventually – God knows how - we get to the bedroom and Adam immediately drops onto the bed.  I take off his shoes and socks and then unfasten his belt. 

   “Heeeyyy!” Adam drawls, smiling with his eyes closed.  “Do you want me baby?” he asks and laughs softly. 

   “Oh hardly Adam!  You’re pissed!” I say, laughing too.  “I am
not
letting you sleep in an Armani suit!  It’ll ruin it” I add firmly and pull off his trousers.  I then fiddle with his cufflinks and put them carefully on the dressing table before unbuttoning his shirt. 

   “I love you Gail!” Adam murmurs sleepily.

   “I love you too” I whisper, “Now get some sleep!”

In what seems like less than a minute, Adam is sound asleep.  I can hear his breathing, deep and regular.  I go into the bathroom and quickly wash my face, brush my teeth and take my contact lenses out before getting undressed, throwing my dress over the back of the chair.  God I’m knackered I think wearily, pulling on my ivory silk camisole.  I don’t know how some people party nearly every night – I just can’t take the pace.  It’ll be nice to have a quiet night in tomorrow and watch telly.  I look over at Adam asleep, smile and plant a little kiss on his forehead.  I’m so glad he had a good time tonight I think and smile at him before snuggling down into bed and falling asleep myself.  A good time was had by all I think.  Well done me.

I don’t wake up the next morning until just after ten and my mouth is so dry it feels like I’ve eaten most of the lounge rug.  Ugh.  I’m going to have to have a drink.  I sit up gingerly and push my hair out of my eyes before looking over at Adam who is still fast asleep.