‘So, you’re telling me that you managed to knock luscious Luca to the ground? You, against his, what, six-foot frame?’ Charlie asked.
‘Yes.’ Stella was proud of herself. She’d been learning some basic self-defence moves from Luca all week. An hour each morning in Rea’s back garden. Rea would sit at the door and throw in the odd instruction or laugh when Stella found herself in a heap on the grass.
‘Well colour me impressed,’ he said.
‘No matter your size or strength, it’s possible to defeat a bigger partner,’ Stella said, repeating the line Luca had given her.
‘It’s certainly putting a glow in your cheeks,’ Charlie said with a wink, as he smoothed some serum onto her hair. ‘You look beautiful.’
‘Thanks, Charlie. It’s fun. You know I go to the gym a couple of times a week, but the minutes there feel like hours, especially on the treadmill. Learning some basic karate moves with Luca passes by in a flash. I already feel more empowered.’
‘That’s great, kid,’ Charlie replied. ‘Anything that helps keep you safe in a real-world violent scenario gets my vote. How are things at home?’
‘Still the same. He’s playing the good-husband card, on the surface, anyhow. But I don’t know, I can sense his mood changing. He’s itching for a fight. Took all of my will power not to take him up on it yesterday.’
‘What happened?’
‘He threw out every single thing in the fridge, saying that there was a smell in there. He looked at me as he emptied cartons of food in the bin, as if to say, “come on, I dare ya”.’
‘I don’t know how you put up with him, I really don’t.’
‘Actually, something Luca said helped, as it happened. He’s been talking to me a lot about the need to keep calm in an argument. It gives better results. So I willed myself calm. Just looked at him, without saying a word, then went for a walk.’
‘He’s clever, though. Whenever he comes in here with you, his eyes take in everything. Don’t underestimate him, honey. Keep one step ahead,’ Charlie advised.
‘I’m trying. It’s been easier this past month, having you all on my side. The happiest I’ve been in a long time.’
Charlie leaned in, then held her chin gently in his hand. ‘Take a good look. You can be happy again. All of the time. I promise.’
Stella leaned her cheek into his hand and kissed it lightly. ‘Love you.’
‘Stop, you’ll set me off,’ Charlie said, blowing a kiss at her.
‘I’ve got something for you.’ She leaned down and pulled out a small bag from her handbag.
Charlie squealed when he opened it. ‘It’s your Theia couture cape.’
Stella giggled at the expression on his face. ‘When I showed you a photograph of it, a few months back, you were so excited. Well, I thought, a cape this beautiful should be owned by someone who really loves it.’
‘What size is it? Will it fit me? Doesn’t matter, I’ll starve for months to fit into it! How can you give it away? It’s stunning! Oprah wore one of Don O’Neill’s dresses to the Oscars, for goodness sake. He’s a genius!’
‘Charlie, my love, I know all that. That’s why Matt bought it for me. If it’s good enough for the Oscars … but I want you to have it. A small thank you for all you’ve done for me. It’s one size, so I think you’ll be okay. I reckon it will fit.’
‘I’ve done nothing,’ Charlie protested.
‘Yes you have. Rea and you, Luca too, have given me a reason to fight. To want more from life. You’ve made me believe that there’s a chance for a happier time.’
‘Now there’s no way I can stop the tears.’ Charlie’s eyes flooded and he quickly put the dress back into the bag. ‘I can’t have tears dropping on this piece. I know exactly when I’ll wear it. My sister gets married in September. It’s perfect.’
‘Just don’t wear those gold stilettos,’ Stella joked.
‘They are in the bin! It took me nearly a week to recover from that blister.’
‘Imagine how long it would have taken without the healing light!’
When they stopped laughing, Charlie said, ‘In all honesty, are you sure you want to part with this?’
‘Yes. It’s stunning. But it’s not me.’
‘What is you, then?’
‘You know, I don’t really know any more. I spent years just wearing shorts and t-shirts when I travelled. But they don’t feel like me now either, no more than this does. I think I’m somewhere in between the two.’
‘Well, maybe I can help you with that. I feel a shopping trip coming on.’
‘Okay, why not? When?’
‘No time like the present! Let me just have a word with reception and we’ll get going. And, by the way, this hairdo is on me.’
Within ten minutes they were in Charlie’s Mazda 3, whizzing up the Malahide Road towards the Pavillions. ‘There has to be some perks to owning your own business. As long as I’m back for 4.30 for an up-do I’ve got pencilled in, we’re grand,’ Charlie said.
‘I’ll have to be back by then to get dinner ready.’
‘What would happen if his lordship had to cook his own?’
‘Well, it won’t be too long more and he’ll have to find out.’
‘I’m going to miss you when you go. When do you think that will be?’
‘In a week or two. Once my new passport arrives and a few other loose ends are sorted, I’m leaving.’
‘I’ll come visit you, wherever you end up,’ Charlie said, linking arms with Stella as they walked through the carpark to the shops.
‘I’m counting on that. And you have to keep in touch with Rea. Don’t leave her on her own.’
‘I’ll call in every week. Promise. She’s going to be in bits when Luca goes back. Especially with you going too …’
They arrived at Zara and Charlie waved up to the bright entrance, as if they had arrived at the land of Oz. ‘This place is my favourite fashion hit. Doesn’t matter what age, class or style, there’s something for everyone. Kate wore a blue Zara dress the day after her wedding to William, you know. She can wear anything, that woman.’
‘You don’t need to sell the place to me! I’ve shopped here a lot,’ Stella said.
‘Yeah, but always buying cream and white: bland, bland, bland, bland. With himself dictating all the time. Am I right?’
‘Maybe.’
‘Today, I want you to walk around and pick out clothes that you want to wear. Forget about what Matt likes. This is about what you want. My only rule is, I insist it has oodles of colour.’
‘You’re very bossy.’
‘Am I? I’m only warming up.’ Then he hailed the attention of one of the shop assistants. ‘Can we get a dressing room set up please? We plan on trying on a lot of clothes today.’
Stella walked around the store touching clothes as she went. Her eyes kept drifting towards the muted tones she had become accustomed too, but every time she touched one of them, Charlie slapped her hand.
‘Ow!’
‘For your own good,’ he said, smiling happily.
‘You choose for me, then.’
‘Nope. This isn’t about what I want. It’s about finding your own style.’
She picked up a pair of super-soft skinny jeans in indigo denim. Then grabbed a pair in yellow too. A pair of mid-rise biker trousers caught her eye in brown, so she grabbed them.
‘You’d rock these floral palazzos,’ Charlie said.
‘Oh okay,’ Stella frowned.
‘Hold your horses there, Tonto. What’s that frown about?’
‘They’re a bit fussy.’
‘Then why are you picking them up? Stop trying to please others and please yourself!’
She grinned and hung them back up on the rail. ‘I think I’ll get a pair of them for Rea, though, for her birthday. She’d look great in them, wouldn’t she?’
‘Great idea. They are so Rea. I’ll go swap them for her size!’ Charlie said. ‘Back in a tick.’
Stella walked over towards the tops. She loved the look of a denim-and-white-striped camisole and a navy crochet camisole, thinking they would look great over her skinnies. She also picked up a couple of cropped t-shirts and a mustard knot shirt.
‘Right, let’s go try these on!’
The shop assistant had lined up everything on a rail outside one of the changing rooms. Charlie took a seat and, beaming at her, ushered her in.
‘What to choose?’
She picked up the black biker jeans and a red cropped linen top. Charlie handed her a pair of black strappy heels and told her to go in and release her inner biker chick.
‘Wow,’ he said when she walked out. ‘Look at those legs. Skinny jeans were made for you.’
Stella looked at herself in the mirror, her eyes going up and down her body, taking in every angle. ‘These are surprisingly comfy for something that is so form-fitting!’
‘You look smoking. Red is amazing on you. What next?’
Stella grabbed the blue jeans and the blue-and-white stripy camisole. She chose a pair of flat white pumps and when she walked out of the changing rooms, she was grinning from ear to ear.
‘This here, I feel like me in. Jeans and a pretty top. More like the girl I used to be.’
‘Look at your boobs! No bra on and the girls are standing to attention!’
She blushed but let a guffaw out.
‘It’s a nice sound that,’ Charlie said, standing up.
‘What?’
‘You laughing. In all the time you’ve been coming in and out to me to get your hair done, you’ve often smiled, but I’ve never seen you laugh properly. It suits you.’
‘I’m having a good time. It’s been a while.’
He stood behind her and placed his hands on either side of her shoulders. ‘Look at yourself. You are only fecking gorgeous. Do you hear me? No more wasting the pretty. That’s what I say. Life is too short. Hey … what’s wrong?’ Charlie asked suddenly, concern all over his face.
‘I miss my mother. Every day, I miss her. When you said don’t waste the pretty, well, it’s the kind of thing she used to say to me too.’ She shuddered as her head became full of her mother. ‘I remember going shopping with her when I was about eight. Just us two, we left the boys at home. And she let me try on anything I wanted. We were in Debenhams. I felt so grown up, choosing my own clothes. And no matter what I put on, she told me how gorgeous I was. Then I tried on these cool blue jeans with little stars embroidered all over them. They sparkled with glitter. And I picked a pink ruffly top to go with it. I felt so pretty as I twirled around for her in that changing room.’
Charlie stroked her friend’s arm lightly, then said, ‘You never talk about your family. Where is your mama, honey? Can we call her?’
‘There’s no phone line in this world that can connect to my mam, Charlie,’ Stella said. She brushed away her tears and smiled, saying, ‘Some things are too painful to talk about. I’ll tell you another day, I promise.’