This morning, a taxi took Claire to South Audley Street in Mayfair. She had an appointment in a glitzy but comfortable beauty salon, a place once owned by her close friend Jennie. Claire was going to take time out; Arrow Hall was a scar she was going to blank off for a few hours. A back massage, her hair cut and styled and her nails manicured was pampering to restore her belief that she was doing the right thing.
There were several brightly lit mirrors around each room where Claire unavoidably saw herself, and each time it did nothing to lighten her mood as what she saw was the frown lines on her forehead deepening. It was not helped as she checked out of the salon. As Claire took the receipt from using her credit card for a very costly few hours, she was sharply reminded once again that, moving away from Rick, she would have to settle all accounts when they came. Spending the money this morning did not give her the timely boost she had expected.
Late afternoon, Claire walked back to her flat and spent time putting her clothes from Rick’s apartment in a small wardrobe. She had turned her phone off since early that morning, but she now saw four missed calls. They were all from Rick. He had texted too. He had something to say to her. Could they meet and talk again just for a short time?
That did not help to lift a level of growing sadness surrounding her. And another hour passed before Claire replied to Rick. She made it a quick message.
Yes. We’ll meet just to say goodbye properly. From the good times I want to keep memories. But anything to do with Arrow Hall, we’ll keep out of it. Why don’t u find my new flat in Knightsbridge. Tomorrow in the afternoon.
As she finished the text, Claire knew that seeing Rick again would be difficult. Sitting on her own in the small, confined space of her flat, it felt gloomy; there was no elegance to it, nothing that she could ever make into a comfortable space. How long would she be able to stay here until her money ran out? And what a contrast it was against the light and spacious buildings where she had always lived.
And what would Rick think of it? That no longer mattered, and Claire blotted it out. What could she say to Rick tomorrow afternoon? Why had she let herself be drawn into a corner, with a small bank balance and little chance of finding work?