Eden was waiting in the entrance foyer of The Savoy when India walked in. She gave India a hug, before standing back and rubbing her hands together.
“You excited?”
India gave her a rapid nod, a flurry of butterflies swarming in her chest. She’d been excited to wake up in Gina’s bed again this morning. Excited that Gina had told her parents. Excited they were heading in a positive direction.
But this was a different kind of excitement. Because of India and London Pride, a huge love story might be about to catch fire again. She knew she shouldn’t get ahead of herself. Eunice and Joan might hate each other on sight. It could happen. However, the alternative had been giving her goosebumps all morning.
“I’m beyond that. I was saying to…” India stopped. She didn’t want to jinx her and Gina so soon. She wanted to keep this to herself, not give anything away, or risk the chance for it to turn sour. They were still in a bubble. She didn’t want anything to take her out of that. “To a friend recently,” India continued, “that I’m so emotional about this. I don’t know why. I suppose because they represent all of us, don’t they?”
Eden nodded. “Couples are still driven apart by expectation and law around the world. For them, it wasn’t a matter of being brave due to the time. I imagine it was a matter of surviving. But I was saying the same to Heidi last night.”
India cupped the back of her neck with her right hand. “Is she coming to take photos?”
Eden nodded. “She’s taken Maya trampolining this morning, one of her favourite things to do. She’s coming later on, after you’ve chatted to them. We decided they need a little time to be with each other before they get a camera shoved in their face.”
“Good point.” India wasn’t sure she’d ever be comfortable having a camera shoved in her face, let alone when she hadn’t seen her long-lost love for 60 years. She imagined she’d just want to stare at her beloved’s face. At every line, every wrinkle. To understand what each one meant. A shiver went down India’s spine. Even thinking about it was a little much.
“What about your friend, Lib? Gina’s coming down in a bit to meet her, too.”
Eden nodded. “She’s coming with Heidi. I told them both 2pm so Heidi has a chance to get her stuff ready, and Lib and Gina can have a coffee.”
“I should have trusted you to have everything worked out. Organisation is your middle name.”
Out of the corner of India’s eye, a flash of blond hair shot across the lobby, and a figure turned a corner. India frowned. That kinda looked like Andi. She stared harder, but the woman had vanished. India shook her head. It probably wasn’t Andi.
Andi had sent her a message last night again, saying she wanted to talk. She really needed to stop doing that, but India didn’t want to engage with her. She hoped if she ignored her, Andi would go away. London was a big place. It was large enough for the two of them to cohabit in peace. So long as they both stuck to the same rules.
Eunice was the first into the lobby, looking gorgeous as ever. Tall and still striking, she wore flared white trousers, a blue-and-white top and a white jacket. Her royal-blue-framed glasses sat pristinely on her face, and beads adorned her neck.
She looked like she was trying to make a good impression. Like she might be going on a date. Which, of course, she was. Behind her, carrying her bags and glancing around the space, was her granddaughter, Cordy.
India stepped forward and shook both of their hands. “Lovely to see you again, Eunice, Cordy. How was your trip down?”
Eunice gripped her hand tight, her knuckles white, her skin papery. “Fine. Thank you for the first-class tickets.”
India had paid for them herself. “The least we could do.”
Eunice scanned the glitzy, golden foyer, before her eyes returned to India. “She’s not here yet?”
Eden shook her head. “She’s in a cab. Any minute now.”
Eunice’s face suddenly became stricken. “Do you mind if I check in and freshen up, in that case?”
India shook her head. “Of course. Big day ahead. I’ll take you to the reception desk to check-in.”
However, just at that second, a woman walked through the door of The Savoy. Somehow, India instinctively knew this was Joan. She had no idea why. Perhaps it was the way she walked with purpose. The way her gaze was scanning the lobby. But it was confirmed when she stopped as she saw India, then her gaze dropped to the back of Eunice.
As if having a sixth sense, Eunice turned around, too.
India heard Eunice gasp, even over the hubbub of the foyer. Then, before probably either Eunice or Joan could process their thoughts, India stood and watched as they walked towards each other, Joan silently mouthing Eunice’s name, and they fell into each other’s arms.
The initial meeting hadn’t gone according to plan. First, India was due to shepherd them both towards a meeting room together, so they could sit down and tell her a little about their story. But having seen their emotional reunion, it was agreed to give Eunice and Joan a couple of hours to get reacquainted.
So it was that India ended up in the American Bar at The Savoy, having a coffee with Eden, her partner Heidi, and Cordy.
“I couldn’t think of anyone more appropriate to take pictures of Eunice and Joan today than you, Heidi,” India said. “You’ve done tons of weddings, so I’m guessing you know real love when you see it.”
Heidi nodded. “It’s all in the eyes, and the body language. Luckily, most of the weddings I do, I believe in. There have been a couple of curveballs lately, though. I did one where the bride left her groom for her bridesmaid moments before she was due to get married. She was literally in her dress and outside the church, and her bridesmaid declared her love.”
India’s mouth dropped open. “Wow. That’s beyond brave. But also, poor guy.”
Heidi snorted. “I know. He was shell-shocked. But better to know now rather than later. Like today.”
“Do you two believe in one true love?” India asked them.
“I do now I’ve found it.” Eden kissed the top of Heidi’s hand. “But I’ve no idea what I would think if I was confronted with someone I was once in love with decades later. I can’t even comprehend that.”
India glanced at Cordy. “Your gran had her reservations, didn’t she?”
Cordy nodded. “But she wouldn’t have been brave enough to do this without your help and prodding. Her worst nightmare was Joan turning up and rejecting her. The fact she didn’t is enough for now. I know she was nervous, but she was trying to cover it up. Whatever happens from here, I know Gran is grateful for the opportunity.” Cordy sat back. “Although having witnessed it first-hand, I wasn’t expecting the wealth of emotion. It almost knocked me out in the foyer.”
“If you’re keeping something bottled up for that long, that’s what happens,” India replied.
Nods all round.
“Talking of that, are you loving anyone at the moment?” Eden asked. “You’ve said a couple of things today that made me think you might be.”
India gave Eden a coy smile. “There might be someone, but it’s a little early to start shouting about it.” She and Gina hadn’t gone totally public to anyone but family and close friends. She wasn’t going to share it with the wider world without asking Gina first. Especially when Eden’s best friend might be working with her.
“It’s not Gina, is it?”
India hoped her makeup this morning was enough to cover the blush that worked its way onto her cheeks. She’d really slathered it on, knowing she was going to be under heavy lighting later. “All will be revealed very soon.”
Eden smiled. “I didn’t have you down as a woman of mystery, but the plot thickens.”
India gave them all a smile. Then she checked her watch. Saved by the bell.
“Talking of plots thickening, it’s nearly time to go and collect our lovers from their room for the interview.” India glanced at Heidi. “Shall we get the cameras and lighting set up? Then we can get some shots before I interview them. They’re going to want to look their best, and I imagine there might be tears to come.”
Heidi gave her a firm nod. “Good idea. It’s the function room around the corner?”
India nodded. “Right by the loo.”
Heidi kissed Eden, then grabbed her stuff and left.
“Shall I go and see if Gran and Joan are ready?” Cordy stood beside India.
India nodded. It made sense. “A familiar face would be great. Do you mind bringing them down here?”
Cordy shook her head. “Consider it done.”
India’s phone buzzing made her grab it. It was a message from Gina.
‘Just finishing up with Lib. We’re walking to The Savoy in ten. Also, I might have found my new work colleague. Yay! See you soon, gorgeous. x’
The last word made India’s heart swell. Gina thought she was gorgeous? The feeling was mutual.
Eden leaned over just as India was clicking out of her message app. “I’m going to find out who’s making you smile like that.” She gave her an amused grin.
India couldn’t help her own full-beam smile. “Very soon, believe me,” she replied. “Perhaps even in the next hour.” Because India didn’t think she could stop herself kissing Gina when she got here, just like Heidi had kissed Eden. If that meant Eden saw them, so be it.
Fifteen minutes later and the space had noticeably filled up with Savoy theatre goers having pre-matinee drinks. India scanned the bar for a glimpse of Gina and Lib. She couldn’t see them. Eden had gone to the function room to check if Eunice and Joan had arrived yet.
Minutes later, Eden sat down opposite India with a shake of her head. “No sign as yet.”
India’s phone buzzed again. It was Eunice. “Cordy told me to tell you we’ll be down in five minutes. Joan is just fixing her hair.”
From doing what? India allowed herself a small grin and put her phone on the table.
But when she glanced up and saw the woman headed towards her, that grin soon turned to a frown.
Andi.
India had seen her earlier. Her heart began to pump that bit harder. She straightened her spine.
Gina was due soon.
India had to get rid of Andi, and fast. She couldn’t let Andi pollute her present like she had her past.
Andi was dressed head to toe in Gucci and strutting like she meant business. She was carrying a bunch of flowers, and her blond hair fell deliciously around her shoulders. She was striking, India had never doubted that. However, she also lived in her own world, and chose what she wanted to believe.
When she’d dumped India, Andi chose to believe they were at a natural end and she was being kind to sever ties. Now India wasn’t dancing to her tune as she once had, Andi was intent on tracking her down. Which is why India was doubly glad she’d met Gina. Somebody real, someone with substance. The only substance Andi knew came in white lines.
However, even Andi walking across a bar meant people already had their phones out and were taking photos. Andi had that affect. India could sit fairly unnoticed. She ran a food company, and her show was on BBC2. She wasn’t a household name. Andi had been on TV and radio for years. Andi most definitely was.
India got up out of her seat just as Andi arrived at her side. The floral scent of Bright Crystal perfume hit her nose.
Andi offered India the bouquet of roses. Red roses. Why hadn’t India realised they were red roses earlier?
“These are for you. I decided to come the direct route, because you’re not answering my texts.”
Cold, icy dread slipped down India from head to toe. What the fuck was Andi saying or doing, giving her red roses?
She turned to Eden, whose eyes were wide.
“You’ll find out in the next hour,” India had said.
Oh god.
Eden would think she’d been talking about Andi. That she and Andi were back on. Which is what everyone in this room who’d ever read any gossip page would think, too.
That was a whole lot of people.
India began to shake her head as Andi thrust the roses into her hand. She wanted to throw them to the floor and scream at Andi, ask her what she was doing. But when she went to do just that, to say just that, nothing happened. She froze. All the while, India’s heart slowed almost to a stop.
She had to get rid of Andi. To regain the power of speech.
She cleared her throat and gathered her strength.
“What the hell are you doing here? And why are you giving me red roses?”
Andi looked at her like she couldn’t quite understand anything India said. “I’m giving you these to say sorry for everything, India. I treated you badly. I hurt you. I get that. But if you’ll let me, I want to make it all up to you. I could tell how hurt you still were when we met in the Sea Containers restaurant in February. I’m a little slow on the uptake, and I apologise. But I’m here now.” She grabbed India’s free hand, the one not holding the flowers.
India’s eyes widened.
Andi continued. “I’m finally on the same page as you, and it’s about time. We’re destined to be together. You know that. I know that. What do you say?”
The room began to pulse in India’s ears. Around her, phone cameras snapped. A low hum of anticipation filled the air. Meanwhile, a slow roll of fear unfurled in her stomach, spiking every nerve ending she possessed.
Andi thought they were destined? She was about nine months too late.
However, India’s fear exploded into technicolour when Andi dropped her hand, produced a ring box and sank to one knee.
India could hardly breathe.
What the hell was happening?
How in the hell was this happening?
“India Contelli, I’ve been a fool.”
Andi could say that again. This was insane. But it was insanity that India could not take her eyes off. Just like everyone else in the bar.
Someone let out a low whistle.
India’s brain thumped in her skull.
“But I don’t want to be a fool anymore.” Andi stuck the ring under India’s horrified gaze. It sparkled under the bar lights just as India knew it would. “I want to make it all up to you. Put everything right. India, will you marry me?”
India was caught in Andi’s manic stare.
She opened her mouth to say something, but nothing came out. Her heart was beating so fast, she thought she might collapse.
But it was nothing compared to what it did when she looked up and saw Gina standing mere feet away, staring at her open-mouthed as, all around, strangers began to applaud.
The last thing India saw as Andi stood up and embraced her was Gina turning on her heel and running out of the bar.