Sitting alone in the corner of Bounty, I watch my mum and dad as they slow dance to ‘Careless Whisper’ by George Michael which, given the circumstances, is that not an awful choice of song?
It’s nice to see them happy. It might have only been for a few days, but I honestly thought they were going to break up and that would have been awful. Not because they’re my parents and it would have sucked for me, but they have been married for forty years. Imagine if those forty years had been for nothing; if they weren’t meant to be, or if one of them gave it up because they thought they could find something better elsewhere.
I was so stressed out, thinking about them having a messy divorce, the lighthouse being sold, trying to visit them both separately at Christmas, and all with a backdrop of both Patrick and Will’s betrayals (of varying severity).
At first I was like, do you know what, I don’t ever want to put myself out there, I don’t want to give anyone the chance to hurt me. But here, tonight, seeing my mum and dad dance together, so madly in love after all this time … That’s what I want, and not every man I meet is going to lie to me or cheat on me.
There are a few couples on the dance floor with them. No sign of Gary sadly, so no one for me to dance with (in the disabled toilets or otherwise).
I’m sitting in a dark corner on my own, sipping on my virgin cocktail. I’ve had to swear off the alcohol again because since I got my crutches, the pressure I’m feeling in my leg is horrible.
‘Hey,’ Dean says.
‘Oh, gosh, you snuck up on me,’ I say. ‘Sorry, I was miles away. Hello.’
‘One thousand pennies for your thoughts,’ he jokes.
‘So, I know I was kind of vague in my message but this is the surprise anniversary party my dad has been planning for my mum – this is what he’s been up to all this time. I feel awful.’
‘Lola, I’m a detective – a pretty good one – and even I thought he was guilty. Sometimes you’ve got to wait for all the evidence.’
‘That reminds me, what’s going on with your tractor stuff?’
‘Oh, we got them last night,’ he says.
‘Oh, cool,’ I reply. ‘Wait, last night you were with me.’
‘Yeah, you needed my help,’ he says. ‘It’s no big deal.’
‘But wasn’t that your big bust?’
‘Lola, it’s no big deal.’ He takes a seat next to me.
‘You’re amazing,’ I tell him, resting my head on his shoulder. ‘The party is nearly over – you didn’t need to come.’
‘I know, but I said I would,’ he says. ‘Also … I need you to return the favour.’
I sit up again. ‘Oh, really?’
‘Yeah, my cousin is getting married this weekend,’ he says. ‘My sister asked me if I had a date for the wedding and I didn’t want her to think she’d wasted her money on you so I said yes. I was going to make up some excuse, like my date was ill … but then I remembered that she hasn’t met you in person, right? She told me she spoke to you on the phone?’
‘That’s true …’
‘And she refers to you as Linda.’
‘Yeah, my mum posted the advert on Facebook that she responded to.’
‘So …’ Dean stands up before getting down on one knee in front of me. ‘Will you be my date to this wedding? You won’t even need to use a fake name, if she thinks you’re called Linda.’
‘It would be my pleasure to be your fake wedding date,’ I reply.
Dean jumps up and grabs me for a hug, as though I’d just said yes to marrying him. With our faces just inches apart, we stare into each other’s eyes for a moment. I feel my breathing quicken as a knot forms in my stomach.
‘Lola, listen,’ Dean starts.
‘Oh, sorry,’ I hear Kim say. ‘Are you two …’
‘I’ll go get a drink,’ Dean says.
As Kim sits down next to me, I feel so guilty. I feel like she’s just caught me … but caught me doing what? Nothing. Then why do I feel so awful?
‘I’ve been thinking,’ she says when it’s just us two. ‘I don’t think Dean and I would work. You were right, I was just doing a Channy and taking your words too literally.’
‘Really?’ I ask.
‘Yeah, I don’t think he’s my type,’ she insists.
I wonder whether she’s only saying this because she just walked over to find us having a bit of a … of a what?! A moment? Was that a moment? I don’t know if she thinks she’s stepping aside so that I can move in, but I wish I could help her find someone. The perfect person for her.
Seeing how kind and generous Kim can be only goes to show how superficial my friendships in London are. Here she is, stepping aside for me. Gia only stepped aside so they could get my broken body off her dance floor.
As Kim pulls her phone out of her bag, I notice her green phone case. There’s something on the back, something I recognise …
I reach out and twist her phone in her hand so I can see the back of it.
‘Is that the Hulk?’ I ask, noting the large green man on the back.
‘Oh, erm, yeah,’ she says, sounding embarrassed. ‘Since I moved back home I’ve had a lot of time just sitting around in front of the TV, watching it with my dad while my mum is out. I know it’s not very cool but I’ve got super into Marvel movies. Avengers, Thor, Iron Man …’
‘Are you kidding?’ I ask.
‘OK, look, I know it’s not cool, but it could be worse,’ she says awkwardly.
‘No, I’m not making fun of you,’ I insist. ‘It’s great that you like Marvel because … One question: do you know what Thor’s hammer is called?’
‘Mjölnir,’ she says cautiously. ‘Why?’
‘OK, I have someone you need to meet,’ I tell her. ‘Come with me.’
I struggle to my feet and hop across the room to find Robbie. Perhaps I can return the favour with Kim. Maybe she’s just the nerd Robbie is looking for …