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And again, that smile hits her eyes and makes her a bit emotional. She gets up as Harry moves his head on her chest and she starts swaying on the spot to pacify him. ‘Well, that’s why I’m here. Do you have that dress I lent you?’
‘The red one? You came for your dress?’ I ask her.
‘No, you plonker,’ she says, laughing. ‘Get it on. You’re going out. The girls and I are here to get you ready.’
‘Ready. For what?’ I ask, leaning into her. ‘Is Leo going to be there?’
She shrugs. ‘They didn’t say anything but I think they wanted to show their gratitude?’
I swivel my head towards the girls. ‘Girls? Do you know why I have to get ready?’
Bella shakes her head. ‘We’re not allowed to say. It’s something to do with your eyes though.’
‘My eyes?’ I ask, frowning.
‘Yeah, eyes. Is that right, Mummy?’
Gemma laughs riotously. ‘Yeah, just go get that dress on. And make sure you bring your eyes with you. All will be revealed.’
‘I could have got a taxi you know?’ I tell Gemma as she zigzags across lanes, driving alongside the Thames, still glittering in Christmas lights against the night air. Gemma doesn’t let on at all. She simply smiles at me and, all at once, I feel a mix of emotion running through me. Will Leo be there for this event? Am I ready to see him? I don’t think I can deal with the disappointment if he isn’t.
‘Can you just tell me what will be at the other end of this car ride? Please?’ I plead.
‘Food,’ Gemma tells me.
‘That could be a McDonald’s. Have you dressed me up for a Happy Meal?’ I ask.
The girls all giggle in the back of the car.
‘A Happy Meal? Don’t be silly. You’re grown up. You can order off the Savers menu at least.’ I glare at her from the passenger seat of her people carrier, glancing at myself in thewing mirror. I had a shower and managed to straighten my hair, and slap on some make-up. It felt good to maybe get out of my strange hibernation mood but I’ll resent Gemma if this is all for a drive-thru.
‘Keep that dress by the way, you look so pretty. Doesn’t Aunty Maggie look pretty?’ she asks the girls.
‘She always looks pretty,’ Bella says from the back seat and I beam at her.
The car has passed through the pretty buildings of Chelsea, crossed Lambeth Bridge and we still run parallel along the river past St Thomas’s Hospital. Whereas most would baulk at this rush-hour traffic, Gemma weaves through the queues, until her car slows down and she turns into a side road in Waterloo, pulling into a parking space.
‘Perfect.’ She picks up her phone and rings a number. ‘We’re here.’
I look at her and the girls, trying to ask them what’s going on but I can’t seem to work things out. This better not be a boat thing. I’m not wearing the right coat. But I suddenly hear a tapping on the glass and jump out of my skin. Frank. I smile to see him, then look around for someone else. He’s not here. I open the car door.
‘Are you Frank?’ Gemma asks over me.
‘I am. Nice to meet you,’ he says, waving at the girls in the back of the car.
‘You too. Have a good evening, guys.’
I turn to Gemma. ‘You’re not coming?’ She laughs and shakes her head, pointing a thumb to the kids. ‘I’ve done my job. I got you out of your house. I delivered you here.’
‘But…’
‘Go with it, Maggie. We love you, don’t we, girls?’
They all cheer from the back of the car as I exit, waving them off, leaving me standing there with Frank in his wedding tux and his outdoor puffercoat and mittens.
‘Hi,’ I say.
‘Good evening.’
