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Kate laughed. ‘Of course I will. It’ll be all right.’
Sophie didn’t know if it would be. All she knew was that it would inevitably ‘be’. And before she even had time to worry about it, Tuesday night would come racing around the corner.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Sophie was pretty sure that a forty-minute train journey followed by London Underground adventures and being on her feet all day probably wasn’t the best plan for Kate in her present condition, but despite Sophie’s initial concern, Kate had shouted her down and found herself on a Great Western train pulling into Paddington station the very next morning.
As with any school trip, whether or not there were children with them, calories definitely didn’t count and before they’d even arrived in London, they’d already consumed a hot chocolate, croissants and an obscene amount of Haribo. Sophie gathered up their rubbish and took it with her as they made their way to the door of the carriage.
A few feet below them, the platform stretched out with people scurrying about, wrapped warmly for the cold weather and carrying laptops, suitcases and bags. Some of them looked like they were genuinely travelling to do business, but as always, Sophie wondered what the other people were up to and why they weren’t cooped up in an office somewhere. Is this what the world was like when she was a prisoner in her classroom all day, every day?
She helped Kate down from the train and waited while she went for her fifth wee of the journey so far, but only after Kate had grumbled how far away the toilets were from their platform.
Then, they caught the Tube to Oxford Street. They climbed the stairs, Kate huffing and puffing behind her, and Sophie emerged from the station, breathing in the cold air and the familiar sight of Oxford Circus.
Before moving to Cranswell, Sophie had lived in London her whole life. The bustle and the lights and the noise felt like home and Oxford Street at Christmas was just beautiful. Everything was so much bigger than the real world. Shop windows stretched up over two or three floors of the department stores; Christmas trees were decorated with baubles the size of footballs; lights sparkled everywhere you looked. The doormen at Hamley’s were dressed up like Cinderella’s footmen, and the windows of Fortnum & Mason showcased luxurious hampers, everything dappled with gold leaf. For Sophie, Oxford Street was the epitome of Christmas.
‘Right,’ Kate said, catching her breath from the steps up to ground level. ‘Where shall we begin?’
‘I was hoping to buy some extra-special things from Harrods or Selfridges’ food hall. You know, something nice for Christmas day, maybe some cheese. And I still need a present for my mum. I just don’t know what to get her. What about you?’ Sophie asked.
‘I agree. Something tasty for the Christmas evening buffet would be nice. Some cheese for when I can eat it again would be perfect too,’ Kate said, rubbing her belly. ‘Also, I still need to buy for Gav and I want a new scarf. Ooh, and I need to buy something for my TA,’ she added.
‘Just a small list, then,’ Sophie said, laughing. ‘Let’s go to the food hall first, shall we? Maybe I could buy Mum a hamper or something.’
‘Sounds like a plan. But just so you know, I’m about fifteen minutes away from needing another wee.’
Sophie shot her a look of disbelief.
‘I can’t help it. This baby is sitting right on top of my bladder.’
They started in Fortnum & Mason. The window display was too enticing for them to pass without going in for a look – forest creatures wrapped up in coats and scarves, carrying piles of wrapped Christmas gifts through the trees. It was like a fairy tale. Sophie loved how once you were inside, it felt like you’d stepped back in time – the lead window frames and food stands that sold various delights by weight. Gorgeous.
‘This would be great for Mum and Dad,’ Sophie said, holding up a wicker basket. Inside there was a selection of biscuits and crackers, along with some preserves. It was the perfect present for the two of them.
‘Looks great,’ Kate said. ‘You keep looking. I’m just going to pop to the toilet.’
Sophie tried not to roll her eyes. She felt for Kate, but this was ridiculous.
‘No problem,’ Sophie said. ‘I’ll go and pay for this and then meet you by that exit over there.’ She pointed over the top of people’s heads to show Kate which exit she meant. They’d easily lose each other without a clear plan – the place was heaving with Christmas shoppers.
‘OK,’ Kate said. ‘See you in a minute.’ She waddled off in the direction of the bathroom, parting the crowds like a desperate and hormonal Moses.
Sophie wandered over towards the checkout, stopping to admire the grand Christmas tree that stood proudly in the middle of the hall. It was at least eight feet tall and there were decorations on almost every single branch. You could barely see the boughs for baubles. She realised that this was how Fortnum & Mason had showcased some of the decorations they had for sale, noticing that they each had little price tags. Sophie took a closer look. They were all glass baubles, each with a tiny scene recreated inside. Some were famous literary scenes; others seemed to illustrate a particular pastime or interest. Some were of coloured glass and empty; others were blown into interesting shapes.
One in particular piqued her interest. It was a medium-sized glass bauble, with a treble clef and musical note made of shaped silver wire, and the whole bauble worked like a snow globe. Sophie picked it up and turned it over. When she turned it back, the tiny particles of ‘snow’ fell slowly through the bauble, reflecting the light as they caught it. Sophie smiled sadly. She knew exactly who she would have bought this for. It matched the rest of Liam’s Christmas decorations perfectly. Would it be strange to buy it for him still, even though things had gone spectacularly wrong? Perhaps a peace offering like this could help them become friends again, which was going to be especially important given that Liam was destined to be in her life for a while yet, romantically or otherwise.
She rolled the cool glass between her fingers, the tiny particles of snow floating languidly in all directions. She would buy it. She may never give it to him, but she didn’t have time to think about it too much. She resumed her efforts to get to the checkout. Kate took a long time in the bathroom these days, but she didn’t have all the time in the world.
‘Sophie, love!’
Sophie turned at the sound of her mother’s voice. Through the crowd, she could see her waving wildly.
‘Hi, Mum.’ She stood – spotted – as June made her way towards her. There was no escaping now.
‘What are you doing here?’ June asked. ‘Shouldn’t you be at work?’
‘It’s an inset day.’
