I turned back to Amy, who was holding up a bodice in champagne satin that made her black skin even richer. ‘That looks—’ I was about to compliment her when I remembered. ‘Hey, I can’t try on dresses, Amy. Isn’t that bad luck or something?’
Amy laughed and turned back to the rail in front of her. ‘Not unless Luke appears in the doorway and sees you in the dress you have selected for your imaginary wedding with him.’ She placed the bodice back on the rail and spun round. ‘Oh come on, Lottie, don’t pretend you’re not seriously tempted. You love dressing up. Any excuse. Remember Casual Clothes Days at school? There was nothing casual about your selections.’
Feeling the stirrings of excitement in my stomach for the first time in days, I suddenly didn’t feel so tired. My workload was fading in my mind, Luke wasn’t angry with me, even Grandad’s worries were minimised in the face of the incredible mountain of fabric. ‘Helloooo, Lottie, are you ready?’ Amy was waving in my face.
I preened and pouted and encouraged Amy to get Sleek Blonde to pull on ribbons, fetch us more dresses, top up our glasses. We tried on fishtail dresses, meringues and bias-cut, sweetheart necklines and delicate lace.
I was dressed in full veil, tiara and feathered skirt when my phone rang and I hopped down off the box I was admiring myself on and padded over to my handbag.
‘What are you doing?’ Luke asked.
‘I’m trying on a wedding dress!’ I announced brightly.
There was a long pause and I pulled the phone away from my face to frown at the screen. Bringing it to my ear again I whispered, ‘Luke? Luke, are you still there?’
‘That is . . . well, that is . . . ’
It was only then I realised I should probably add, ‘ . . . for Amy. I’m wedding dress shopping with Amy, remember?’
Did he have to sigh so loudly? ‘Oh . . . oh well, I knew that. Great. Send Amy love.’
‘Will do. Did you call for anything in particular?’
‘No, I just wondered when you were getting back. I wasn’t sure how long these things take, we haven’t really seen each other.’
‘I saw you this morning,’ I pointed out, pulling the phone back so I could look at the screen. ‘Less than three hours ago, in fact,’ I confirmed.
‘Ha, ha,’ Luke said, deadpan. ‘I meant seen each other as in hang out, talk about something, do something together rather than just inhabit the same space?’
I turned my back on Amy who was wearing an expectant look on her face. ‘Oh, yes, I see.’ Why didn’t I laugh at this obvious tease? Why did I feel my shoulders tense, the grip on the phone grow tighter?
‘Look, I can’t be everywhere at once, Luke. I told you this was important. Amy hasn’t seen me in ages, she had to rearrange this appointment for me and I can’t just—’ All the old panic was stirring within me as I warmed to my theme.
‘Lottie.’ Luke tried to interrupt me but I was in full flow. ‘Lottie—’
‘And Grandad, what am I meant to be doing about Grandad?’
‘Actually I went round there after you left. He’d made these insane flapja—’
‘Yes, but I said I’d drop in there later,’ I cut him off. ‘He’ll be alone for the rest of the day and I ca—’
‘Lottie, I didn’t call to have an argument with you,’ Luke said in a weary voice. ‘And Arjun and him are playing golf.’
Amy had moved to stand next to me, her hand out for my phone. I shook my head at her but she didn’t move. I could feel her looking at me, standing in a netted skirt and white satin corset, pissed off. I felt the physical pull of Luke on the end of the phone and of Amy standing in the room.
‘Look, Luke, I’ve really got to go. I’ll be back in a bit and we can make a plan then,’ I said, my voice firm.
I could hear a sigh but then I was too busy jabbing at the buttons to turn the phone off. Amy’s face was unimpressed.
‘I thought you had all day,’ Amy said. ‘I haven’t seen you in forever, Lottie. I want to catch up with you.’
Amy was never like this. I knew I must have really hurt her. We used to see each other all the time. We’d been flatmates up until a year ago when I’d moved in with Luke and