Emma's Story

by Georgia Hill

  Tash giggled. ‘Yeah. Suppose. And Kit said he’d be around somewhere. I promised to keep the costume on for later.’

  ‘Thatta girl. Switch the lights on, then.’

  Tash switched them on and they took a minute to admire the effect. Flashing red, blue and white lights lit up the walls of the school-based float. She grinned at Emma. ‘Going to be a good night.’

  ‘You bet!’

  ‘I’ll wait until we join the main parade afore I sticks the music on,’ yelled George. ‘That do? Hold on then. Here we goes.’

  The lorry joined the rest of the floats at the top of Berecombe’s main street and crawled down behind the main attraction, a futuristic concoction with strobe lights and robots, sponsored by the town’s computer firm, Digi-Sol. They were followed by the Carnival Queen’s float and, right at the back of the parade, the majorettes. A huge crowd thronged the narrow pavements on either side and the atmosphere was electric.

  ‘Turn the music up, George,’ Emma yelled into the back of his cab. ‘We’re being drowned out by Kraftwerk from Digi-Sol.’ George obligingly turned up the music and the Spice Girls yelled out.

  Emma and Tash turned to one another, grinned and screamed in unison, ‘I wanna, (ha) I wanna, (ha) I wanna, (ha) I wanna (ha) I wanna really, really, really wanna zigazig ah!’ And they turned and sprayed the crowd with water.

  The procession snaked its raucous way down to the seafront and crawled along the promenade. Emma and Tash alternated spraying the crowds with water and throwing sweets. Emma spotted her parents and her uncle and aunt. Biddy and Arthur waved and clapped and Millie and Jed stood on the corner with Amy. A little further along the front, Emma saw Stevie and Roland, aimed her pistol and scored a direct hit. Their roar of outrage made her night. Tash threw them a whole bag of sweets as compensation.

  Once the parade had reached the harbour, there was gridlock as everyone got off and the floats disappeared through the back streets.

  ‘Thanks, George, that was brill,’ Emma said, as she dismounted. ‘Fab music. Haven’t danced like that for ages.’

  ‘I’ll see you later at the fair,’ he called, as he drove off. ‘Gotta try my hand at the coconut shy.’ They heard him sing along to Beyoncé as the lorry crawled through the crowds. ‘All the single ladies …’

  ‘Well, you two make quite a sight.’ It was Kit. He took Tash into his arms. ‘Hello, gorgeous,’ he murmured and kissed her thoroughly.

  ‘Hello, you,’ she said and stared up at him lovingly.

  ‘I’ll leave you two to it,’ Emma said. ‘I’m suddenly feeling green and hairy and definitely gooseberry-like. See you at the fair?’ She turned and bumped into Ollie, collecting bucket in his hand. She hadn’t seen him since their disastrous night at the hotel. It had only been a few days so how had she forgotten the way his hair flopped endearingly into his eyes? His brown face with its sharp features? His newly muscled broad shoulders?

  ‘Hi, Em. Good turnout.’

  ‘Yeah.’ Emma was strangled by a sudden shyness. It was awful. Even when they’d spit up before they’d always managed to stay friends. Now it seemed they had absolutely nothing to say to one another.

  ‘Well, best be off. Haven’t shaken the bucket along the front yet. Not that I’m allowed to actually shake it, but you know what I mean.’

  ‘Come on, my gorgeous man.’ Inevitably it was Leah, Percy’s sister. She thrust her hand through Ollie’s arm and smirked at Emma. ‘Let’s get the collecting over and done with and then we can go to the fair.’ She gazed wide-eyed up at him. ‘You promised me you’d take me on the bumper cars. See ya, Emma.’

  As they disappeared into the crowds, Emma stared after them miserably. As she’d predicted, Leah had got her claws into Ollie. She just couldn’t believe he’d fallen for it. ‘Oh Ollie,’ she whispered. ‘Have I really lost you?’

  Chapter 22

  Millie, Jed and Amy gathered her up and insisted she go along to the fair with them. It was the last thing Emma wanted to do but allowed herself to be swept along. She didn’t have the energy to decide anything else. A wind had got up and the waves were choppy as they battered the shore. Emma pulled her borrowed blazer tight and shivered.

  Millie must have noticed as she put a companionable arm through Emma’s and matched her stride. ‘Feels like autumn’s arrived, doesn’t it? I’ll have to search out Trevor’s doggie coat,’ she said, referring to her beloved cockapoo. ‘Look, this probably isn’t the way to go about it but Jed and I are seriously interested in the Greys’ cottage. We’re going to put in an offer next week. Do you think they’ll accept?’

  Emma grinned. It was the one good thing that had happened lately. ‘I’m sure they will. As long as it’s near the asking price. It was priced pretty keenly for a quick sale.’

  ‘Then I’ll tell Jed to make the call first thing on Monday.’ She sighed happily. ‘I never thought I’d want to move away from the flat above the café but I fell in love with the cottage the minute I saw it.’

  ‘Even with the dusty beams?’

  ‘I’ll just have to buy a duster with a long handle.’

  ‘Think they’re pretty easy to get hold of.’

  ‘And at least Jed is tall.’

  ‘Ah. Can’t say husbands like him are easy to get hold of.’

  Millie smiled. ‘You’re not wrong there. He’s one in a million. Although it took me a while to realize how wonderful he really is. Sometimes you just can’t see what’s right in front of you. You can’t see that the perfect person is there, just waiting for you.’

  Ollie’s face flickered into Emma’s mind. He was wonderful too. How could she have not realized? And how could she have not realized how much she truly loved him? He’d been right in front of her all the time. Only she’d been too besotted with fictional heroes like Ross Poldark and fake heroes like Joel Dillon to see his true worth. ‘Isn’t that the truth?’ she murmured, tears prickling.

  Millie didn’t hear. She hugged Emma’s arm. ‘I’m so happy, I can’t tell you.’

  ‘You don’t have to tell me, Millie. It’s shining out of you.’

  ‘Ah, thank you, my lovely.’ They parted to ease around a big family group. ‘There was something else I wanted to say,’ she added, as they came together again. ‘I don’t want the flat to be empty and Petra doesn’t want it. I wondered if you and Ollie might like it? I know you’re looking for a place of your own. Wouldn’t dream of taking any rent but you’d need to cover your bills and, as it isn’t very big, they’re not too bad. Emma? Are you okay?’

  ‘Oh Millie. You’re such a kind, good person.’ Emma flicked away the tears.

  ‘I didn’t mean to upset you,’ Millie floundered as they stopped walking and faced one another. ‘I wasn’t sure how to broach the subject. It’s just that I’d like someone living there who I know would look after the place. Oh Emma!’ She put her hand to her face in dismay. ‘I really don’t mean it as charity.’

  ‘I know that.’ Emma cranked out an attempt at a grateful smile. How could she tell Millie that, a few weeks ago, her suggestion would have been the perfect solution? With just bills to pay, she and Ollie could still save up for a deposit on a house. Maybe one of the starter homes on the new estate? She stared out to a black sea that was looking increasingly churned up. It looked like the first storm of the autumn was setting in. A gust of wind brought with it a foam of salty spray. ‘I’ll talk it over with Ollie,’ she promised, feeling an absolute fraud. She changed the subject. ‘And get Jed to call me on Monday and I’ll get things put in motion with the Greys.’

  ‘Will do,’ Millie promised. ‘Come on, let’s catch up with the others. I’m in need of candyfloss and one of Barney’s toffee apples.’

  Chapter 23

  The fair had set up in the large cobbled space in front of Berecombe’s little theatre. It wasn’t a huge affair: a few traditional stalls with a merry-go-round and the dodgems taking pride of place in the middle. These had the town’s teenagers thronged around, burgers in
one hand, lurid-coloured soft toys in the other. Pharrell Williams blasted out from the dodgems, its bass making the ground vibrate. Emma watched, feeling distanced. She thought she’d never be happy again. Millie spotted Tash and Kit by Barney’s candyfloss and toffee apple stall and dragged Jed and Amy over. Emma went to where her parents were standing by the coconut shy. Saying hello to George, who brushed past her bearing three coconuts, she watched Stevie in a grudge match against cousin Roland. Uncle Ken handed over a plastic pint of beer to her father, Tessa chatted to her mother, and their family was complete. Except it wasn’t. Ollie should be here. It was just the sort of night they spent together, surrounded by family and friends. Emma remembered the last time the fair had come to town: Ollie had bought her a go at the rifle range and she’d won a furry yellow bear. He’d called it Pringle after her favourite type of crisp and it still sat on her bed. Tears made her vision swim. She missed Ollie so much.

  ‘You okay, bab?’ It was Auntie Tessa. She came over and hugged her. ‘No Ollie tonight?’

  Emma shook her head. She still hadn’t told her family the complete truth.

  ‘You’ve not gone and had another falling out? You two, honestly. Worse than Burton and Taylor.’

  ‘Oh, Auntie Tess,’ Emma said, huddling into her aunt’s side, ‘I don’t know who they are.’

  ‘Look them up sometime. It’ll be all right, our Emma. Never seen two people more suited to one another. And, it isn’t as if you haven’t fallen out before, is it, kiddo? You’ll get back together again.’

  ‘Well, if it isn’t Emma?’ It was Joel. He loomed out of the neon flashing lights and stood in front of her, a sardonic smile on his face. He seemed very tall and urban in his pea coat and cap, and slightly overdressed.

  Tessa glanced from one to the other with a sharp look. ‘I’ll leave you to it then, Em. Me and Ken fancy our chances on the Hook a Duck. Give us a shout if you need us.’ As one, the Tizzard family drifted off.

  Emma stared up at Joel in amazement. He looked completely out of place. After the scales had fallen from her eyes, she’d remained silent during the second half of the evening class and could hardly bear to look him in the eye. Instead, she’d doodled in her notebook and daydreamed horrible fates for him. Shakespearian ones were favoured. They seemed the most gruesome. Drowning in a vat of wine had been considered but rejected as not nasty enough. Now, a red-hot poker shoved up his—

  ‘Emma?’ Joel snapped his fingers at her.

  God, he was a piece of work. How had she missed it? ‘What are you doing here?’

  ‘Patrick suggested it. Said it might be fun, in a slumming it kind of way.’

  Emma was pretty sure Patrick had said no such thing. He was far too nice.

  ‘And you have to admit, it’s a fantastic experience,’ Joel expounded. ‘Fairs like this have been going on for centuries.’ He looked around, peering down his nose as a teenaged couple staggered past necking cans of cider. ‘With one or two exceptions, it could be Far From the Madding Crowd or The Mayor of Casterbridge. That giddy, childish enjoyment mixed with an edge of danger. I suppose this kind of thing grew out of the traditional country fair. Not one attempt at intellectual pursuit in sight.’ He added, without pausing for breath, ‘And that was your family?’

  Emma interrupted him before he could say it. ‘Yes. And not one intellectual thought between them. And why should there be? They’re having a night out. Enjoying themselves.’ She reined in a lick of temper with difficulty. He was a complete arse.

  ‘Oh, Emma. My Emma. Do I detect crossness? How exhilarating. A temper to match your fiery hair.’

  Emma was suddenly angry. More than angry. She was furious. Hands on hip, she squared up to Joel. ‘How dare you! How dare you come here making your little intellectual digs and looking down your snidey nose at us all? We may not be able to match you for degrees and qualifications, but not only are we just as good as you, I bet we’ll be able to have gallons more fun than you’ll ever manage. Why don’t you go back to your poncey cafés and bars in Exeter and drink your weight in overpriced coffee and leave the real fun to us!’

  ‘Trouble, Joel?’ A tall, slender blonde drifted up to him and put her arm through his possessively.

  To Emma’s shock she saw it was Leona.

  ‘Oh, it’s Erin.’ Leona bared her teeth in the briefest of smiles. ‘I’d recognize those not so dulcet tones anywhere.’ She gave a superior little laugh.

  Emma looked from one to the other, the truth dawning. Then she glanced down at Leona’s left hand, clutched onto the sleeve of Joel’s coat. The third finger bore an enormous solitaire. To her delight, Joel was looking distinctly uncomfortable.

  ‘No trouble, Lee. Emma was just giving me her opinion on the history of country fairs.’ He gave Emma a warning look from narrowed eyes. ‘This is my fiancée, Leona.’

  Emma was beginning to enjoy this. Leona, the woman who had been openly hostile to her for no reason had, apparently, a fiancé who was willing to cheat on her with his students; the very people to whom he had a professional duty of care. She couldn’t think of a better karmic revenge. A surge of power overtook her. She could – if she wanted, if she could be bothered – wreak an awful lot of damage here. Giving Joel a wicked look she said, ‘Yes, actually we know one another. Quite well, as a matter of fact. Just like you and I do, Joel. Funny how you never mentioned a fiancée.’ She let that little nugget drop and then addressed Leona. ‘Hello, Leona. I wouldn’t have thought this was your scene on a Saturday night. Haven’t you got an opera or a fancy restaurant to go to?’ She saw the woman dart a narrow look at Joel and then her.

  ‘Well, Erin, I’m sure it’s some people’s idea of a good time but it’s certainly not mine.’ The words were bitten out but she was still casting troubled looks at her fiancé. ‘And I don’t understand, how can you possibly know Joel?’

  Emma ignored her question. ‘As you well know, it’s Emma. And I suppose it’s quite brave of you, really.’

  Leona’s carefully made up lips curled. She looked confused. ‘Whatever do you mean?’

  ‘Just that there are an awful lot of people in this town that you’ve managed to upset. Some quite badly.’ Emma shook her head sorrowfully. ‘And, you know what we uneducated oiks are like with a drink inside us.’ She made her eyes go big. ‘We just can’t be held responsible for our actions.’

  As if on cue, George Small lumbered up to them, at least five pints of Thatcher’s Gold along. ‘Oi,’ he shouted, pointing his can of cider at Leona. ‘You’re that woman who upset my auntie. Told her her house was falling down and she wouldn’t get anything for it.’

  Leona drew herself up. ‘I have absolutely no idea what you’re on about.’

  ‘What’s that, young George?’ Biddy and Arthur joined them. ‘Oh, you’re the one, are you? Nearly lost me that bungalow, you did.’

  Leona made a small sound.

  ‘George is Mrs Morrison’s nephew. And this is Biddy, who is buying the bungalow.’ Emma supplied. She shrugged. ‘Everyone is related to one another in this town. And, if they’re not, they know one another. And look out for their backs. Perhaps it would be wise to get back to the city.’ She glared at Joel. ‘Both of you.’

  ‘Come along, Lee,’ Joel said, edging away and eyeing George’s bulky form warily. ‘Nothing but the inbred and ignorant here. God,’ he added, in disgust, ‘it’s like the bloody wicker man.’

  ‘I heard that,’ Biddy yelled. ‘Got the hearing aid turned up. You’d do as well to watch your manners and what you say. I have information that could wreck your career, young Joe.’

  ‘Yes, Joel. Off you go. I could add a few details to the information Biddy has,’ Emma added.

  They watched as Joel and Leona hurried off. As they went, Emma could hear Leona plaintively asking how he knew her.

  ‘What information?’ Arthur asked his wife, curiously.

  She touched a finger to her nose. ‘We know what he’s been up to, don’t we, young Emma? Corrupting young b
odies when he should be educating minds.’ She poked her with an elbow. ‘And have you read any more Wife of Bath? Deaf, she was. Like me.’ Biddy chuckled. ‘Swear she’s been reincarnated in me. So much in common.’

  ‘I hope you’ve only had one husband,’ Arthur put in, mildly.

  ‘Only the one. And the best.’ Biddy kissed him soundly on the cheek. ‘Are you ever going to take me on those dodgems?’

  ‘Lead on, fair maid,’ Arthur said and winked.

  They marched up to the dodgems and pushed past the crowd of teenagers, George staggering after them.

  ‘Was that your tutor and Her Ladyship? Are they a couple?’

  Emma swung round to see Ollie behind her. He had a bag of chips in his hand. ‘Oh Ollie,’ she cried, as she flung her arms around him. ‘I love you so much.’

  Chapter 24

  He took her to a relatively quiet spot along the cliff path above the theatre and they sat on a bench facing out to sea, the waves rolling in. They could still hear the music blaring from the fair but it was muted by distance.

  Emma shivered. ‘You’re not wearing enough clothes,’ Ollie chided and gave her his jacket.

  ‘Costume for the carnival parade.’

  ‘I know. I saw you.’ He grinned. ‘Narrowly avoided getting squirted.’

  ‘It’s too tarty, isn’t it?’

  ‘I’m not complaining. Chip?’

  ‘Thanks,’ Emma said, taking a fat one and blowing on it. ‘These are good.’

  ‘Bartlett’s. They make the best chips. They a couple, then? This Joel bloke and Her Ladyship?’

  ‘Apparently.’ Emma began to giggle. ‘And they deserve one another. Would spoil any other couple.’

  ‘You gone off him, then?’

  ‘Oh, Ollie.’ Emma snuggled closer to him. ‘It was never like that. I just appreciated him opening up my mind.’