A Girl Called London

by Clare Lydon

  Sophie couldn’t help but laugh. “Until you remember I’m terrible at DIY, so not a great choice to be a builder or a carpenter.”

  “I could teach you,” he replied. “And you’ve got more aptitude for it than Luke, that’s for sure. You’re a doer, and you know what he’s like — he’s a thinker, doesn’t like to get his hands dirty. Whereas you — I’ve always thought you’d make a great worker.”

  Sophie hugged him and felt his strong, protective arms around him. “Thanks, Dad.”

  “What for?” he asked, pulling away.

  “For believing in me. Sometimes, it’s nice to hear even when I know you’re humouring me.”

  Her dad laughed, the vibrations rattling through both their bodies. “I’m only half-joking,” he replied, letting her go. When she stepped back, Doris was yapping at their feet, feeling left out of the love.

  Sophie got down on her haunches to pet her, which Doris was thrilled about. “You know,” she began, letting Doris smother her in kisses. “The only thing I really would love to do is work with animals. I love Doris, and I loved Sparky when he was around, too.” Sparky had been their dog when Sophie was a child, a feisty Jack Russell who thought he was ten times bigger than he actually was.

  “So why don’t you retrain to be a vet?” Her dad leaned over and petted Doris as Sophie got back to her feet.

  “Too time-consuming — doesn’t it take like, eight years?”

  “It does,” her dad said. “But we paid for Luke to go to university, and I can pay for you, too. Or I could give you money to start a business, I’ve told you before.” They continued to walk. “What about working in an animal centre? Or you could become a vet’s assistant.”

  Sophie nodded. “Maybe,” she replied. She’d been over this, but at 30, she didn’t want to be at university for the next few years. She had itchy feet for life, and she wanted to be out there, living it. A vet’s assistant might be the way forward, or perhaps some other kind of job working with animals? She’d been searching the internet for inspiration since her job had come to such an abrupt end, but she hadn’t arrived at any decision as yet.

  Just then, a woman came into view with three dogs on leashes. They watched her walk past them and both stared at each other at the same time.

  “Or you could become a dog walker?” her dad said. “Big business in London: people want dogs, but they don’t have time to walk them. Ridiculous if you ask me, that’s the whole point of having a dog, but it’s modern life.”

  Sophie slowed to a halt. A dog walker. Why hadn’t she thought of that? She loved dogs, she loved being outdoors, and she could be her own boss. But was it that simple? Could you just start walking dogs? Set up a business just like that and boom, money started to roll in?

  “And if you became a dog walker, I could be your first client — well, Doris could,” her dad continued.

  “I thought you said dog walkers were stupid,” she said, grinning at him.

  “They are — unless they’re my daughter.”

  Sophie nodded her head, turning the idea over in her mind. Every other business idea she’d dreamed up had always had something standing in the way — but with this one, she couldn’t see a downside. Her dad might just have stumbled upon her ideal job.

  “You know, you might be onto something,” Sophie said. “Low start-up costs, I could start immediately and the only thing I need is to build a website.”

  Her dad nodded. “Exactly — and you did that for me, so that’s a piece of cake.” He paused. “I really think you should do this — get out of hospitality and try something different. You love dogs!”

  Sophie grinned. “I really do.” She hugged herself thinking about the possibility. “You know what — I think I might do this. So long as that loan’s still on offer while I get on my feet.”

  “It’s not a loan, it’s a business investment,” her dad replied. “And it’s there whenever you want it.”

  Chapter Twelve

  Today wasn’t the day Tanya needed to have period pains from hell, but that’s what she had. Still, she was trying to put on her happy public face for Alice and her boyfriend Jake, who were helping her move house, even though it currently felt like there was a shooting match going on in her stomach. She gripped the warm, plastic seat of their hire van as nausea rolled through her for the umpteenth time that day.

  Dammit, some days she really wished she’d been born a man. Especially on a day like today, when she should have been focusing on her new start. But all she was actually thinking about was how she wanted to vomit.

  “Is that it?” Jake asked, peering into the sunlight, looking directly at a block that rose many stories into the sky, glinting in the Saturday morning sunlight with its sleek steel and glass exterior.

  “Yep, home sweet home,” Tanya replied. And then, despite her nausea, a tingle of excitement rushed through her, starting in her stomach and reaching her earlobes. This was it, the start of her new adventure.

  “Looks smart,” Jake said, his curls bobbing around his ears as he smiled at Tanya. “Can’t wait to see it!”

  Tanya smiled over at Alice, who was nodding at her: she could see the appeal of Jake, his excitement was infectious. Tanya was grateful for his pep this morning, along with his offer to drive the van when she thought she might throw up on the steering wheel.

  Minutes later Jake pulled on the handbrake and the van came to a halt in front of her new building. With a sudden burst of energy, Tanya jumped out and consulted with the concierge, who gave her the go-ahead to park there while she unloaded. She could have kissed him.

  And she also could have kissed the weather gods, who’d selected the dry, sunshiney button for London today, meaning her move was going to be plain-sailing and not drowned as it had been when she and Meg split up. This move was getting the thumbs-up from on high. She was sure that had something to do with her gran.

  “Shall we go up, first?” Alice said, her face illuminated by the sun.

  Jake was already unloading, but he nodded. “You do that, I’ll start getting stuff down and ready to go.”

  Tanya gave him a grin. “I like your thinking,” she said, as Alice weaved an arm through hers and they advanced to the lift. A flashback of a few weeks earlier sprang to mind and Tanya felt her cheeks redden at the thought. She’d been thinking about Lift Woman last night when she was doing her final bits of packing, wondering if they might meet up again soon — she owed her a bottle of wine, after all. What was Lift Woman doing this morning?

  As if reading her mind, Alice turned to her with a grin on her face. “So, you want to re-enact the lift scene for me? I’m that woman and you’re just about to land on me?” she said, pressing the button and the lift door opening. “It’ll be like a scene from a gorgeous love story. Ready?” Alice flattened herself against the lift wall as the doors closed.

  Tanya simply rolled her eyes. “Get this out of your system now, please — at least that way you won’t be doing it whenever you eventually meet her.”

  “I’m dying to meet her. You think she might be lured out here by the scent of you moving in?”

  “The scent of me moving in?” Tanya repeated. “What on earth does that mean?”

  Alice gave her a slow smile. “You know, lesbian speak. When one moves into the building, the others get a tingle in their spider senses and flock to help. Or offer herbal teas, that sort of thing.”

  “I don’t drink herbal tea.”

  “That’s because you’re a very bad lesbian, we’ve already established that. Meat-eater, no pets, capitalist, severe lack of chequered shirts.”

  “When you’re done with my character assassination, let me know,” Tanya replied, as the lift stopped at floor 30. It’d always been the same with them, as was their running joke — Alice was more the lesbian in looks and politics, yet Tanya was the full-on ladykiller. Well, she had been at least, some years ago. “And anyway, I never once said I thought this girl was a lesbian.”

  But even as the wo
rds tumbled from Tanya’s mouth, she knew she’d hoped she was, because otherwise, all of her recent thoughts about her would be for nothing. She certainly didn’t fancy seeing her stepping out of the flat hand in hand with her boyfriend — there was nothing quite as crushing to any lesbian’s soul than that particular scenario.

  Alice raised an eyebrow as she followed her out of the lift. “You didn’t need to — I could tell by your tone you thought she might be. You’re always instantly dismissive of women you think are straight, whereas this one… you said nothing. You almost seemed hopeful.”

  “Hopeful I could knock her over again and make more of a fool out of myself?” Tanya replied, grabbing her new keys from their envelope. Alice was right: she was hopeful, but she wasn’t going to tell her that. Instead, she held up her keys and gave them a shake. “Ready for the big unveiling?”

  Alice clapped her hands as Tanya came to a halt outside flat 116. “I can’t wait — I’m so excited!”

  Tanya grinned as she put the keys in the door, Alice’s excitement rubbing off on her, too.

  When they walked in, Alice clapped a little harder. “Nice plush carpet in the hallway,” she said, bouncing on the balls of her feet. “I like that a lot, it says opulence.”

  But Tanya wasn’t listening. Instead, she was off down the hallway, past the bedrooms, the bathroom and the airing cupboard, and into the main room that had sold it: kitchen in one corner and huge living space with balcony overlooking the river.

  Alice barged her shoulder as she walked past, but then she stopped, her mouth open. “Wow,” she said. “Now this is a view that says you’ve made it.” She twisted to look at Tanya. “You’ve made it, my friend. I’m so happy for you!”

  Alice gave Tanya a hug, and she smiled as she was engulfed.

  Yep, she’d made it.

  However, the one person she’d have loved to see this view the most wasn’t around anymore to do so.

  ***

  Sophie was sitting in the lounge on her laptop when Rachel wandered through in her dressing gown.

  “Morning!” she said, a chirp in her voice as had been the case since she’d decided on her future. “There’s fresh coffee in the pot and guess what?”

  “What?” Rachel asked, her voice studded with sleep.

  “I have my first client for dog walking! Can you believe it — I only put a few flyers up around here this week, and I’ve already had three enquiries. Imagine what will happen when I put the website up.” She paused. “And this one is from a lesbian, too.”

  Rachel turned as she picked up the coffee pot. “How do you know it’s from a lesbian? Did she say that in her email?”

  Sophie shook her head. “No, I cyberstalked her and her Facebook page is public.” She paused. “The fact she’s engaged to a woman was a bit of a giveaway.”

  “No flies on you,” Rachel said, sitting down on the sofa next to her. “But well done — first client! When are you meeting her?”

  “She asked if I could do today.”

  “Today?”

  “I know, super-keen.” Sophie shrugged. “But I can, and it means I’m making money and getting some exercise. It’s a win-win.”

  Rachel yawned. “If you say so.”

  “Late night last night?” Sophie asked.

  Rachel nodded. “The restaurant was crazy busy, and then we went for a drink afterwards at The Stage. Didn’t get in till 2.30 this morning, and I’m back on in four hours. Somebody shoot me.”

  “Seems a bit extreme,” Sophie replied. “Anyway, I’m going to give this woman a call and arrange to go round to meet them and their dog.” She jumped up from the sofa, depositing her laptop on the coffee table.

  “Them?”

  “She’s called Jess, her fiancée’s called Lucy.”

  “You should ask if they have any single friends.”

  “I’m not in the market — not after Helen. I’m focusing on me, remember? I’m on a romance sabbatical,” Sophie replied.

  “A romance sabbatical? When did you come up with that?”

  Sophie puffed out her chest. “Just now. You like it?”

  “It sounds very mature and like you know what you want in life,” she replied. “Which is why I was sceptical when it came out of your mouth.”

  Sophie shook her head, drawing in a long breath. “Mock all you want my friend, but this woman is on the up,” she said, pointing to her chest. “New life, now outlook, new me.”

  “And the new you doesn’t want to get laid anymore?” Rachel asked, crinkling her forehead.

  The rude woman from the other week flashed into Sophie’s mind, her body flush against hers in the lift, which still caused her blood to fizz when she thought about it. Damn her for being such an idiot; it had ruined many sexy daydreams Sophie’s mind had started.

  “The new me is way above that,” Sophie replied, almost believing it herself.

  ***

  “I just love this kitchen — you’ve got an island. I can just imagine chopping and cooking, looking out at that view.” Jake was still a ball of energy, despite the fact they’d been lugging Tanya’s stuff up in the lift for the past hour.

  They’d just finished their coffee, Tanya giving up on finding her kettle and instead running down to the local café to buy them. Now, they were leaning on her new island, the balcony doors thrown wide open, with sunshine licking the windows. And this despite the fact it wasn’t quite al fresco weather just yet, the calendar year having just flicked into April.

  “She’s living the dream!” Alice said.

  “I will be, just as soon as I can find my damn chopping boards and knives,” Tanya said, laughing. “But seriously, thanks for helping today — you’ve both been lifesavers. And to thank you, my first meal here will be with you two — name the date and I’ll consult my Nigella Lawson cookbook, okay?”

  “You’re on,” Jake grinned. “Shall we go and get the last few boxes and bring the sofa up?”

  Tanya nodded. “Absolutely.”

  They got the lift down, Jake checking out his curls in the mirror, Alice playing with a spot she’d been moaning about all morning, and Tanya frowning at her pale skin. Periods always took it out of her, plus she hadn’t put any make-up on this morning, figuring she was going to get grimy anyway. She just hoped she didn’t run into anyone she knew, or anyone she’d like to get to know.

  That thought was stuck in her head as the lift stopped at floor 20 and Lift Woman got in, looking down at her phone. She was dressed casually again in jeans, green-and-yellow trainers, and she was wearing the same green army jacket as she had the other day. However, she seemed calmer, more relaxed than when they’d first met. But Tanya guessed that was because she hadn’t just landed on top of her.

  Great. Now she was meeting Lift Woman on a bad period day, sans make-up. Thanks, universe.

  When the woman eventually looked up, she did a double-take, as if she wasn’t expecting three other people, never mind one of them being Tanya.

  When she saw Tanya, her face froze. “It’s you,” Lift Woman said, her tone not filled with quite as much happiness as Tanya might have hoped.

  She’d been anticipating their first meeting to be one where Tanya would make light of what had happened before, she’d apologise and then they’d go for coffee, where they’d be laughing together within minutes. She hadn’t anticipated it being in a lift with her best friend and her boyfriend, and with world war three going on in her stomach.

  “We must stop meeting like this,” Tanya said, and then immediately regretted it.

  Why had she said that?

  Tanya could feel Alice’s eyes getting wider by the second as her gaze ping-ponged between the two of them.

  “Going down!” the lift announced, the doors sliding shut. Going down? An image flicked into Tanya’s mind and she quickly banished it, feeling her cheeks darken, not daring to look at Lift Woman now.

  “You two know each other?” Alice asked, not waiting for a response. “Hi, I’m Alice.”
She held out her hand and Lift Woman shook it.

  “Sophie,” Lift Woman said. “Nice to meet you.”

  “Lovely to meet you, Sophie,” Alice replied, looking from Sophie to Tanya.

  But Tanya was struggling with words, not quite sure what to say in case she buggered it up again. And she really, desperately, didn’t want to bugger it up again.

  “And this is my boyfriend Jake,” Alice added, filling the blank air with her words.

  Jake shook Sophie’s hand, but all the while she was glancing at Tanya.

  Tanya couldn’t read her expression. She hoped it was more along the lines of curiosity rather than annoyance. Eventually, she held out her hand. “Good to see you again, I’m Tanya,” she said.

  Sophie pressed her hand into hers, and a warm rush shot up Tanya’s arm, through to her core. She shifted her gaze to Sophie’s face, to those scorching blue eyes she recalled so well. Tanya swallowed down hard. Then she glanced down at their hands, still joined, feeling her pulse accelerate.

  When Tanya looked up, Sophie’s gorgeous gaze was on her, assessing her as if for the first time. “Nice to put a name to the face,” Sophie said, before dropping Tanya’s hand. “So you took the flat?” she added, her lips a portrait in cerise.

  It was entrancing, but Tanya tried not to stare, instead concentrating on her words coming out in a straight line. “Moving in today, with a little help from my friends,” Tanya replied, indicating Alice and then Jake, who gave Sophie a little wave.

  Sophie smiled at that, but her gaze was rarely off Tanya, something Tanya was acutely aware of. Her skin prickled and she cleared her throat for want of something to do. She had to get out of this lift as soon as possible — with four people, it was far too crowded. Tanya’s optimal number was two, and if she had to choose with who, she knew she’d choose Sophie.