Three Amazing Things About You

by Jill Mansell

  Hallie said, ‘We’re in Hampstead. Nearly there now,’ and experienced a squiggle of excitement at the prospect of seeing them again.

  And then they were there, on the doorstep, ringing the bell and being welcomed by Tasha.

  ‘Yay, you’re here!’ Tasha threw her arms around Hallie. ‘Rory, look!’

  Rory appeared. ‘New-family! Come on in!’

  He’d coined the phrase last year, linking them all together. Hallie hugged him and said, ‘Happy birthday. You’re looking fantastic.’

  Rory’s green eyes sparkled. ‘You too. All good?’

  Hallie, as had become their new-family ritual, pressed the flat of her hand against his chest and felt the bump-bump-bump of her own heart. ‘All very good. Oh wow, I can hear her already!’

  They both turned to see Alexandra beaming and crowing ‘BABAAAGAADAAWOOOOO,’ as Joe carried her into the living room on his shoulders. Catching sight of Hallie and Luke, she raised her volume to the next level and wriggled to be allowed to reach them.

  ‘Here, you’re welcome,’ said Joe, as Hallie held her arms up to take her from him. ‘She’s bursting my eardrums.’

  Now thirteen months old, Alexandra was a happy, noisy baby who rarely cried and who loved social occasions.

  ‘Good to see you getting into practice,’ Luke told Joe, because Carmel was now seven months pregnant.

  ‘Tell me about it.’ Joe grinned. ‘By June we’re not going to know what’s hit us.’

  Hallie, cuddling Alexandra, inhaled the amazing baby smell of her fluffy dark hair. ‘Hello, beautiful! Look at you!’

  ‘Gadaboo,’ said Alexandra, reaching up to grab Hallie’s silver hooped earring.

  ‘Gadaboo to you too.’ Hallie pretended to bite Alexandra’s tiny fingers, making her squeal with laughter.

  ‘Now, has anyone seen a baby around here? Noisy little thing in a red onesie?’ Flo was threading her way across the crowded living room. ‘Ah, found her . . . Hallie, hello!’

  They embraced fondly and Hallie said, ‘How are you doing?’

  ‘Great. She’s teething, by the way, so she might try to chew your hand. How was your holiday?’

  ‘We had the best time, didn’t we?’ Hallie turned to Luke, who had whisked her away on a surprise break to Venice in March. ‘It was brilliant; when Bea called and asked me where I was, I told her I was sitting at a café in St Mark’s Square being served a drink by a handsome waiter. And it was actually true.’

  ‘Ah, that’s fantastic. How’s work going?’

  ‘Oh, I love it so much. I get to boss Luke and Tess around and squeeze in extra appointments when I think the patients deserve them.’ Had it been nepotism, when the vacancy for a new part-time receptionist had come up at the surgery and she’d applied for the job? Ha, probably, but she’d made up for it since with dedication, efficiency and sheer hard work.

  ‘And how’s Bea?’

  ‘Same as ever.’ Hallie grinned, because they hadn’t only got to know each other; they were starting to know each other’s friends too. ‘She met a lovely man at the gym, spent weeks flirting with him over the rowing machines, then eventually he asked her out and she was so excited . . .’

  Flo was wincing in anticipation. ‘Oh God, what happened?’

  ‘She’d only ever seen him in workout clothes . . . you know, shorts or tracksuits. And that was great. Until they had their date and he turned up wearing bright pink chinos. Poor chap, that was it, kiss of death.’

  ‘So Bea’s on her own again.’

  ‘For the moment. But she’s found someone else to lust after, and this one’s guaranteed to break her heart.’

  ‘Is that really guaranteed?’ Luke frowned. ‘Who is it?’

  Hallie smiled. Luke hadn’t encountered him yet. ‘The new barman at the pub. His name’s Angelo, he used to work as a male stripper and he met his last live-in girlfriend when she hired him for her hen night.’

  ‘Ah,’ said Luke. ‘OK, you win. He’ll definitely break her heart.’

  ‘I always win because I’m always right.’ Hallie winked at Flo. ‘And how are things with Lena?’

  ‘You won’t believe this, but not too bad at all. She’s really making an effort to get herself together.’

  Having heard all about Zander’s sister, it wasn’t difficult to guess the reason for the improvement: since it had evidently dawned on Lena that she no longer had her brother around to rely on and bail her out of every hole, she’d finally decided to make the effort to become a less selfish person. Hallie nodded. ‘Well, good.’

  ‘That’s not all,’ said Flo. ‘She’s even gone and got herself a job!’

  This was definitely a bombshell. ‘Blimey, doing what? Bricklayer? Carpet fitter? Milkman?’

  ‘Ha, can you picture it? No, she’s working in one of those posh art galleries where you sit behind a desk and chat on the phone to your friends all day because hardly any customers ever go in. But she’s doing it, that’s the main thing. It’s the first time she’s ever stuck at something for more than three days. I feel like a proud mum!’

  Hallie gave her another hug, because Flo could so easily have given up on Lena but hadn’t. ‘And I bet it’s all down to you. Where’s Patrick, anyway?’

  ‘He’s had to go and pick up a consignment of chandeliers from a studio in Primrose Hill.’ Flo’s cheeks gained some extra colour as she said it. ‘He’ll be back soon.’

  As the party continued, Flo glanced out of the living room window and saw Patrick’s car reversing into a space between a grey Porsche and a white Fiat 500.

  Her heart lifted as it always did at the sight of him. Patrick had made her so much happier than she’d ever imagined. True, he’d never be mistaken for a male model, but he was one of the kindest men she’d ever known. He was also wonderful with Alexandra. His easy manner and ability to laugh at himself had charmed her from the start. She’d felt better in his company, even during those difficult early months following Zander’s death. After first getting in touch with Hallie and hearing back from her, the only people she’d wanted to tell had been Patrick and Margot. And after discussing it with Margot, she’d discussed it for even longer with Patrick.

  In the months that had followed, their close friendship had become more. When she’d heard about the developing relationship, Margot couldn’t have been more thrilled.

  And now here they were in April, and it was all good.

  Flo watched as Patrick looked up at the window and, seeing her, broke into a smile. Her stomach tightened and she did a little wave back. He wasn’t better or worse than Zander; he was just different.

  And different was fine. They would both rather be in each other’s company than in anyone else’s. Not counting Alexandra, of course. Patrick had disappeared from view now, as he entered the house and made his way up the stairs. Flo looked forward to hearing his voice when he came into the living room.

  As, she knew, did Alexandra.

  Really, who could ask for more?

  ‘Here goes,’ Rory murmured, touching Tasha’s arm as Joe began to attract everyone’s attention by tapping a knife against his glass. ‘He warned me he was going to make a speech.’

  ‘He warned me too.’ Tasha squeezed his hand in return. ‘First time ever. Any idea what he’s going to say?’

  Rory shook his head; did anyone ever really know what words might come out of Joe’s mouth next?

  ‘Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention, please? No chatting at the back, either. I’d like to say a few words, if that’s OK.’

  ‘And if it’s not?’ Carmel called out from the far end of the room.

  ‘Well that’s just too bad, because I’m going to go ahead and say them anyway,’ said Joe.

  Everyone laughed. Tasha whispered, ‘Let’s hope he isn’t going to make us jump out of a plane again.’

  Rory smiled and pulled her closer. Tasha truly was the love of his life. Would he have got through the last year without her? Probably, yes. But would he have b
een a fraction as happy as he was now? Definitely not.

  ‘My best friend Rory is twenty-seven years old today,’ Joe announced, to a roar of approval from the gathered crowd. ‘And I think we can all agree, the last two years have been pretty eventful.’

  Carmel, standing with one hand resting on her protruding stomach, said drily, ‘For me too.’

  More laughter. Rory caught Flo’s eye and she smiled at him, her own fingers entwined with Patrick’s. Next to them, Hallie was still holding Alexandra, whose tiny left hand was splayed across Hallie’s chest. Here they were, his new family, complete strangers who between them had saved his life. He owed them everything.

  ‘Anyway, I’m not going to bang on about it, because we all know the details,’ Joe continued. ‘But I just want to say, none of us knows how long any one of us has left. It could be fifty hours, could be fifty years. We’re just glad we’re here today. And we won’t forget those who aren’t.’ He paused and raised his glass. ‘To absent friends. Especially Zander.’

  Everyone else joined in.

  Then Rory felt Tasha disentangle her fingers from his. Stepping forward in a rustle of sapphire taffeta, she surveyed the gathering of guests. ‘Rory isn’t going to waste this chance he’s been given. He didn’t want to tell you because he was worried he might sound boasty, so I’m going to tell you myself. Next year he’s going to be running the London Marathon. He’s hoping to represent England at the World Transplant Games. And he’s also planning to cycle from John O’Groats to Land’s End, to raise awareness of organ donation. I couldn’t be prouder of him, I really couldn’t.’ Tasha’s eyes were bright as she turned to smile at Rory. ‘He’s amazing. He’s never going to change and I wouldn’t want him to.’

  A lump sprang up in Rory’s throat; for a moment he felt himself waver. Oh God . . .

  ‘Don’t make him cry, Bin Girl.’ Typically, Joe came to the rescue. ‘We’ll never let him live it down if he does.’

  ‘Here’s to Rory.’ Flo, stepping into the breach, lifted her glass.

  When the toast had been made, Rory said, ‘And to Hallie.’

  Hallie in turn added, ‘To Flo and Alexandra.’

  Finally, moving towards them and clinking her glass against each of theirs in turn, Flo said simply, ‘Here’s to us.’