Т.А. Уильямс – What Happens In Tuscany... (страница 13)
‘Now if, on the other hand, I was an attractive twenty-five-year-old on the pull, that would be a very different matter.’ Although this expression hadn’t cropped up before, she could see from Victoria’s blush that she had understood its significance. Katie couldn’t resist a little dig. ‘Like a certain handsome army officer for example.’
They chatted until Mrs Milliner came to tell them that dinner was served. Over roast lamb with all the trimmings Katie and Jenny reminisced about Bournemouth, from the time they were schoolgirls together right up to the present day. Katie couldn’t help noticing Victoria’s interest as they discussed the series of boys and young men with whom they used to hang out. She found herself wondering yet again just how it might feel to have grown to adulthood without any of these experiences, not even school dances or sleepover parties.
After dinner they sat by the fire and Victoria insisted upon opening another bottle of champagne. As the level in the bottle dropped, Victoria began to loosen up. As she talked, Katie gradually began to realise why she had appeared a bit low earlier on that evening. It was because her brain had been working overtime.
‘We went to a party this afternoon,’ Victoria was explaining to Jenny, although Katie had already told her most of it. ‘Do you know something? I’m twenty-five years old and that was my very first party.’ She glanced at Katie. ‘Apart from a few kids’ parties while my mother was still alive.’ Turning back to Jenny, she continued. ‘It was the strangest thing. For a while this afternoon, I felt almost like an alien. You know, somebody from another planet just looking on, studying the behaviour of these strange beings.’
‘One of whom was a very handsome being.’ Katie was determined to keep the mood positive. She was, however, fascinated to hear Victoria talking about the way she felt. Up till then, apart from the admission that she had tried to run away as a teenager, she hadn’t given much away. Katie was pleased to see two spots of colour in Victoria’s cheeks appear at the mention of Tom.
‘Yes, one of whom was very handsome.’ She glanced at Katie. ‘Although I found it difficult to talk to him. After all, I couldn’t really just say, “Oh, Tom, you’re so handsome.” Or is that what girls do these days?’
‘Only after a lot more booze than we’ve had this evening.’ Jenny was smiling. ‘Anyway, it’s only natural to feel a bit strange the first few times you go out in public. You’ll get the hang of it soon enough.’
Katie joined in to help raise her spirits. ‘You may not realise it yet, but you’re going to be fighting the men off before long. And, if it helps, I found myself feeling pretty much like you at the party this afternoon. I didn’t know anybody there and I’ve never been to a garden party before. I haven’t had little sandwiches with the crusts cut off since I was a toddler and some of those hats wouldn’t have looked out of place on a witch doctor.’
Victoria giggled. ‘Even Tom was embarrassed by his mother’s hat.’ Katie was delighted to see her smile and vowed to do her best to keep her happy. As it turned out, she needn’t have worried. As they were talking, Victoria’s new phone whistled. She had received her first text message. And, if that weren’t exciting enough, she saw that it was from Tom. Victoria’s smile broadened.
‘How do I do it, Katie?’ The other girls smiled to see her hopping up and down like a youngster. Katie leant across and showed her how to open the message and then sat back as Victoria read it. Her cheeks reddened as she read it through two or three times.
‘So…? He didn’t waste much time, did he?’ Katie and Jenny exchanged glances.
‘He says he loved meeting me and he looks forward to seeing me in Tuscany.’ Victoria looked embarrassed. ‘And he signs it, “xx Tom”. That’s good, isn’t it?’
Katie nodded. ‘That’s good; xx is definitely good. Talking of Tuscany, when are you going to contact your man about our visit?’
Victoria looked up. ‘I’m sorry, I should have told you. I phoned him this evening before you two came back. There’s nothing special to keep us here, so, it that’s all right with you, we could travel over in a few days’ time. I was going to ask you, Katie; how would you feel about driving over, rather than taking the plane? You see,’ she turned to Jenny apologetically, ‘I’ve never been abroad and I’d love to see a bit of France on the way.’
‘That sounds like a great idea.’ Katie glanced across at Jenny. ‘We’ll think of you when we’re lying in the sun.’
‘With a glass of wine in your right hand and a…’
They set off for Italy two days later and both girls were very excited at the prospect. Although Victoria had started taking driving lessons, she wouldn’t be ready to take her test until they came back, so Katie did all the driving. In fact she didn’t mind. It gave her something to do and something to concentrate on while Victoria just stared out of the windows in wonder.
As Katie had to keep reminding herself, this was Victoria’s first foray out of Devon since she was a little girl. It seemed unbelievable that something as world famous as Stonehenge could be a novelty to her. They stopped there for a break after several hours driving and Victoria had to be dragged away after an hour and countless photos.
‘I’ve seen pictures of it. I’ve read loads of books about it, but to actually see it is awesome. It’s such a shame we can’t get close enough to touch it.’ As they climbed back into the car, which was packed with their bags, she consulted the map. ‘So where next, Katie?’
‘We skirt round London on the M25 and then head down to the coast.’ Katie had decided to cross the channel on the ferry, rather than using the tunnel. That way they got the opportunity to eat something on the boat. ‘The main thing is that the weather’s perfect. No wind at all, so the crossing should be calm as a millpond.’
And it was. Once on board, while Katie went off to buy some water and sandwiches, Victoria headed out onto the deck. This was, of course, the first time she had ever been on a boat, or at least a boat bigger than the rowing boat that lived in the lake at Iddlescombe. She was fascinated by everything around her, from the white cliffs of Dover to the flock of squabbling seagulls following them out of the harbour. When Katie emerged from the cafeteria, she found her leaning over the stern rail, crying her eyes out.
‘What is it, Victoria? Is something wrong? Has something happened?’ She set down the bag with their lunch and stretched her arm around the other girl’s shoulders. She could feel her shaking with emotion. It was a while before Victoria was in a fit state to talk about it.
‘It’s just that we’re on a boat and we’re going abroad. Katie, I’ve dreamt of this for years and years and now, at long last, it’s happening. It’s an amazing feeling of liberation.’ She looked up, wiping her eyes with her forearm. ‘And it’s you I’ve got to thank for making it happen.’
‘No you haven’t.’ Katie handed her a tissue and stepped back. ‘You’re the one who decided the time was right to rejoin the real world. Don’t forget, it was you who got yourself a passport months ago with this in mind. If it hadn’t been me, it would have been somebody else here with you.’ She reached out and caught Victoria’s arm. ‘I’m just the means to the end and for what it’s worth, it’s an amazing experience for me to participate in this with you. For me it would just have been a boring old boat ride. Seeing it through your eyes makes me realise you should never take anything for granted in this life.’
Victoria looked up at her, an expression of sorrow on her face. ‘How could he keep me cooped up like that? I know he wasn’t in his right mind, but that doesn’t make it any easier.’
Katie gave her a sympathetic look. ‘But it’s over now. You’ve got to move on. Look at it this way. Every single place we go from now on will be brand new to you. Every person you meet, every castle, every hotel, every church and cathedral. It’s like going through the looking glass. You’re in another world now. Don’t look back, look forward. Just think of the wonders ahead of you.’
Конец ознакомительного фрагмента.
Текст предоставлен ООО «ЛитРес».
Прочитайте эту книгу целиком, купив полную легальную версию на ЛитРес.
Безопасно оплатить книгу можно банковской картой Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, со счета мобильного телефона, с платежного терминала, в салоне МТС или Связной, через PayPal, WebMoney, Яндекс.Деньги, QIWI Кошелек, бонусными картами или другим удобным Вам способом.