Wags To Riches (27 page)

In what seems like little more than ten minutes since I’d got back into bed and closed my eyes, I can hear Adam quietly saying my name.

“Gail?”

“Mmmmm?” I mumble.

“I’m just going to go and fetch a newspaper - okay?”

“All right” I say and Adam kisses me gently on the forehead.

“I shan’t be long,” he adds as he rolls over and gets out of bed.

“Okay” I say as I drift back off to sleep.  As long as you don’t expect me to go, I think, I’m not bothered really.  A while later, I’m woken by the sound of the bedroom door opening and I open my eyes to see Adam coming into the room with a newspaper tucked under his arm and carrying a large tray.

“Bought you some breakfast” he says smiling, resting the tray on the bed as I sit up, fumble for my glasses and look at the tray.  There’s orange juice, tea, strawberries and a bacon sandwich each.

   “This is lovely Adam!” I say beaming at him as he unbuttons his shirt, “Thank you so much”.

   “Well,” he says, throwing his jeans onto a chair and passing the tray to me to hold so he can get back in bed, “I thought it would be nice to have a lazy Sunday morning breakfast in bed.  Now which bit of the paper do you want to read first?”

   “Can I have the books and music bit please?” I ask and Adam passes it to me.  “What are you reading?” I ask and with a grin, Adam holds up the sports and motoring sections.

  
“Should have guessed really shouldn’t I?” I say laughing.

I run my eye over the new album reviews while I eat a few strawberries.  With a jolt I notice that one of the reviews is for an album by Itchy Skin and the Weevils.  “Hey - I’ve seen these live!” I say to Adam, who looks up from the article he is reading.

   “Are they any good?” he asks.

   “They were brilliant!” I say fervently.  “Me and Alex saw them at my old local - the Three Feathers.  We had a really good night”.

   “When was that?” Adam asks.

   “Oh it was a while ago, just after me and you had started seeing each other” I reply, thinking back.  “It seems a long time ago now” I say more to myself than to Adam as I reach for my bacon sandwich.  That life at Delightful – going to see bands at the Three Feathers – it seems like a completely different life – not my life at all.  With a sudden pang I think about Alex.  I’ve not spoke to her for ages.  I must phone her.  I take a bite of my sandwich.  “This is
lovely”
I say to Adam who smiles at me.  “Right – lets see what the reviewer thinks of the album” I say and settle back to read the review. 

   “What does the paper have to say then?” Adam asks after a few moments as he sips his tea. 

   “They love it!” I say surprised.  “That is praise indeed from a newspaper which normally sneers at any bands that are from north of the Watford gap!” Adam laughs.  “I’ll have a look on the Internet when we get back and order it” I say, “If it’s got most of the stuff on that they played when I saw them, it should be brilliant.”

   “Okay.  What do you think of that?” Adam asks, showing me a picture of a beautiful looking car.

   “Oooh that’s nice” I say, “What is it?”

   “An Aston Martin DBS” Adam says, “I think I might get one of them at some point”.

   “What’s that one?” I ask pointing to a picture of a sleek black car that looks seriously cool.

   “That is an Audi R8” Adam replies.

   “It’s lovely,” I say, looking at the picture again.  “I can just see myself driving along in that with some fantastic tunes on the stereo!”

   “You need to get learning first before you can start picking a car,” Adam says firmly and I nod ruefully.  “Have you managed to book any lessons yet?” he asks.

   “No, not yet” I admit, “I’ll sort it out first thing tomorrow – oh I need to arrange a time for us to go up to my Mum and Dad’s if that’s alright” I add.  My Mum and Dad got back from holiday a few days ago and my Mum hasn’t stopped asking about when they can meet Adam.

   “Yeah – I’d really like to meet them” Adam says, “I am a bit nervous though so I’ll make sure I put a shirt and tie on and polish my shoes when we go up in order to make a good impression!”

I smile.  “I’m sure they’ll love you!” I say and take a drink of tea whilst looking out of the window.  “It looks like it’s going to be a nice day today” I remark.

   “What do reckon then Gailey?” Adam asks, looking up at me.  “Reckon you can manage the barbeque this afternoon?”

   “Yeah, I think I’ll be alright,” I say as I get out of bed and walk round to the dressing room door.  I open the door and look at all my clothes hanging up.  “What’s the dress code for this barbeque?” I call over my shoulder to Adam, “I haven’t a clue what to wear”.

   “Whatever you think Gail – I’m sure you will look very nice” Adam calls. 

   “Thanks, that helps me a lot,” I say dryly, looking through the hangers.  I wonder if that new electric blue Jil Sanders shift dress would be okay.  I bought it the other week and I’ve been dying to wear it.  I bet it would great with my new silver glittery shoes too.  I lift it down and take it through to show Adam.   

   “Would this be okay?” I ask, “I know it’s sleeveless so I will need a cardi or something in case it gets chilly...”

   “Hey - that’s really nice!” Adam says enthusiastically, putting the newspaper down.  “When did you get that?”

   “Oh I bought it the other week.  I’ve been meaning to show it you,” I say.  “Do you think it will be alright?”

   “I think it’s great!  Yeah - wear that” Adam says smiling as I hold it up in front of myself.

   “I know it’s a bit short” I say, l
ooking down at the hem, “But it’s okay isn’t it?”

   “I think it’s perfect!” Adam says and grins at me.

* * * *

As we pull up in front of Terry’s house, Adam turns to me.  “How are you feeling?” he asks.

   “Much better thanks” I reply.  “I’m not a hundred percent, but I feel a lot better for some breakfast and a nice hot shower.  I even managed to get my contact lenses in without too much bother, which was amazing.  How are you?”

   “I’m not too bad, but then I didn’t start drinking through the match did I – unlike some people I could mention!” Adam says, playfully poking me in the ribs.

   “Ouch!  Hey – it would have been interesting if you did” I say, rubbing my side, “But then you would have probably have slopped champagne everywhere when you were running after the ball!”

Adam laughs.  “True,” he replies as he gets out of the car and comes
round to open my door for me.

   “Thank you” I say smiling and we walk up to the house hand in hand.  The noise of laughter and voices in the back garden can clearly be heard, but no one answers when Adam rings the bell.

   “Oh -let’s just go through the side gate.  Sounds like everyone’s out the back anyway,” Adam says and he opens an iron gate at the side of the house.  There are lots of people stood and sat round talking and drinking.  At the end of the garden there were two tables - one has a vast selection of drinks on and on the other, huge bowls of salad and fries.  Between the two tables stands Terry, wearing a blue and white striped apron and sweating feverishly over the biggest barbeque I have ever seen in my life. 

   “Sheena love!  Can you bring some plates?” he shouts and Sheena, wearing a pretty floral patterned dress comes hurrying out of the house, carrying a pile of plates.

   “Here you are Terry love!” she calls as she gets up to him.

   “Hello everybody!” Adam calls.

   “Hi mate!” Tim calls.   I’m pleased to see that Gina, Tim, Sharon and Tony are already here.  Then I spot Nicola wearing a tight leopard skin dress and matching heels, clinging onto Michael’s arm for dear life.

   “Oh God – she’s here is she?” I hiss through gritted teeth to Adam, keeping a fixed grin on my face at the same time.

   “Gail – just ignore her if she starts.  She’s not worth it” Adam says.  “Besides you are far prettier than her anyway” he added, squeezing my hand and I beam up at him. He’s so sweet.  And he looks really nice today, in jeans and a short sleeved black shirt.  Yum.

   “Adam!  Glad you could make it!” Terry calls, stepping out from behind the barbeque.  Even though he’s wearing shorts and a T-shirt, he’s sweating like mad and there are little bits of soot on his face.  “These burgers are just done – do you want one Gail?  There’s drinks over there as well – help yourself” he says waving a hand towards the other table and then putting a burger in a bap.  “Come on everybody – grubs up!” he shouts to everyone.

   “Here you are Gail,” Adam says, passing me a plate as people start walking up towards the barbeque.  “Do you want a burger or there are some chicken drumsticks if you want one of those?”

   “I’ll have a burger please,” I reply.  Despite all the breakfast I’ve eaten that morning, I’m starving again.  Hangovers always give me the munchies.  Most people get them when they’re drunk but I get them after for some reason.

   “Here you go” Adam says and passes me a burger, before putting another two on his own plate.  “What?” he asks in response to my raised eyebrows.  “Hey I’m a growing lad – I’ve got to keep my strength up!” he says laughing.  “I’ll just go and get us some drinks.  What would you like?”

   “Erm - I’m not sure really - actually I’ll have a hair of the dog and have a glass of wine please” I say.  I read somewhere that helps when you’re hungover and I’ll try anything.  Apart from drinking raw eggs.

   “Coming right up” Adam says and goes to get drinks.

   “I’m just going to get some salad” I call and walk down to the other table, trying not to let my heels sink into the grass.  I’m just helping myself to salad when Sharon comes up to me.

   “Hi Gail!” she says.  “I love your dress!”

  “Thanks Sharon” Gail says.  “You look great too - those trousers are fantastic!”  Sharon’s wearing a pair of copper and green coloured shiny trousers with a high necked Victorian style sleeveless blouse and teeteringly high brown leather sandals.  She grins at me.  “Thanks” she says.  “Saw them in New York when I went with Gina for her dress fitting and couldn’t resist!”

I smile and reach for a bottle of salad dressing when I hear a voice behind me.

“Hello Gail.  Tucking in I see?”

Oh God – I know who that is.  I take a deep breath and turn round.  I will
not
let her needle me.  “Hello Nicola!  Yes - I’m eating” I reply smiling.

   “Well,
I’m
just going to have a little salad,” Nicola says and puts a few leaves of rocket, lettuce and red chard on her plate, along with two tiny cherry tomatoes.  “
I’m
watching my figure”.

   “Yeah, well I have to eat a lot you see – I need the energy to keep up with Adam’s insatiable sexual demands” I reply casually and both Sharon and Nicola gape at me.  “We’ll burn all this off later for sure” I add with a big smile and take a huge, defiant bite of my burger. 

   Sharon bursts out laughing.  “Do excuse us won’t you Nicola?” and we walk over to where Gina is.  “That was brilliant what you just said!  Did you see her face?” Sharon says gleefully.

   “Why - what happened?” Gina asks.  I point at my mouth and shake my head - still trying to eat the massive mouthful of burger I’ve jus
t taken.  After a minute, I’m able to tell Gina what I’ve just said to Nicola and Gina laughs.

   “Good for you Gail!” she says.

   “That was brilliant – seriously Gail” Sharon adds, “I can’t believe you said that!”

   “Neither can I actually” I say, “I’m not fat though am I?” I ask anxiously.  I know I eat too much.

   “No!  Don’t be daft!  You look great.  Don’t let her worry you” Gina asserts as Adam appears at my side with a glass of wine in one hand and a can of coke in the other.

   “Where’s your plate?” I ask.

   “Eh?  Oh I’ve finished!” he says, grinning.  “I got you your wine”.

   “Thanks” I say and take a drink.  That does seem to help actually.  Either that or it
just takes your mind off the hangover.

   “That’s a gorgeous dress you’ve got on Gail” Gina says, “Jil Sanders isn’t it?”

   “Thank you Gina!  Yes it is a Jil Sander” I say proudly.  “I like your dress as well”.  Gina is wearing a maxi length turquoise and green patterned dress which only somebody like her could carry off.

   “Thanks” she replies as Tim, Tony and Michael come over to us.  I finish my burger and go to put my empty plate on the table.

   “Hey Tim have you seen that new Aston Martin DBS?” Adam is asking when I get back and go to stand next to him.  Adam passes me my wine and slips his other arm round my waist.

   “I have.  It’s gorgeous!” Tim replies.

   “0-60 in 4.3 seconds” Michael says, “top speed about one hundred and ninety miles an hour”.

Adam lets out a low whistle.  “That’s some serious speed!” he says.

   “But what’s the point?” Gina asks, “You can’t drive that fast on a normal road”.

   “Well – not legally no” Adam replies, “But it’s nice to know it’s there” and Michael and Tim both nod in agreement.  “Gail’s learning to drive aren’t you?” Adam says, turning to me.