Rumours

‘Why?’

‘Because first and foremost you’re an art historian – and that’s who you are. Not a suity person. Dress as the real You.’

‘I’m an estate agent.’

‘In the interim.’ Juliet looked at her sternly. ‘Remember – that’s your game plan.’

Stella’s head dropped a little as she nodded. She fiddled with a frozen oven chip that had missed its place on the tray.

‘And my divorce came through.’

And then Juliet thought, sod the suit – that’s not why she’s here. ‘Good,’ Juliet said. She wiped her hands on her jeans and put her arms around Stella. ‘At long bloody last.’

‘I know.’ And Stella was shocked to feel tears scorch the back of her throat. She attempted to cough them away. ‘Actually, it came last week.’

‘Why didn’t you say?’ Juliet was upset.

‘I felt OK about it. Flat – but OK.’ Her throat still ached. A tear dropped. ‘Shit. I can’t believe I’m going to cry.’ She groaned at herself and stamped.

‘You haven’t heard from him, I suppose?’

Stella shook her head and then reached for some kitchen roll to blow her nose. ‘I’ve been fine – and I’m absolutely fine.’ She was frustrated – more at her tears and herself than at any number of the transgressions that could be pinned on Charlie. ‘Why am I crying now? I’m not really.’

‘I know you’re not. It’s just relief and closure and you’ve waited a long time for it. Welcome to the rest of your life. Come on, chook. Let’s go and raid my dressing-up box.’ Juliet led the way upstairs, pausing with Stella to watch, unseen, Will sitting on Pauly’s bed in utter heaven as one cousin strummed a few chords on his guitar and the other chewed gum and texted on his phone.

‘Try the Paul Smith,’ Juliet said, proffering it for Stella’s approval like a maître d’ presenting a Dover sole.

‘Is that because you feel sorry for me?’ Stella asked wryly, hauling herself back on form – a person who, once a good cry had been had, gathered herself together, dug deep for a smile and wore it until it worked independently.

‘Yes,’ said Juliet. ‘Of course not! Just try it on – the more it’s worn, the more the cost-per-wear goes down and the quicker I can justify the purchase.’

Stella undressed and, though she stood there in black socks and mismatched underwear, Juliet thought what a cracking figure she had. ‘Promise not to bite my head off?’

‘Pardon?’

‘Just – promise.’

‘I promise.’

‘Not to bite my head off.’

‘I promise not to bite your head off!’

‘Please let me sort out a date for you – please?’

‘When? To do what?’

‘No – a date, date.’

Stella wanted to bite Juliet’s head off but as a girl who’d never break a promise, she fell silent and just sent Juliet a black look instead.

‘Do you not feel ready, Stella – is that it?’

Stella didn’t answer, didn’t appear to have heard.

‘It’s been over three years, lovely.’

Stella shrugged. ‘I’m busy. I have Will. I’m fine. Actually, I’m just not interested.’

‘Then you ought to go to your GP and have your hormone levels assessed.’ Juliet thought that might have sounded a little sharp. ‘You’re bloody gorgeous – it’s a waste! And you’re denying yourself the chance to have someone really lovely in your life – not to fill a gap, just to enhance it.’

‘My life is good,’ Stella said and she really believed it.

‘Not all men are like Charlie,’ Juliet said quietly. ‘In fact, few of them are. You know that deep down. I know you know that.’

Stella turned for Juliet to zip up the skirt.

‘Look at your peachy bum, missus!’

Stella looked at herself in the mirror. ‘That’s the genius of Paul Smith tailoring,’ she said.

‘Rubbish!’ said Juliet. ‘It doesn’t look half as good on me, you cow.’ She held the jacket as Stella slipped it on. ‘Just look at you!’

Stella looked. And had to grin. ‘Blimey.’

‘That’s an understatement,’ Juliet said. ‘It would be nice for you to have a little fun,’ she said softly. ‘You deserve it. It’ll be good for you – for your self-esteem.’

‘You sound just like Jo – different vocabulary. She witters on about my mojo.’

‘Go, Jo.’

Stella didn’t want to be drawn. ‘I just don’t think I’m that bothered any more.’

‘If that’s the case, you’ve let bloody Charlie define the rest of your life – and yet he’s now out of your life. You’re really good in a couple, even when the other half was a prize shit. Don’t let what you went through change something that naturally suits you.’

Stella hadn’t thought about it that way. ‘But – Will,’ she explained, as if Juliet (like Jo) had missed the point. ‘It’s too complicated.’

‘No,’ said Juliet strongly. ‘That’s an excuse. It needn’t be complicated – and there’s no reason for Will to be involved. You need to have you-time, doing grown-up stuff. You need to pep up your self-confidence. You think your divorce has diminished you – but actually, it gives you your life back. You’ve probably forgotten what that’s like.’

Stella sighed. She stroked the suit as if it was living. ‘If I say yes, will you stop lecturing me?’

‘Yes,’ said Juliet.

‘But no gynaes.’

‘Roger.’

‘And no one called Roger.’