Lucy in the Sky

me.
    ‘Yeah. Hey, James, I’m just nipping in here,’ I call. He and Richard are looking in the window of a model car shop a couple of doors away. Nathan follows me into the shop and I ask to see the box of charms. The sales assistant notices me fingering the Concorde one.
    ‘Flew its last flight right over our heads,’ she tells me.
    ‘Would you like it?’ Nathan asks.
    ‘Yes, I think I would.’ I smile.
    ‘I’ll get it for you…’
    ‘No, it’s okay!’
    ‘I want to. Birthday present.’
    ‘Ah, thank you. Every time I see Concorde, I’ll think of you.’
    ‘Cheers,’ he laughs, sarcastically. ‘That’ll be often, then?’
    ‘Look.’ I show James, later.
    ‘Mmm,’ he says, barely interested.
    I put the charm in my purse, and feel oddly more attached to it than to the expensive diamond necklace hanging around my neck.

Chapter 23
    It’s November and we’re all going to Gemma and Martin’s flat in Primrose Hill for fireworks night. The leaves on the trees have finally turned. It seems like only a week ago that they were green, but now they drop from the branches in varying shades of red, orange and yellow.
    The smell of chestnuts cooking on the street corners in town has been making me crave Christmas already. I love this time of year here. It’s just not the same in Australia, where the sun is beating down and everyone walks around in shorts and T-shirts instead of hats, scarves and woolly winter coats. No amount of tacky tinsel and the sound of ‘Jingle Bells’ blaring out of shop doorways Down Under can compete with England’s dark nights, fairy lights and warm log fires.
    We all gather at Gemma and Martin’s for mulled wine before the fireworks display, then head off up the hill with rugs and flasks of milky, sugary coffee. Nathan is here, with Richard too, and Chloe has joined us for the evening. We lay our rugs down on the grass and chatter happily as we wait for the fireworks to start.
    ‘Did you guys make it to Harrods last weekend?’ I ask Richard and Nathan.
    ‘Yeah. What a sight that shop is.’ Richard laughs. ‘I’ve never seen anything so gaudy. Got a couple of tea towels to take back for my granny, though.’
    I’m sitting between James and Chloe. Gemma and Martin are to my right, and Richard is next to Chloe on my left with Nathan at the end, so I have to lean forward to see his face. He’s nodding at Richard in agreement.
    ‘What do you guys think of Old Blighty?’ Chloe asks.
    ‘Ah, it’s great,’ Richard enthuses. ‘I definitely want to come back.’
    Chloe nudges me gleefully.
    ‘What about you, Nathan?’ she asks. ‘You coming back?’
    ‘I don’t know.’ He smiles at her. ‘We’ll see.’
    Downcast, I hear James exhale from beside me and turn to look at him sharply, but he’s not listening to our conversation. Instead he’s typing a text.
    ‘What’s wrong?’ I ask him.
    ‘Oh, it’s Zoe. She’s upset.’
    ‘About Jim?’ I ask, feeling uncomfortable.
    ‘Yeah,’ he answers, distracted as he continues to type, then presses send.
    Moments later a text comes back.
    ‘Oh, for God’s sake,’ he snaps, reading it before starting to write another one.
    ‘What’s she saying?’ I ask evenly.
    ‘She wants me to go and see her.’ I frown and look away. ‘Don’t worry,’ he assures me hurriedly. ‘I’m telling her I’m busy.’
    Good, I think. He sends that text and wraps his arm aroundme, drawing me close and keeping me warm. It’s freezing tonight. I’m still slightly on edge, wondering if another text is about to come in. But instead his phone starts to ring.
    ‘Sorry, sorry,’ he mutters, and stands up, flipping his phone open. He wanders away from us and I immediately feel cold again.
    ‘James alright?’ Chloe asks.
    ‘Zoe playing up,’ I say.
    ‘Who’s Zoe?’ Richard asks.
    ‘Just some girl from James’s work,’ Chloe chips in.
    ‘She’s a friend,’ I explain. ‘Her boyfriend cheated on her.’
    ‘Oh, right.’ Richard pulls a face.
    I glance across at Nathan. He’s staring off down the hill and, even though he’s close by, I suddenly miss him. Really miss him. I wish we could have some time alone to talk properly. It’s impossible to speak to him with all these people around. Moments later James comes back.
    ‘Is she alright?’ I ask coolly.
    ‘No, not really.’
    ‘Oh.’ I feel a little sorry for her. ‘Why don’t you go and see her?’ I suggest magnanimously.
    ‘Would you mind?’ He looks at