The Shoestring Club (23 page)

I know Ed and Lainey both betrayed me, but what I did was unforgivable. Ed made me swear I wouldn’t tell a soul about spending time together or the kiss, but I can’t stop thinking about it. Yes, it was only one short, if furious, kiss – I put a halt to things before they went any further – but surely it meant something to him? I’m so confused my head hurts from thinking about it.

‘What do you think, Jules?’ Pandora asks. ‘Cushions or no cushions?’

I look at her. I have no idea what she’s talking about. But Pandora has a thing about cushions, she even has them on her bed.

‘Cushions,’ I say firmly.

‘Perfect,’ Pandora says smiling. ‘Cushions it is.’

By my coffee break I’m starting to feel a little better, mainly due to the painkillers Pandora pressed into my hand earlier. She’s convinced I’m fighting something off and is being terrifically nice to me, making me feel even more guilty. So I’ve been hiding at the back of the shop floor, working on the chicken-wire frames for my elephants. I open the door a crack and check there’s no one in the staffroom before walking in and flopping down on the sofa. I take out my iPhone. OK, I know it’s a long shot and I’m probably being stupid, but after last night . . . I scan my messages. Nothing from Ed. But there is one from Jamie.

I press my head into the back of the sofa, hugely relieved he still wants to be friends after all the shenanigans last night. I know he said we were OK, but when it comes to our friendship he seems to be blowing hot and cold at the moment. What am I doing tonight? I’d say there’s every chance I’ll be sitting at home on my tod, obsessing about Ed and the kiss. I certainly don’t want to face Jamie in person yet. He’s bound to guess something’s up. And if he does guess he’s unlikely to speak to me again. A risk I’m not prepared to take, not when I’ve just got him back.

No problem, good luck with the revamp!
he texts back. I lie down on the sofa and close my eyes, willing the throbbing to disappear and my dark thoughts to lift.

‘Wakey, wakey,’ Bird says, flinging open my curtains on Sunday morning. ‘Revamp day. Ready for some hard work, Boolie?’

I groan and open my eyes, shielding them against the light with my hand. ‘Ten more minutes, Bird.’

‘Then you’ll have to cycle. I’m leaving in five minutes sharp. Up to you, darling.’ She peers down at me. ‘Glands any better?’

‘A bit.’ The monster headache has finally gone. Shame I couldn’t sleep a wink last night, my mind churning like a food mixer. And when I did finally drift off, I had a horribly vivid nightmare – Iris lying on the pavement, her head smashed open like a pumpkin. I was standing over her and then blood started pouring from my palms and merging with the pool of her own blood. Terrifying. And that’s just the one I remember. No wonder I feel so drained this morning. As soon as Bird’s out of the room, I check my phone for messages. Nothing. But I do have an email. Ed? I sit up and quickly click on it.

My God, it worked. A complete stranger – Alex – is going to give us 300, and she doesn’t need the dress until December, which is perfect. I feel a sudden surge of positivity. For a second I’m almost happy. I check my watch. Ten to ten. Too early to ring Arietty? What the hell.

‘Hi, Jules.’ Arietty sounds wide awake and pleased to hear from me, even on a Sunday morning.

‘It worked!’ I say excitedly. ‘I got an email this morning from someone called Alex Cinnamon. She wants to buy a share.’

‘That’s fantastic news. One down, one to go.’

‘Ah, I was going to talk to you about that. I think I’ve found girl number four, only it’s a bit complicated. I’ll need to explain in person.’

Arietty gives an excited squeal. ‘Really? You mean this is actually going to happen? That’s fantastic! What are you up to right now? We should celebrate, have brunch in your café or something.’

‘I’m working I’m afraid. I have a pair of three-foot elephant frames to cover in papier mâché. And the shop’s closed today, including the café. Dad’s fitting some new shelving.’

‘Why don’t I give you a hand? And then we could have lunch in Avoca, yes? It’s just down the road.’

‘Are you sure? It’s a messy business, the wallpaper paste gets everywhere.’

‘Who cares?’ She gives a rumbling laugh. ‘And how else can I be sure you’ll get the tusks right this time? And complications? Ha! My whole life is one big complication.’

‘I know what you mean. And in that case, I’d love some help.’ I click off my phone, smiling to myself. Things are finally looking up – I’m one step closer to being the proud part-owner of the Farenze. And then I remember why I want the dress in the first place and the smile quickly drops off my face.

I lie back and think about Ed. He hasn’t contacted me since Friday night and I don’t know why I ever thought he would. He’s getting married in just under a month, Jules, I tell myself firmly. And he doesn’t care about you. He told you himself, he’s in love with Lainey. You have to stop all this stupid obsessing and forget about him. It’s not rational.

Bird marches back into my room. ‘Up! We’re wasting precious time. We didn’t close the shop for you to malinger in bed all day. Now, young lady!’

I’m kneeling on a flattened cardboard box, slapping strips of newspaper soaked in wallpaper paste onto my first elephant, when I hear a voice behind me.

‘Reporting for duty, sir.’

I swing around. Arietty is standing there, grinning, in old denims, frayed at the knees, and a blue sweatshirt that looks at least two sizes too big, still managing to look amazing.

I stand up and brush my hair back off my face with the heel of my hand as my fingers are horribly sticky.

‘Hi, Arietty,’ I say. ‘Now, are you positive you want to do this? Look at the state of me.’ I hold up my gooey hands.

She grins. ‘Yes. You can tell me all the dress news while we work.’

‘In that case . . .’ I hand her another flattened box and point at an elephant’s rear end. ‘You start at his bum and work your way forwards. I’ve put the first layer down, which is the tricky bit. We just need to build up the body with two or three more layers, then spray it with a thick layer of grey paint. That’ll have to be done first thing tomorrow morning, after the newspaper has had a chance to dry. And then I’ll add eyes and maybe decorate their necks with bows or something to brighten them up.’

Arietty scowls. ‘Bows? That will look stupid.’

I laugh. ‘Don’t hold back, Arietty.’

‘Sorry. But bows? You’ve seen my elephants up close and personal, Jules. Could you really imagine Beatrix with a red ribbon around her neck, like a Christmas present?’

I shake my head. ‘What about a bright rug on their backs? Would that work? I could use the material left over from the curtains.’

‘It would be better. Although it’s still a bit circus-like. They used to dress them up in enormous red jackets and pill hats in the olden days. In fact, Dublin Zoo was still running elephant rides until the 1950s. I just think elephants deserve our respect. The only thing on their backs in the wild is dust or sand. They spray it on their skin to keep themselves cool.’

‘I just want to make them eye catching. I’ll think of something. I could always surround each of them with a ring of glittery poos.’

Arietty stares at me. ‘That would be weird.’

I smile. ‘I’m joking.’

‘How are you getting on, Jules?’ Pandora walks towards us, then spots Arietty.

‘Hello, again,’ Pandora says to her. ‘I wasn’t expecting you till tomorrow. I’m afraid we’re not open today. But if you really need your Farenze dress I’m sure we can make an exception.’

‘That won’t be necessary,’ Arietty says politely. ‘I can wait. Tomorrow is good.’

Pandora doesn’t move. She looks from Arietty to me and then back again.

Arietty smiles. ‘You’re wondering what I’m doing here then, yes?’

Pandora’s cheeks colour. ‘Sorry, I don’t mean to be nosey.’

‘I’m helping Jules get the elephants right,’ Arietty says unperturbed.

‘Of course, you work with them, don’t you?’ Now that Pandora has her answer, she relaxes a little. ‘Iris was very taken with you, won’t stop talking about you in fact. Did you get the picture she drew for you?’

Oops, I knew there was something I meant to bring with me today.

‘Arietty is going to collect it later,’ I pipe up. ‘The drawing Iris did for you, of the elephants. Remember I told you about it?’ I give Arietty a please play along look.

‘No, you didn’t,’ Arietty says. She’s obviously a lot better at reading elephants than people. ‘I would have remembered. But I look forward to seeing it. Nice to meet you again, Pandora. Iris is very sweet by the way, smart too, but you really should get her a proper pet. Insects are fascinating, but they don’t give much back, not the way mammals do.’

Pandora opens her mouth to say something, but then closes it again. ‘Thank you for that advice,’ she says stiffly, glaring at me. I’m sure she thinks I put Arietty up to it. ‘We’ll see.’ And with that Pandora marches off.

I laugh into my hand.

Arietty looks at me. ‘Was it something I said?’

‘Not at all. But I think our Shoestring Club handover dinners have just got a whole heap more interesting.’

Realization dawns over Arietty’s face. ‘Are you saying Pandora has bought the final share?’

I click my tongue against my teeth. ‘My granny, Bird, has put up the money on Pandora’s behalf, on one condition. That we find Pandora something, or more precisely,
someone
, to wear it for.’

Arietty grins. ‘Are you serious? She’s pretty, that shouldn’t be a problem, should it?’

My eyebrows soar. ‘The fussiest woman in the universe when it comes to men? I would have to say it’s a challenge.’

‘There must be loads of single men out there who would happily date Pandora. Look, I bet he’s single. Let’s ask him if he’d like to meet her.’ She points down the street at a man walking towards us.

As he gets closer I realize with a start that it’s Jamie. I wince with guilt. He’s obviously come looking for me. Maybe he knows something about me and Ed. At least Arietty’s lunacy might distract him.

I say, ‘Go on, ask him, I dare you,’ then dive behind the elephant. I crouch down and peer through the gap between the trunk and the mouth.

Arietty steps out a little, blocking Jamie’s path. She’s a good two inches taller than he is.

‘Hello,’ she says.

‘Um, hello,’ he answers nervously.

‘Are you single?’

He looks around him. I’m sure he thinks it’s a wind up, that someone is videoing him for You Tube.

‘Yes,’ he says suspiciously. ‘Why? Is this some sort of marketing thing?’

‘No. Would you like to meet someone? A girl I mean. But you have to be single. And solvent,’ she adds firmly. ‘Her name is Pandora Schuster and she owns this lovely shop.’ She waves her hand at the shop window. ‘She’s smart and funny and a great business woman. What do you think? Would you like an introduction?’

‘Jules?’ Jamie says loudly, whipping his head around. ‘Is this your idea of a joke? It’s not funny. Where are you hiding?’

Arietty puts her hands on her hips. ‘Jules! You might have told me you knew the guy. Come out right this second.’

I step out from behind the elephant, chuckling away to myself. ‘You should have seen your face, Jamie Clear. Priceless.’ I turn to Arietty. ‘Sorry, Arietty, I couldn’t resist. This is Jamie, an old friend of mine. Jamie, meet Arietty. She’s kindly helping me slap soggy paper onto this fellow.’ I nod at the elephant.