Lola's House (Lola Series) (21 page)

Chapter Twenty One

I take one last look around the shop and try to quell my fluttering nerves.   A few steady deep breaths to calm myself and I nod, satisfied I have done all I can.  Everything is pristine – the paintwork looks fresh, the new wallpaper on the back wall really stands out and gives the shop a sophisticated yet funky appearance.  The new collection hangs neatly on one side of the shop.  The vintage inspired collection is the best line we have ever had and virtually sell themselves.  Together with the new acquisitions I have made, which have come back from the dry cleaners just this morning, the shop looks really good. 

I ha
ve showcased three jewel coloured wrap dresses on vintage dressmaker’s dummies against the back wall.  The spotlights shines on them, highlighting the contrasting colours of cerise, emerald and sea blue. 

I ha
ve chosen to wear a dress we got from the house clearance.  As soon as I saw it I knew I had to have it.  I couldn’t resist another look in the floor length mirror to check the dress out yet again.  It has a fuchsia coloured taffeta underlay with a black lace overlay, cut in a fifties prom dress style it flounces out over the net underskirts I’m wearing underneath.  I have added a wide black patent belt around my waist and a simple ribbon choker at the boat neck.  I feel wonderful in it.  I tuck a stray strand of hair back into my updo and smile to myself, satisfied we have done well, then turn and sigh as I hear discordant voices coming from the back room again.

‘Malcolm, do you have to keep going out there and smoking, the smell is drifting in through the door.  You’re infecting the nibbles for goodness sake.’  I hear the door slam and my mom marche
s into the shop, her helmet hair not daring to move as her feet pound the floorboards.  ‘Really, Lola, don’t just stand there looking at yourself, we need some help with the food.’

‘Mom, will you calm down, everything is ready, all we need now is guests.’  I look at my watch for the fiftieth time that evening and bit
e my lip nervously.  ‘I hope they all turn up.’

‘Of course they will
, dear, I just hope Muriel can get those two waiters sorted in time.  They’re hopeless and she’s just not strict enough with them,’ she says, tutting to herself.

‘Le
ave Muriel alone please, mom, she has everything in hand.’  As bossy as my mom is with me, I’m not going to let her start on Muriel.

She harrumphs
to herself and is just about to start another attack when the bell clangs above the door and in breezes Chrissie and Cal. 

Chrissie grab
s me and kisses my cheek.  ‘You look fabulous, Lola.’

‘Thanks, Chrissie, so do you,’ I sa
y, pulling back from her.  ‘You’re wearing the wrap dress and sexing it up perfectly I see.’

‘What else would you expect, sweetie?’ she sa
ys, smoothing her hand over her generous chest and smiling to herself.  ‘Anyway, enough of me.  How is it going? Are we the first here?’

‘Yes.  I’m so nervous and my mom is making it worse, winding everyone up and then raining on their parade like she always does.  I’m afraid Muriel might quit if s
he doesn’t stop soon.’ I fiddle nervously with my bracelet. Raised voices ring out on cue from the back room again just as the bell clangs above the door and guests start to pile into the shop.  ‘Oh God.’  I groan, in despair.

‘Okay, you greet your guests, Cal can dish out the bubbly and I’ll go and tame the beast out back,’ she sa
ys, grabbing my chin.  ‘Head up, Lola.  Put a smile on your face, everything will be fine.’  She marches off towards the back of the shop, the sound of her stilettos echoing off the walls as she strides across the wooden floor.

After an hour the shop is heaving and the party in full swing.  The heat is stifling from all the bodies crammed in, so the back door is open to let a breeze flow through.  Muriel is manning the till with Chrissie helping out, bagging the purchases.

Robert still ha
sn’t turned up and I am nervously scanning the door yet again hoping he will appear.  I’m not sure why but it’s important to me that Robert sees our success.  He has played a big part in getting the shop the way it is and I really want him to be here to share this evening. 

I fe
el James standing by my side, a glass of champagne in his hand.  He slides his free arm around my waist and plants a kiss on my cheek.  ‘Are you looking for someone, babe?’

I fe
el a wave of heat wash over me and the colour rises in my cheeks. I gather myself quickly.  ‘Oh, I was wondering whether Alex would come.  He said he would drop in tonight but you know what he’s like.’

‘No doubt he will turn up like a bad penny,’ he sa
ys, tipping back his glass of champagne in one go and then smacking his lips together.  ‘I didn’t think you cared that much for him anyway.’

‘Oh, I need to talk to him is
all.  I’m sure you’re right, he’ll be here soon.’  I fidget nervously with my bracelet again.  ‘Did you see Robert at home?’

‘No, not seen him.’  He look
s at his empty glass.  ‘Better get a refill, can I get you one babe?’

‘No, I’m okay thanks.  I’m trying to keep a clear head.’ I smooth my clammy palms on my dress, not sure how long I c
an keep going in this state of heightened awareness.  I’m just not made for high stress situations, and would love nothing more than to sink a bottle of champagne. 

‘Well I for one need more booze.  You know fashion isn’t my thing.’  He plant
s another damp kiss on my cheek and squeezes my butt as he walks off with a shrug.

I watch him retreat and then survey the rest of the guests.  The noise in the room
is getting incredibly loud with everyone talking at once and I can hardly hear myself think any more.  My stomach is still fluttering and I am considering sloping off out the back door to have a cigarette with Malcolm, although I never ever smoke, when Chrissie catches my eye.  She holds up a carrier bag for the last customer in the queue and beckons me over.

‘He’s looking pleased with himself,
has someone died and left him money?’ she nods her head to where James stands, another full glass of champagne in his hand.

It’
s on the tip of my tongue to defend James out of habit when Muriel tactfully cuts in.  ‘Never mind that, we have made a fortune tonight.  We’ve sold at least half of the new stock and so many vintage items, I’ve lost count.  We’ll need to re-stock pretty soon.’  She tidies up the counter and straightens the stiff paper carrier bags underneath as I have seen her do a thousand times before.  ‘How did the interview go?  I saw you talking to that girl from the paper.’

‘It went brilliantly.  She love
s our stuff, the shop and everything.  The piece will be in next week’s edition so fingers crossed we should be getting more bodies through the door soon.  I’ve got a few leads for new stock and have appointments lined up for next week, which all sound promising.’

‘Just what we need, Lola, things are looking up.  At least all this work has been worth it,’ she sa
ys, as she serves another customer.  Chrissie pulls me away from the counter.

‘When is that gorgeous
lodger of yours getting here?’ she whispers into my ear.

‘He said he would be here by seven-thirty.’  I look at my watch.  ‘It’s nearly nine now, I know he had to go to Derby today, maybe he’s been held up.’

‘Hmm maybe,’ Chrissie says, distractedly arranging her neckline to show off her generous cleavage.  ‘He had better turn up soon – I put this dress on especially.’

I sh
ake my head and roll my eyes at her.  Some things will never change, and life just wouldn’t be the same without Chrissie flirting.  ‘Don’t worry, I’ll let you, and your chest know, when he turns up.’

‘Oh touché,’ she sa
ys, flashing her pearly white teeth at me.

I’m
still laughing to myself as I turn and bump right into the arms of my mom.  My smile makes a miraculous exit. 

‘For goodness sake, Lola, look where you’re going.
  It’s okay for you swanning around all night.  I’m totally stressed out trying to keep those waiters moving.’

I look over to where the waiters
are busy serving drinks and passing out canapés as they have been doing all evening.  ‘What are you talking about mom - those guys haven’t stopped all night.’

‘Only because I’ve had my foot up their bums, otherwise they would have been slacking off round the back, probably smoking dope or something.’  She fold
s her arms across her chest.

‘I don’t think so.  Mark’s Muriel’s nephew, he’s a really good kid.  And he doesn’t smoke.’

‘Well I can only say what I’ve seen,’ she says, pursing her lips.

‘Can’t you ever be nice to anyone?’ Why I thought she would behave herself, even for just one night
is beyond me.  Same old, same old, I think to myself.

‘I’m just being honest, Lola.  I understand some people can’t handle honestly.’
She looks at me pointedly.

‘Mom, please,
give it a rest.’  A subject change is in order, preferably her favourite subject.  ‘What time is Alex coming?’

Her face li
ghts up like a beacon.  ‘He said he would be coming up straight from London.  I thought he would have been here by now.  I’ll give him a quick call shall I? - I don’t want him to miss your little party, especially if you want some business tips from him.’

‘I’m alright for tips at the moment thanks, mom, just let me know when he deigns to grace us with his presence.’

She huffs and walks off, no doubt to start haranguing the waiters again and I turn and find Malcolm standing in the space she has just vacated. 

‘Lovely party, Lola, well done.’
  He kisses my cheek.  ‘Has she been giving you a hard time again?’  He nods towards my mom’s departing back.

‘Of course, I would think something
was seriously wrong with her if she didn’t - she only cracked her face when I mentioned Alex.’

‘Don’t take it to heart, Lola.  I have found that the secret is just to agree with her, and then do whatever you like anyway.  It makes for a much easier life.’

‘Well, I suppose it’s easier than hiring a hit man,’ I mutter under my breath.

‘It is
, I’ve looked into it.’  He smiles and winks at me.  ‘Anyway, I think you may have more pressing problems at the moment.’  He nods over to where James is talking to Charlotte Hope, a very attractive fashion blogger.  She is examining our vintage inspired range, while it appears, also trying to avoid James who is almost sticking his tongue in her ear, he is so close.  Talk about invading personal space.  I knew he could be flirty when he’d had a drink but that’s ridiculous, and would also put my chances of a good write up in jeopardy.  

‘Oh for
god’s sake,’ I say, shaking my head and marching over to pull him off.  ‘James, I see you’ve met Charlotte?’

‘Yeah, she’s got her own blog.’ He ha
s his arm around her, breathing alcoholic fumes into her face.  ‘She knows everything about fashion you know.’ 

‘I know, James,’ I sa
y, taking his other arm and gently pulling him off her.  ‘That’s why I invited her to the party.’

He stumble
s to one side, as he pulls himself from my grip, and then straightens himself up, adjusting his tie.  I knew I shouldn’t have left it until after the party to talk to him.  I’d never get any sense out of him tonight.  I apologise to Charlotte, praying to every god she would still give me a good write up, and then almost drag James towards the back of the shop where a space has cleared.

‘What are you trying to do, James?  You were almost having sex with her, you were that close.  Are you deliberately trying to sabotage my party?’ I sa
y, unable to hold back the anger in my voice.

‘Don’t be ridiculous, I was just being friendly, that’s all.  No harm in that is there?’ he sa
ys, slurring his words and grabbing another glass of champagne from a passing waiter.

I
take the glass off him.  ‘Well I think you’ve had enough to drink for tonight.  Anymore and you’ll be French kissing my mother.’

‘Just chill out for fuck’s sake will you,’ he sa
ys, taking the glass back off me.  ‘I’m just enjoying myself.’ 

I watch him walk away, knocking back the champagne, and quell the urge to cry with frustration, just as Cal appear
s by my side.  ‘Do you want me to keep an eye on him?’ he asks.

‘Would you please, Cal?’ I sa
y, releasing my breath at last.  ‘I don’t know what’s gotten into him tonight.’  Actually I do know what has gotten into him - approximately two bottles of champagne and an overwhelming desire to sabotage everything I love, I think to myself bitterly.

Eventually, by eleven o’clock everyone has gone and we can at last breathe a sigh of relief.  Muriel cashes up the till, while myself and Chrissie collect up all of the glasses we can find.  Malcolm and Cal have taken James outside for some fresh air.  At least I don’t have to deal with him for half an hour or so, with a bit of luck he may have sobered up by then.  I’m disappointed that he has acted up tonight but hopefully, Charlotte Hope will still give me a good write up, she did seem very impressed by the shop.