Wags To Riches (10 page)

“Thank you” I say.

“All wedding guests who use the spa also get a complimentary selection of toiletries when you leave” the receptionist adds.

“Oh how kind”.  Now that’s more like it.

“If you can just sign this form and then go through to the changing rooms when you are ready” she says.  “They are just down the hall, on your left”.  I sign the form and walk down to the changing room.  That will be one to tell Adam – that I nearly got a job in the spa as a cleaner! 

I go into the changing room and put on the dressing gown and slippers over my underwear, shoving everything else into one of the lockers.  This dressing gown is lovely!  Right – I’m ready.  Facial first I think.  I walk through the changing room and go out of another door, marked ‘Entrance to Spa’.  Blimey!  I seem to have walked into some kind of rainforest!  I feel like Mr Ben when he used to go through the magic door in the dressing up shop.  There are really realistic looking mossy rocks and ferns everywhere and in the centre of the room is a beautiful pool lit with pale green lights.  Gosh!  There are a group of glamorous looking women sat together near it - I wonder if they’re wedding guests as well?  I think I’ll ask one of them where I need to go for the facial as I could be wondering round this place for days.  I make my way carefully over the boulders and ferns towards them.

“Excuse me” I say, “I’m here for a facial.  Do you know where I’m supposed to go?”

One of the women sits up from the sun lounger and smiles kindly at me.  She’s got long, black, wavy hair, perfectly styled.  A look I could never hope to achieve in a million years.  “You go through that door there,” she says, pointing to a white door marked ‘Treatment Room 1’.  “Me and Sharon -” she points to a woman with sleek, bleached blonde hair and grey eyes sat next to her, “- are going in too in a moment.  You can come with us if you like”.

“Thanks,” I say.

“I’m Gina” the dark haired woman says.

“Gina?” I repeat.  “Are you Gina Armstrong-Jones?  Marrying Tim Winters?”

“Yes I am - why?” Gina replies, looking slightly alarmed.  “You’re not a journalist are you?”

I laugh.  “No I’m Gail - Gail Auden, Adam Finchley’s girlfriend?”

Gina’s face clears.  “Oh hi!  Great to meet you at last!  We’ve heard all about you!  This is Sharon, who is engaged to Tony Cardwell” and Sharon grins at me “And who, incidentally is one of my bridesmaids tomorrow, along with my sister Olivia”.  She gestures towards another woman sat a little way away who waves lazily.  “This is Sally, who is married to the Grandmere goal keeper, Mick” and points towards a girl with a sleek brown bob.

“Hi Gail!” Sally says warmly.  “Nice to meet you!  Settling in okay?”

“Yes thanks – the hotel is lovely!”

“Which room are you in?” she asks.

“The Princess Suite” I reply and Sally gasps.

“I wondered who’d got that!” she says.  “Mick tried to book that for us, but it had already gone.  So you got it did you – you lucky thing!  It’s supposed to be one of the nicest suites here,” Sally says, smiling at me.

“Oh it is – it’s lovely!” I say smiling back, basking in the knowledge that Adam obviously went to a lot of trouble to book that suite for me and feeling all nice and special.  Just then a waitress comes over with several bottles of champagne and champagne flutes.

“On the house Miss Armstrong-Jones” she says, putting them down on a little table, “To celebrate your marriage tomorrow”.

“Oh thank you, that’s very kind!” Gina says and opens one of the bottles.  “Would you like a glass Gail?” she asks as she pours the champagne out.

“Yes please, thank you” I say and she hands me a glass.  But I must start cutting down on my booze intake soon.  I don’t want to end up homeless and roaring and wheezing under a bridge somewhere clutching a can of Special Brew.

“To Gina and Tim” Sharon says and we raise our glasses in a toast, “And to a fantastic wedding tomorrow!”

“I’ll drink to that!” Gina says smiling.

“Yeah - so I’ve been to New York three times for fittings for my dress,” Gina is telling me while the spa beautician smears some kind of green, clay like gloop all over my face  “And then I had to go to Italy for my shoes...”

“Gosh!” I say, “Sorry – what does this do again?” I ask the beautician.

“It draws all the toxins out of your face,” she replies, slapping some more of the gloop on my forehead.

“Oh right” I say, “Though I think it’s only toxins which hold me together!” and Gina laughs.

“What is your dress like Gina?” I ask.

Gina smiles.  “Oh Gail it’s beautiful.  I know I would say that because it is my dress but it is
lovely
.  It’s ivory with a fitted, strapless bodice and there are hundreds of tiny Swarovski crystals all over it”.

“That sounds really nice” I say.  I dread to think how much it cost.

“Oh it is,” Sharon says as she sits up and idly removes two slices of cucumber from over her eyes.  “Didn’t get much change out of ten thousand did you?” she adds and Gina laughs.

“No I didn’t” she says.  Good God.  I can’t imagine spending that much on a dress.

“Have you seen it then Sharon?” I ask and she nods.

“I went to one of Gina’s fittings with her in New York” she says casually, like she’d just got the bus with Gina into town.  This is a whole other world to me this is.

“I went for two fittings and on the third time, bought my dress home” Gina explains, “and Tim was strictly forbidden to look in the box!”

“And what colour are your bridesmaids wearing?” I ask.

“Well, I’ve gone for a red and gold theme for the wedding – I thought quite warm colours as it is so cold this time of year – so Sharon and Olivia will be in red and the room will be all red and gold as well”.

“Ooooh - nice!” I exclaim.  “Hey – my dress is gold as well Gina!”

“Oh, what’s it like Gail?” Sharon asks with interest and I explain.

“That sounds really nice Gail.  Where’s that from?” Sharon asks.

“It’s from a designer called Alenta Chimera.  Adam and I went into this shop and I saw it and fell in love with it,” I say.

Sharon sits upright.  “You’ve got an Alenta Chimera dress for the wedding?” she asks.

“Yes” I say cautiously, “why?”  I bet she’s got a reputation for making really rubbishy dresses or she’s out of fashion or something.  I don’t care.  I’m still wearing it.

“She’s only like one of the best designers – like – ever!” Sharon says, her eyes wide.

“Really?” I say in surprise, “I’d never heard of her before I bought - well before Adam bought me - that dress”.

“Oh it’s a very exclusive range,” Gina asserts.

Sharon nods in agreement. “Her stuff is fabulous, but it’s all one off pieces – they are usually snapped up in minutes” she says.  “There’s already a waiting list for her summer collection.  You were really lucky to get that dress!”

“Gosh” I say.  “Lucky me then!”  Style icon that’s me, although I don’t look very stylish at the moment with all this gunk on my face.  Thankfully, the beautician starts to wipe all the clay off then and I gingerly touch my cheeks.  My face feels really soft and smooth.  I lie back as she gently massages my forehead and temples.  It is so relaxing; I hope I don’t fall asleep!

“Did you manage to sort out the flights for the honeymoon?” Sharon asks Gina.

“Where are you off to?” I ask sleepily.

“Dubai” she replies, “But not till the season finishes”.

“That’s a bit tough” I say.  “Can’t Tim get any time off?” and laughs and shakes her head.

“Footballers don’t get time off Gail!” she says.  “Not until the end of the season.  We’ve got the wedding night here, two nights at the Ritz in Paris and then Tim is back training on Tuesday afternoon”.  “It’s okay honestly,” she continues as a beautician applies moisturiser to her face, “That’s why most footballers wait till the summer and the end of the season to get married.  Tim and I didn’t want to wait though, so we found a gap in the fixture list and arranged everything for then”.

“That’s nice” I say and smile.

“I know – it makes you want to throw up really doesn’t it?” Sharon says and we all laugh.

“Hey – you wait until you and Tony tie the knot!” Gina retorts smiling.

“Oh no thanks!  I’ve seen the organisation that went into this wedding and I don’t think I’m ready for that yet” Sharon replies.  “I’m quite happy just spending his money at the minute” and I laugh.

****

At the end of the treatments I go back into the changing room with the others and get changed.  I really enjoyed all the other treatments especially the massage - I did find the fact that I had to lie on a bench face down and put my head on what looked like a padded toilet seat a little disconcerting however, until the masseur explained it was so she could massage my neck properly.  I try to hand the dressing gown and slippers back in, but Gina tells me I can keep them, which is nice as I can recreate the spa experience at home.  I don’t think it will be the same though – painting my nails while watching
Eastenders.

I go back up to my suite and have a look at the complimentary toiletries the spa receptionist gave me in a cute little hessian sack.  There must be sixty quids worth here at least!  I shake my head in disbelief and go to look at the view for a moment, before checking to see what time it is.  It’s half past four.  Normally I’d be getting ready to leave work now and instead, I’m in one of the best hotel suites in London, having spent the afternoon having beauty treatments in a luxurious spa!  How mad is that?  And there’s just time to have some Maltesers and a glass of wine before I start getting ready. 

After I’ve got ready I walk up to the sofa and sit down, looking out at the now dark sky and the lit up skyscrapers across the horizon.  I can’t believe I’m here – I feel like I’m in a completely different world and to all intents and purposes I am really – this is so different to my life and my world.  Suddenly there is a soft knock at the door.  I go to open it and Adam is stood there looking so gorgeous in a black suit with a nehru jacket it nearly takes my breath away.  “Hello!” he says, “ready to go?”

“You bet!” I say smiling as I pick up my handbag.  “You look great Adam” I say.

“Thanks!  I’ve got something for you actually” he says, walking over to me and giving me a small black box.  “Call it an extra Valentine’s Day present”. 

I open the box and inside are the most beautiful diamond earrings I have ever seen.  “Oh Adam!” I breathe, “They are beautiful!”

“I was trying to find some that would go with your black dress” Adam says smiling, “Are you going to wear them tonight?”

“Try and stop me!” I say “they’re gorgeous!”  I quickly take out the pair I had put in, carefully put the diamond ones in and stand back to admire the finished result in the mirror.  “Thank you!”

  “They’re lovely” Adam says, looking over my shoulder at my reflection as he slips his arms round my waist and kisses me on the cheek.  “Now let’s go and eat.  How did you get on in the spa today?” he asks as I lock the door and we walk hand in hand down to the lift.  “Did you enjoy it?”

“Oh it was fantastic!” I reply.  “All the girls seem really nice and I really enjoyed the treatments.  Nearly got a job as cleaner as well!” I add as the lift door opens and we get in.

“What?” Adam asks and I tell him about what happened earlier.

“Cheeky cow” Adam says and I laugh.  “I think you look really nice Gail, especially in that dress”.

“Thanks” I say and smile up at him.  He turns towards me and pulls me close.  “You smell nice too” he murmurs as he kisses my neck gently.  “Almost good enough to eat”.  Suddenly his mouth is on mine and he presses me up against one corner of the lift and we are kissing each other passionately.  Oh my God!  OH MY GOD!  All too soon, the lift stops at the ground floor and we hastily break apart as the doors open.  Breathless, I look over at Adam and he looks back at me with such smouldering intensity I think I might spontaneously combust.  Bloody hell!  I can’t believe he just kissed me like that! How am I supposed to concentrate through dinner and remember people’s names now?  Slightly wobbly legged, I walk down the corridor with Adam and immediately we see Sharon and Tony.  “Hi!” Sharon calls and we go over to them.

“Tony, this is Gail” Adam says and Tony shakes my hand.

“Nice to meet you at last Gail” he says.  “How are you?”

“Fine thanks” I reply.  Apart from feeling disappointed that the lift didn’t break down with me and Adam in, I’m great.  “How are you?”

“Good thanks” Tony says.

“You look nice Gail!” Sharon says, smiling at me.

“Thanks” I say, “So do you”.  Sharon is wearing a dramatic floor length purple dress with a plunging neckline.

“Shall we go in then?” Tony asks.

“Yes lets” Sharon says and she and Tony walk towards the dining room while Adam and me follow behind.

“Adam” I whisper as I take hold of his proffered arm and he leans in towards me, “I think your suit is a lot nicer than Tony’s”.

“Of course it is” Adam asserts grinning, “I think my girlfriend is as well!” and he winks at me.

“Adam!” I say, half laughing, half shocked.