When Issy woke up again, the shadows had lengthened in the courtyard, the tree casting its shade right into the shop itself, and she blinked, not at all sure where she was. Also there was a noise that sounded vaguely familiar … yes, it was Felipe playing his violin. But why would he bother at this time of night, when everything was closed? It wasn’t the next morning, was it? She checked her watch. No, she’d only been asleep for an hour and a half. So what was all that noise? She turned round, stretching out her arms sleepily and …
‘Surprise!’
At first Issy thought she’d fallen asleep again. This made no sense. Outside, in the just fading daylight, she saw the little stumpy tree, with fairy lights strung from branch to branch. The lights were lit; it reminded her of the lantern in Narnia. But what surrounded it was even more surprising. Felipe, dressed in a rather dishevelled dinner jacket and bow tie, was playing ‘Someday’ and standing around him was … everyone.
Helena was there, with Ashok of course, who had his arm round Helena’s shoulders and was displaying her as if she were the finest piece of china. Ashok firmly believed that dedication was what had got him into medical school and on to a tough rotation and would one day propel him towards a top surgical career. Dedication was all it took. And he had taken the same path to Helena. Finally, it appeared to be paying off. He was trying not to grin like a Cheshire cat, but inside he felt ten foot tall. Zac was there with his girlfriend, Noriko. Pearl and Louis of course, laughing their heads off, and Hermia and Achilles bounced excitedly next to Caroline. But more than that, all her friends were there – her real friends. Tobes and Trinida from college, all the way from Brighton. And Tom and Carla from Whitstable. And Janey, looking utterly exhausted, her friend since that illfavoured play in freshers’ week, had managed to drag herself away from her new baby. Paul and John were there, still loved up obviously; Brian and Lana, whom she’d entirely resigned herself to having a Facebook relationship with, if that; even François and Ophy from her old office … Issy’s heart flooded. She rushed out of the shop then realized she had locked it behind her, and had to fumble around to find the keys. Everyone still outside laughed heartily, and when she finally let them in, launched into a rousing chorus of ‘Happy Birthday to You’ that brought instant tears to Issy’s eyes, as did the thoughtful, lovely gifts, as did the hugs and kisses that greeted her.
‘This is your last chance,’ said Zac, with a half-smile. ‘Stop neglecting all your friends.’
‘OK,’ said Issy, nodding frantically. Everyone came into the café who hadn’t been there before and oohed and ahhed, and Helena unleashed the crates of champagne they’d hefted over from the house, after they’d all hidden in the cupboard for three-quarters of an hour and realized she wasn’t coming home. Pearl had figured it out first and rung Helena, then they’d crept into the square one by one, giggling heartily. And now it was time to party! And she even had the perfect new dress.
Felipe played up a storm as the friends and family, clients and random people (Berlioz turned up to eat the snacks) mingled and chatted. The evening was wonderfully warm, and the soft lighting of the Cupcake Café blended with the fairy lights of the tree and some candles Helena had brought put a magical glow over the whole of Pear Tree Court, turning it into an enchanted space, a private paradise full of laughing friends, cheerful toasts, birthday cake, spice cake, hunter’s cake, Paris cake and every kind of cupcake. Louis danced with everyone who passed and the sounds of companionship and gaiety spread up through the brick houses; anyone passing in the street would have wondered about the little oasis of sparkling light under the darkening sky.
As old friends often do when they come together again, everyone grew quite tipsy quite quickly, so that by the time Austin had finally settled Darny with the babysitter and could consider leaving the house (crossing his fingers, and failing to mention to the babysitter that unless she had a PhD in dinosaurs she might be in for a rocky evening), Issy was pink in the face and entirely overexcited, talking babies, other friends, old incidents and the shop to anyone who strayed into her orbit, regardless of where she knew them from. Pearl had called him up and insisted with some severity that he came along, and he wasn’t going to risk her wrath. As soon as he arrived, he noticed immediately that everyone was a bit squiffy. So he’d have to keep playing sensible banking adviser then. He sighed.
‘Austin!’ Issy yelled when she saw him, a glass of champagne or two to the wind. What the hell, she found herself thinking. So he didn’t like her – it didn’t matter. But he was here! Graeme wasn’t here; no one had even mentioned him. It was her birthday. She was looking lovely in her green dress, and suddenly she felt absolutely wonderful; full of happiness and love and joy. This was the party her grandfather had wanted her to have and she wanted to share it with everyone.
She waltzed up to him. ‘You knew about this!’ she said accusingly. Austin thought how pretty she looked with her hair curly and full and her cheeks and lips pink with excitement. ‘You knew!’
‘Well, of course I knew,’ he said mildly, accepting with some surprise her arms thrown around him. He was sure there was something in the banking manual about not getting too close to your clients. Of course he’d never read the manual. He remembered back to their near-miss kiss that morning and glanced around. A very skinny blonde woman was staring at him, hungrily.
‘Who is that?’ said Caroline, reflexively dropping Achilles’ hand, who immediately set up a wail.
‘Back off,’ growled Pearl.
Caroline gave a little laugh. ‘What, him and Issy …’
A warning look from Pearl stopped her from going any further, but inside Caroline felt completely uncowed.
Austin smiled. ‘Pearl told me. Well, I say told me, Pearl ordered me here. And when Pearl tells you to do something …’
Issy nodded fervently. ‘Oh yes. If you know what’s good for you.’
Pearl, standing on the other side chatting to friends of Issy’s who were telling her a little more about their new baby’s bowel movements than perhaps she had specifically requested, glanced over. The lights gleamed off Issy’s hair as she stretched up on tiptoes to hear what Austin was saying; he was so tall and messy-looking. Whatever it was, Issy had opened her mouth in laughter, grabbing Austin’s arm as she did so. Pearl smiled to herself. Well, yes. She thought that one looked about right.