New Year at the Ritz (A Short Story) Read online

  She stopped mid-climb into the low slung sports car. ‘Only?’

  ‘Well, there are a few other models but the most expensive, the P1, sells for over eight hundred thousand.’

  ‘Eight- Jeez.’ Christian had been loaded and owned a Lamborghini Huracán. It’d been worth less than two hundred thousand pounds and the value of it had made her squirm every time she’d got in it.

  ‘Like I said, just be careful.’ The man said, nodding, ‘I’ll only be a few minutes.’

  Watching his departing back as he strode off the showroom floor, she lowered herself into the flashy car, mindful not to snag her heels on the carpet.

  Resting her hands on the velvety textured steering wheel, she stared out of the low, wide windscreen unseeingly, thinking about a day trip she and Christian had gone on the previous summer.

  ***

  He’d arranged to test drive an Alfa Romeo 8C Spider. He’d loved the look of the long nose and how close to the ground it was and wanted something for sunny weekends. On walking out of their flat wearing the required designer dress and high heels, she’d looked it over with interest.

  ‘What do you think?’ he’d asked, throwing his arms out, black hair gleaming in the July sunshine.

  ‘It’s quite pretty,’ she answered, moving around the back and taking in the high red round lights, registration plate dead centre and double exhausts on both sides below. ‘Looks a bit like a face,’ she mused.

  He raised an eyebrow. ‘Somehow I don’t think that was what they had in mind when they designed it,’ he said drily.

  She smiled, ‘I’m just saying. So what are the double exhausts for?’

  Opening the door for himself, he’d gestured for her to get in opposite. ‘Come on, let’s go. We have lunch plans.’

  ‘We do?’ The change of subject was so obviously a tactic to avoid answering the question. She didn’t call him on it. It wouldn’t be worth the sulky silence that would follow. Besides, she already knew Christian was more interested in how cars looked than what was under the bonnet or how they performed on the road. Maybe it was an apt reflection for his taste in women. They’d been together for three years but she sometimes wondered if he saw her, really saw her, or if he was more interested in how she looked on his arm.

  ‘Yes. We’re going to Tunbridge Wells.’ He grinned, blue eyes twinkling and a dimple flashing in his cheek. ‘Now come on, woman, get in. I’ll show you a good time.’ He leaned in and kissed her as she settled in the seat, stroking her face before helping her buckle up.

  Her fears dissolved at the loving gesture and she shook her head. She didn’t know what was with her at the moment, doubting him, doubting their relationship. They were fine. Everything was fine.

  And it was fun, leaving the city and driving down country lanes, whizzing around bends and turns with the roof down, Frankie struggling to control her long black extensions, which kept flipping up around her face.

  ‘Can I have a go?’ she turned to him as they stopped at a crossroads.

  ‘I don’t think that’s a good idea.’

  ‘Why? I’m fully comped on my car, so we’re covered if something happens.’

  ‘No, you’re okay,’ he answered coolly, pulling away with a quiet roar.

  ‘But it looks like fun! I want to see what it feels like-’

  ‘I’ll buy you any car you want to run around in,’ he interjected, ‘but you’re not driving this.’

  She laughed, ‘Don’t be silly. It’s not even yours! Come on. Pull over.’ She gave him a playful nudge with her elbow.

  ‘No.’

  ‘Come on!’ she giggled.

  ‘No!’ he said sharply, shooting her a dark look. ‘Leave it alone. This test drive is for me.’

  ‘Okay, fine.’ She edged away from him, gazing at the passing green, leafy countryside. Sometimes this unpleasant side of him came out. The new money, offered life on a plate, spoilt side. He’d grown up with rich parents who gave him everything without question.

  But everyone had strengths and weaknesses, everyone had flaws. There were lots of things she loved about him. He could be fun, he made her smile, he spoiled her rotten – she didn’t want for anything. He gave her a way of life most people would kill for. She didn’t have to work, could have a dream wedding and be a stay-at-home mum when the time came, instead of having to put any children in nursery and trekking out to work all hours, the way her parents had done. They’d always struggled financially, looking worn out and overwhelmed, trying to give Frankie everything she needed. Because she’d been a much wanted baby, they’d treated like a precious gift, wanting the best for her, trying to protect her and keep her safe. She’d always pulled away from that, had been a tomboy more interested in climbing trees and riding her BMX with the boys than chattering with girls and playing with Barbie dolls. Strange that she’d ended up here with Christian, living a life that was like a Barbie and Ken set up.

  She glanced over at him, studying his straight nose and tanned skin. He’d get over his sulk sooner or later, and after all, it wasn’t a big deal; there would be other cars, other opportunities. He’d always been there for her when it counted, that’s all that really mattered. Yes, everything was fine. So she squelched down the feeling of disquiet in her stomach.

  ***

  Frankie shook her head, pulling herself from the past, running her hands along the soft steering wheel, taking in the various gadgets and gizmos on the dashboard. She smiled, the corner of her mouth crooking up on one side. This car was about as far away as you could get from the beaten up Fiat Zack had given her a lift home in a month or so before.

  ***

  It’d been pouring with rain as she’d stopped in the front entrance of the department store, checking the Transport for London app on her iPhone for her journey home. ‘Fantastic.’ She groaned at the alert telling her there was a line closure, and looked out at the road. The pavement was glossy with rain and giant oily puddles gleamed under the streetlights.

  ‘What’s up?’ Zack appeared next to her, peering out into the deluge. ‘Oof, that’s heavy.’

  She shivered. ‘Line closure. I’m going to have to take three different tubes to get home. And it’s already seven.’ They stayed open late on Thursday nights and she’d been down on the rota to cover Womenswear.

  ‘I’ll give you a lift.’ He offered, tossing his keys in the air and catching them easily, open face relaxed and friendly.

  ‘Are you sure? I thought you lived across the other side of the city.’

  ‘I do,’ he shrugged, ‘but you’ll get soaked on the other end, there’s no sign of it letting up. It’ll also take you ages. I’ve got no other plans tonight. Let me help.’

  She glanced out at the rain again, heavier than before if possible, big fat drops striking the pavement. Switching her gaze back to him, she hesitated. ‘Are you sure you don’t mind?’ The idea of sitting in a heated car was preferable to the idea of traipsing up and down tube station stairs and getting wet on the frigid walk home from the last stop, but she felt edgy, though unsure why. It wasn’t like she was afraid of him. Quite the opposite, he made her feel comfortable, safe.

  ‘Frankie,’ he shook his head gently, ‘please don’t turn into one of those girls who make easy things complicated. Let’s make this easy. Just say yes.’

  ‘Well, I wouldn’t want to be one of those girls,’ she flashed back lightly, ‘okay, a lift would be appreciated, thank you. Where’s the car?’ She scanned the street.

  ‘Ah, yes. The car. I should probably tell you she’s not much to look at. But she does do what I need her to.’

  ‘Is she mechanically sound?’ Frankie asked.

  ‘Absolutely,’ Zack said, tucking his keys in his trouser pocket and zipping up his jacket.

  ‘That’s good enough for me then. Where is your car?’

  ‘You stay here, I’ll go and get her. No point in both of us getting wet. I won’t be long.’ Without waiting for a reply he dashed off into the rain.


  ‘Ok-ay then.’ Frankie rolled her eyes and did her coat up as a chilly wind swept into the entranceway. ‘Brrr.’

  Zack was back within minutes, pulling up as close as he could. He hadn’t been kidding about his car. From what she could make out in the winter darkness, it was a weird beige shade and one of the wings didn’t match colour with the rest of body. The aerial was bent off to one side, and there was a dent above one of the arches. But if it drove, she really didn’t care.

  She expected Zack to reach across and unlock the doors so she could climb in, but he got out instead, coming round to open the door for her.

  ‘You’re getting wet,’ she said stupidly. ‘You didn’t have to do that.’

  ‘I wanted to,’ he replied, grinning, ‘And Mum drummed good manners into me.’

  He looked earnest and kind of cute, his blond hair darkened in the rain. ‘Thank you then, I guess.’

  ‘Get in then,’ he smiled, ‘we’re both getting wet now.’

  ‘Sorry!’ Ducking down, she slid into the car and after checking she was settled, he slammed the door. Hard. So hard it shook the whole car.

  ‘Sorry about that,’ he laughed as he got in, closing his door a lot more gently. ‘That door can be a bit of a pain. I wouldn’t want it swinging open mid-journey.’ He laughed again and she knew her eyes had widened. ‘Don’t look so worried, it probably won’t.’

  ‘Probably?’ she squeaked.

  ‘Ninety per-cent.’ He see-sawed his hand, ‘Eighty minimum.’ He paused as there was a sudden gust of wind and the rain rattled on the roof. ‘Anyway, you’ll have a seatbelt on. Just in case.’

  ‘Ha, ha.’ She replied, knowing from the twinkle in his eye that he was joking.

  ‘Speaking of,’ he reached across her for the seatbelt tongue, pulling it across her body, ‘this is a bit fiddly too.’

  ‘Right,’ she breathed, as he did the seatbelt up. He had a dimple near his cheekbone, higher up than the norm. It was sweet. She’d never noticed it before, although they spoke every morning in the staff room before their shift. His easy, laid back manner was a pleasant start to the working day.

  He sat back and stared at her. ‘Are you okay?’

  ‘Yes, thanks. I’m just a bit tired.’

  ‘Side hurting?’ he asked sympathetically, putting the key in the ignition and turning it.

  ‘A bit of a niggle,’ she said, touched by the concern, ‘I was stood up a lot today.’ Most of the staff knew she’d sustained some kind of injury to her ribs the year before, and that sometimes she needed to take a break or find some painkillers. They didn’t however know the details. Zack had never pressed her for them.

  ‘Have you taken anything?’ Music came on, and he fiddled with some buttons, getting the heater started.

  ‘A couple of ibuprofen earlier,’ she answered distractedly, ‘this is Bastille.’

  ‘Yes.’ He nodded.

  ‘I didn’t know you liked them.’

  ‘You said they were good so I bought the album to check them out. That’s what friends do, right?’ he cranked the heater up. ‘They share their likes and dislikes, recommend stuff to each other.’ She nodded in agreement. ‘By the way,’ he continued, ‘how are you getting on with the book I leant you?’

  ‘It’s really great. I love it.’

  ‘Good. Well, let me know when you’ve finished it and I’ll recommend another.’

  ‘Okay, and I’ll bring some of those sci-fi books in that I was telling you about.’

  ‘Sounds good.’ He stared at her, hands on the steering wheel.

  ‘All ready to go then?’ she asked pointedly, shivering.

  ‘I, uh, yeah, sorry.’ Turning to face the windscreen, he shook his head, his hair brushing his jacket collar at the back.

  They chattered away as he drove across town, comparing notes on favourite films and TV programmes, mock-arguing about whose line manager was going to explode soonest in the race for the best sales results, exchanging stories about their childhoods, her as an only child, him as one of four brothers.

  ‘Oh my god, your poor mum!’ she joked, tracing a snowflake shape into the condensation on her window that had built up from their shared breathing.

  ‘Nah, it could have been worse,’ Zack replied.

  ‘How?’ she glanced at him. ‘Five boys?’

  ‘No,’ he said with a completely straight face, ‘it could have been four-’

  ‘Girls!’ she finished off, pretending to punch his arm. ‘Oi!’

  ‘Come on…Are girls not higher maintenance than boys?’

  ‘You’re at risk of sounding like a complete sexist. Luckily for you, I know you’re joking!’

  ‘Yeah, I am, but that doesn’t mean I’m wrong,’ he answered cheekily.

  ‘Boys are just as bad as girls, but in different ways.’ She sighed, pretending to be exasperated. Actually, she was having fun.

  ‘Boys tend to be more adventurous I guess,’ he mused. ‘So tend to get hurt more.’

  ‘Oh, I don’t know about that. First exit off here,’ she directed as they came to a roundabout. ‘We’re only five minutes away. I mean, I was quite adventurous,’ she carried on with their conversation. ‘I went and travelled the world for a year after finishing uni.’

  ‘Oh, yeah?’ His face lit up. ‘So did I! Where did you go? I did Europe; France, Spain, Italy. Then some of Asia, finishing off in Australia.’

  ‘Me too! I mean, no, I mostly did Thailand, but spent three months in Australia, at the end. Worked my way along the Gold Coast, had casual jobs in some bars and then picked grapes in a really beautiful vineyard. God, it was so great to feel the sun on my skin. The rainforest and waterfalls were sensational too.’ She sighed longingly, ‘I could have stayed there forever.’

  ‘Yeah, I’m a sun worshipper too. I worked along the road from the Mount Tamborine Vineyard, at the Glow Worm Caves.’

  ‘That place is amazing!’ Frankie turned to face him, ‘Wow, talk about a small world; that was the vineyard I was at. We could have met! I was there in 2011, how about you?’

  ‘I was there in 2010. It was amazing, but a bloody expensive trip too. It was worth it, really once in a lifetime stuff, but I’m still paying it off now, four years later. Still, at least I only have a year left.’

  ‘Yes! Exactly! Me too. About the expensive bit I mean.’ She fell silent. She’d be repaying it for a lot longer, given when she’d been with Christian she’d barely made a dent in the debts. He’d offered to pay the loans off for her lots of times, but something in her had always balked. It’d felt too much, him paying for the fun she’d had before meeting him. Now she wished she’d taken him up on the offer.

  ‘I always meant to go travelling again,’ he shared, ‘maybe I’ll look into it towards the end of next year.’

  ‘Yes,’ she replied absently. ‘Right here, please,’ she directed him down a side road that cut through to the main high street with all its shops and bars.

  ‘Thanks. Everything all right? You’ve gone quiet on me.’

  Even though she was staring out of the window at the soaked streets, she could feel him looking at her. She bit her lip, wondering if her life would have gone in a different direction if she had been at the vineyard a year earlier, if she’d met Zack then, had come back to the UK with a good friend, someone who had shared experiences and shared money worries. She might not have met Christian, or if she had, might have thought twice about falling into a whirlwind relationship with him. Of course, she’d fallen out of it almost as quickly, and on bad days wondered if that had been a mistake.

  ‘Frankie? You’re worrying me. I’m not used to you not spouting some opinion or bit of gossip at me. Is everything okay?’

  ‘Sorry.’ She turned and smiled at him. ‘I was just thinking. Anyway, my place is just down here on the right, just after that white van,’ she pointed out a dodgy looking vehicle with a partially concealed number plate, orange twine hanging out the slightly open back door.

  ‘All right
,’ he pulled over, ‘here you go. I’ll walk you up.’

  ‘Er, no,’ she grabbed her bag from the floor, opened the door, ‘I’m only on the first floor. There’s no need.’ She jumped out. She wasn’t a snob but she was embarrassed about where she lived, the back alleyway always full of stinky, old potato peelings and her cramped, damp flat smelling of fast food. She ducked her head back into the car, quivering as chilly rain dripped down inside her collar. ‘Thanks so much, Zack, for the lift I mean. I really appreciate it. I’d invite you up but it really is getting late and I need to take a hot bath. My ribs are pretty uncomfortable.’

  He relaxed back in his seat, tapped a hand idly on the steering wheel. ‘Whatever you need,’ he smiled gently. ‘As long as you’re not running away because you’re traumatised by riding in my car.’

  ‘Oh well, there is that as well,’ she countered, ‘but at least it was clean.’

  ‘I do my best,’ he said. ‘Okay, well take care and have a nice evening.’

  ‘Will do. See you at work tomorrow.’

  ‘See you in the staff room,’ he gave a friendly wave.

  Slamming the door with a thud due to his earlier comments, she crossed around the back of the car, staring up at the shop sign Starr’s Kebabs. Huh, there are no stars here, she thought. Zack’s engine started behind her and she swung around to watch him pull away. As he went to drive off, a sudden thought occurred to her. She ran over to the car and knocked on the window.

  Zack wound it down. ‘What’s up?’

  ‘Random question.’

  He looked amused, ‘Fire away.’

  ‘If something happened and I needed to drive your car, or if I wanted to, what would you say?’

  ‘I can’t imagine for a minute why you’d want to drive this crap heap,’ he replied, ‘but if you needed to drive it, and were insured, it wouldn’t be a big deal. Why?’

  ‘Nothing. That’s what I thought. Night.’ Frankie stepped back from the car, tucking her hands in her pockets. It really was bitter tonight.

  ‘Right. Not sure about weird question,’ he quipped, starting to roll up his window, ‘more like weird girl! See you in the morning.’