Mary George of Allnorthover by Lavinia Greenlaw

Author:Lavinia Greenlaw [Lavinia Greenlaw ]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780007394388
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

At closing time, they all spilled out of the salon together, laughing and patting Mary’s hair. She loved them, loved being surrounded by them and waved them off as they got into Felicity’s car. None of them lived in the village. Suze had grown up there but married an accountant who caught the Mortimer Tye commuter train, so they lived there. Jeanette was divorced and was saving up to buy herself a studio flat in Camptown. For now she was back with her parents, in a tied cottage on the Ingfield Road. Felicity was from Mortimer Over, two train stops down towards Crouchness.

‘Mary?’ It was Clara. She was bronzer than ever, her hair more firey. She had scraped it back and secured it in a messy knot with what looked like skewers. The ends, which sprung away in all directions, had been bleached blonde by the sun. She had on a black t-shirt with a studded hem and tight black jeans. ‘I only knew it was you from the dress,’ she laughed. ‘Been and had your hair done?’

‘No, I …’ Mary pulled off her glasses and rubbed at her face. ‘I work there, see. They just wanted someone to …’ She ran a hand through her hair, trying to mess it up a bit but it fell back into its sleek new shape. ‘Have you been away?’

‘Italy. Famiglia. You know …’ Clara was looking away now. ‘Christ, this summer is dragging and with Paulie away with his car, it’s almost impossible to get into town.’

‘The buses are going back to normal this week.’

‘I meant London.’ There was a pause. ‘Anyway,’ Clara continued and there was another pause before she asked, ‘What’s this about a Harvest Festival Disco? Any good?’

Mary copied her droll tone. ‘It’s hopeless. Cheesy music, mums and dads, orange squash and lemonade.’

‘Are you going?’

‘Never miss it.’

‘Good! It’ll be a laugh. By the way, Daniel’s back as well. Has he been in touch?’

‘Yes.’ Mary thought of the card, then realised Clara might mean since his return. ‘I mean not since … Since your dinner … he has, I mean.’ All this time, she had been facing into the light, and already she could feel her make-up clot and run. ‘I’ve got to go, good to see you, bye.’

Mary hurried past The Head and round onto the Green. Once home, she stood back from her bedroom mirror, still wearing her glasses. The effect was good. She felt more definite. Then she took off her glasses and moved closer. Her skin was a matt biscuit colour. Her bottom lip had been enlarged by a brownish line that ran round and up to her Cupid’s bow, which was exaggerated into two high points. Inside the line, her lips were coated with a beige pink and finished with gloss that made her look as if she had dipped her mouth in icing that hadn’t dried yet. Mary leant forward and kissed the mirror, and was surprised by the print she made. She quite liked her eyes.

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