This Could Change Everything(28)

‘She looks naughty.’

‘She was just on her way to the shops to return the horrible slippers her sister-in-law gave her for Christmas. She’s going to get the money back and buy herself a bottle of gin instead.’

It was a simple job to slide the photographs into the plain Perspex frames. There were twelve in all, and once they’d been hung around the bar, the walls no longer looked bare. They were popular with the customers, who looked forward to seeing each new set. And every other Sunday evening, Essie learned, everyone featured in the photographs was invited along to meet and chat with the other people there. Not all of them could make it, of course, but those who did always enjoyed themselves and were given their portrait to take home at the end of the night. The following Monday morning, the replacements went up.

Having explained the system, Jude said, ‘It’s been really successful. To begin with, it was just a way to keep the walls interesting. Then it grew more and more popular, especially among the singles set. Because twice a month they could turn up and meet other single people, and the new photos meant there was always something to talk about. So completely by accident, it turned into an event everyone really enjoyed coming along to.’

Essie said, ‘That’s brilliant.’

‘Well I’m single,’ said Scarlett. ‘And I’m definitely going to come along from now on.’ She beamed at Conor. ‘I meant what I said earlier, you know. I’d love you to photograph me so I can hang on one of these walls.’

‘I’m happy to take a few pictures if that’s what you want,’ said Conor. ‘But the ones I choose to put on show do tend to be of the kind of people who wouldn’t ask to have their photo taken.’

‘You mean ugly people.’ Put out, Scarlett pointed to one of the framed shots of an ancient man with a face full of wrinkles and a lopsided grin revealing one missing tooth and one gold one.

‘Nobody’s ugly,’ Conor said mildly. ‘I like faces that are interesting.’

‘What, and mine isn’t?’

‘Strike a pose.’

Scarlett instantly sucked in her cheeks once more, tilted her head back and did the pouty thing with her mouth.

‘What about you?’ He pointed to Essie, who promptly puffed out her cheeks and crossed her eyes.

Conor laughed. ‘See? That says so much more about a person.’

‘It says Essie doesn’t mind making herself look like a prat,’ said Scarlett.

He took out his phone and held it in front of her. ‘Go on, now it’s your turn.’

‘And let you take a photo of me looking like that? No way!’

‘Shame.’ Amused, Conor put the phone away. ‘I’d have put it on display. Ah well, never mind.’

‘God, he’s annoying,’ huffed Scarlett when Conor had left.

‘I thought you fancied him.’

‘I do! That’s why it’s so annoying that he’s annoying!’

Essie gave her shoulder a consoling pat. ‘You mean he didn’t fall under your spell.’

‘He hasn’t fallen under my spell yet,’ Scarlett corrected her. ‘But he will. Sometimes they just need a bit of time.’

‘And a nudge in the right direction.’

‘And that’s where you come in. You can put in a good word for me.’ Having finished her Coke, Scarlett wriggled her fingers back into her multicoloured fingerless gloves. ‘OK, I need to get back to work. Don’t forget, will you? Just keep telling him how fabulous I am.’

Essie smiled, because Scarlett’s endless optimism was what she loved most about her. ‘I’ll drop it into every conversation, I promise.’

‘And I’m definitely coming here on Sunday evening. What can I do to make him like me more? Ooh, I know!’

‘Give me a clue.’

‘He’s a gardener,’ Scarlett exclaimed. ‘I can dye my hair green! He’ll love that!’

‘You’re new,’ said the girl who’d come into the bar.

Essie nodded and said, ‘I am.’

‘Can I just try something? I’m good at this. Look into my eyes . . . good . . . OK, I’m going to guess that your name begins with an E. Am I right?’

Essie smiled politely; she could guess where this was going. ‘You are.’

‘E . . . s . . . s . . . i . . . e.’ The girl looked expectant. ‘Did I get it? Is that your name?’

‘It is. Well done.’ The unwanted recognition following the round-robin fiasco had begun to wear off during the last week, but people did still occasionally look at her and make the connection.

‘I cheated,’ said the girl. ‘Lucas told me he’d taken on someone new. I’m Giselle.’

‘Ah yes. Hi.’ Essie relaxed, because Giselle was Lucas’s girlfriend. A nurse working here in Bath, she’d spent the last two weeks over Christmas and New Year with her family up on the Isle of Skye. And now she was back. Goodness, she was pretty, with huge amber eyes, a flawless porcelain complexion and a mass of deep auburn curls tied up with a tangerine scarf.

‘Is he here?’

‘Sorry, no, not back yet. But he won’t be long.’ She was so friendly and warm, and her soft Scottish accent was just wonderful to hear. ‘Is there anything I can get you?’