Wags To Riches, page 22
“That would be great!” Alex says happily. “Where is it?”
“Oh it’s here at home – well it will be in the garden” I reply, “I’ve gone for a circus theme – they’ll be jugglers, acrobats, magicians, fire eaters, a marquee and a DJ, lots of food and drink..”
“Wow! That sounds great! I take it it will be a smartly dressed affair” Alex asks.
“It’s black tie” I reply. “I’ll send you an invite in the post anyway. So you’ll be able to come then?”
“Oh yes definitely!” Alex replies, “What – getting to wear a posh frock, drink lots of champagne and hobnob with celebrities? I’m looking forward to it already!”
I laugh. “Well I haven’t finalised the guest list yet, but there may well be a few famous people there” I say, “I’m leaving that to Gina and Sharon. Anyway - who’s that girl who answered the phone just now?”
“Julie? She’s your replacement” Alex says. “She’s just gone on lunch actually. She’s really nice and is a really fast learner. She’s only been here three weeks and she’s already got the hang of things”.
“Oh right” I say, suddenly feeling a bit wistful for my old job and my old life. I sit with Alex, not Saint bloody Julie. “It didn’t take them long to replace me did it?” I say.
“Well I can’t do it all on my own Gail!” Alex says. “I don’t know what you are on about anyway – you hated this job!”
“We had some fun though didn’t we?” I say.
“Yeah we did” Alex says, “And I do miss you. Julie’s alright, but she’s not interested in celebrities like we are. Well – I bet you know most of them now anyway!”
“No I don’t Alex honest” I say laughing.
“I have to buy my own copy of Slur! now you know, now I can’t read yours anymore! Alex continues. “We’ll have to meet up soon if you aren’t too busy organising parties!”
“Oh definitely” I reply.
“Does Adam know anything about this party then?” Alex asks.
“Well, he knows I’m organising one for his birthday, but he doesn’t know any of the details”.
“Oh - I’d better go actually” Alex says, “The supervisor is prowling around and I’ve already got two calls waiting!”
“Okay I’ll give you a ring soon” I say and we hang up. Damm - I forgot to tell her about learning to drive. I might just tell her when I’ve passed. When I’m in my mid forties then I think to myself and laughed. It’s weird though - the thought of someone else doing my old job, sat across from Alex and answering the phones.
“You alright?” Adam asks, walking into the kitchen from the gym.
“Yes – I’m fine. I just spoke to Alex to invite her and Dave to your party”.
“Oh right - how is she?” Adam asks, pouring himself a glass of water.
“She’s fine. They’ve got a replacement for me you know at Delightful” I say.
“Have they?”
“Yes, her name is Julie. I spoke to her before Alex. She was very professional and asked me what company I was from and everything. And do you know what I said?” I say giggling to Adam.
“What?”
“W.A.G. Incorporated” and Adam snorts with laughter. “Seriously though Adam” I continue, “It was weird listening to someone else saying what I used to say and thinking that someone else is sat at my old desk, doing my old job”.
“Well - you didn’t want to go back did you?” Adam says, his eyes twinkling.
“Hell no!” I reply.
“Well then!” Adam says, shrugging his shoulders, “Just be grateful it’s not you having to answer the phone all the time! I’m just going to have a shower” he says “And then we’ll go out for dinner if you like tonight. Show your haircut off” he adds smiling. I smile back and Adam goes upstairs, while I put all the party paperwork back in a folder. No - I wouldn’t change this for the world I think as I look round at the fabulous kitchen I’m sitting in and the garden outside. It’s almost too perfect.
Chapter 21
I feel really nervous when I’m walking through town the next morning. The sun’s out and it looks like it’s going to be a lovely day. I should be sat out in the garden with a good book right now, not waiting to make a complete prat of myself on a driving lesson. I look down at my feet, encased in little black ballet pumps - I must be taking this learning to drive lark seriously though as I am actually wearing flat shoes for once! Adam couldn’t believe it this morning when I came down the stairs. He actually asked me if I was feeling all right - the cheeky sod.
I’ve put my favourite jeans on as well as they are super comfy and a nice black short sleeved shirt. I want to be as comfortable as possible on my first driving lesson for nigh on six years. It’s getting warm now though – I hope Sam’s car has got a sunroof or air conditioning or something otherwise I think I will just die in this heat.
I’ve come into town a little bit earlier so I can get the theory test book I need and on my way to the bookshop, I have a look in a very posh jeweller’s window. I’m toying with the idea of getting Adam a watch for his birthday. There’s a beautiful one in the window which I’m sure he would love. I’ll get it and take it out of the proceeds of my house sale later. A nice couple have offered the full asking price which is brilliant and the sale is starting to go through. I didn’t show them round though, I asked the estate agent to – I didn’t want to get all emotional, especially if they started criticising things because I like that house. Apparently though the estate agent said they really liked it, so I needn’t have worried. While I’m in there, I also spot some diamond cufflinks in the shape of his initials, so I get him those as well and feeling slightly breathless at the amount of money I have spent, head for the bookshop.
When I last had driving lessons, you didn’t have to do this bloody theory test. Oh well. I find the book and have a look through it. There’s two parts to the theory test apparently – a series of multiple choice questions and then some little video clips you have to watch and click with the mouse when you see a hazard. There’s a separate disc for this hazard perception part so I decide to get that as well, flinching a bit at the price. It’s not cheap learning to drive. I take them both over to the till to pay and the assistant behind the counter smiles at me.
“Learning to drive then?” she asks pleasantly as I hand over my credit card.
“I’m afraid so” I say smiling, “Thought it was about time”.
“Good for you!” she says, “I know I ought to, but I’m too scared!”
“I’m scared too actually,” I reply, “I’ve got my first lesson in about fifteen minutes” I say, glancing at my watch.
“Good luck!” the girl calls as I turn to leave.
“Thanks!” I say smiling. “I’m going to need it!” As I make my way to the Post Office, I walk past my favourite shoe shop. Oh my God - they’ve changed the display and put the most beautiful pair of sparkly turquoise high heels in the window. They are beautiful. Almost like I’m on auto pilot I walk into the shop and try and them on. Oh my God – I am so having these! Nothing like shoes to take your mind off an impending driving lesson. I quickly pay and then hurry to the Post Office, clutching all my shopping. I hope I’m not late. I glance quickly at my watch. No – it’s okay – in fact I’m a couple of minutes early and I’m feeling really nervous now. I stand waiting for a minute and then reach into my bag for my little bottle of Rescue Remedy, quickly putting a few drops on my tongue. I look up the road and see a red Vauxhall Corsa coming towards me with a white sign on the roof. I think this might be my driving instructor and I think I’m going to throw up. As the car draws nearer, I can read ‘Sam’s School of Driving’ on the sign and take a deep breath to steady my nerves.
The car pulls up alongside me and the woman driving leans over to the passenger door and opens it. “Gail Auden?” she asks, looking up at me. She looks like how she sounded on the phone – in her late forties I would say, a bit motherly looking with short, brown bobbed hair.
I take a deep breath. “That’s me” I reply and smile, even though I desperately want to run away and hide.
“Do you want to put your bags on the back seat?” she says as I get in. “I’ll just drive us out of town and then we can swap seats” she adds as I fasten my seatbelt. We move off and Sam drives expertly though town for a couple of minutes, negotiating all the lanes and the lights with the greatest of ease. I’ll never be able to drive like that. We stop on an industrial estate just outside town and get out to change places. I spend a few minutes adjusting the driver’s seat while Sam checks my licence and makes a note of the number. At least she doesn’t laugh at my photograph.
“Well – you’ve got your work cut out with me I’m afraid” I say, “I don’t think I’ll ever be able to drive like you just did!”
“Nonsense Gail” Sam replies briskly. “Of course you’ll be able to drive. You just need to have a bit of confidence that’s all. Now this car Gail” she goes on, “Is a Corsa and as such, they are very easy to drive. What cars have you driven before? I don’t think you said on the phone”.
“I originally learnt in a Renault Clio” I reply and Sam nods, “but as for more recently - my boyfriend has got a Bentley Continental GT” - Sam gapes at me – “And I’ve had a couple of drives round in that. He’s thinking about buying an Aston Martin DBS as well,” I add, “So hopefully if he buys one of those, I’ll get the chance to drive that too”.
“Right – well - blimey!” Sam says, seeming a bit lost for words, “They’re not the usual cars people learn to drive in,” she adds with a little laugh. “Your boyfriend – what does he do for a living?”
“He’s a footballer,” I say smiling.
“Really? What team does he play for?”
“Oh – for Grandmere United”.
“What’s his name?”
“Adam Finchley” I reply as I put my hands on the steering wheel and peer at the dashboard.
“ADAM FINCHLEY?” she squawks. “The Adam Finchley? Really?”
“Well - yes” I reply, a little taken aback by Sam’s reaction. “We’ve been together for quite a while now”.
“Gosh!” Sam says, looking absolutely amazed. “Well! I’ve never taught a famous person to drive. Or their girlfriend to drive, for that matter. I’ve taught a tree surgeon, a solicitor and a doctor – now, he really struggled”.
“Yeah?” I say.
“Oh yes. Brilliant mind, but just could not grasp the basic concepts of driving – not for ages. It wasn’t until his sixth lesson that we actually got into third gear!” Sam adds and I laugh uncomfortably. You haven’t seen me driving yet, I think - I’ll become one of your favourite anecdotes – I can just hear you saying it now - ‘Oh yes I taught this WAG to drive – bloody useless – wrote my car off and she’s still in hospital’. Great.
“But Adam Finchley eh? Well!” she says again and smiles at me. I don’t think she believes me actually. Probably thinks I’m some sort of delusional nutter. Well think away Sam, think away.
“Right Gail – anyway – let’s get started. Do you want to try moving off and when we get to the end of the road, I would like you to turn left please” she says.
Oh God - this is it. “Okay” I squeak. I turn the engine on, put the car into first gear and we don’t seem to be moving anywhere.
“Might help if you took the handbrake off,” Sam says helpfully.
“Oh yes” I say quickly and lift the handbrake. We shoot forward as I forgot I’d pressed the accelerator flat to the floor in a vain attempt to move with the handbrake on. “Whoops! Sorry!” I say, hastily pressing the brake pedal.
“It’s okay – just carry on” Sam says, sitting back in her seat after having her face almost pressed up against the windscreen and picking her notebook up off the floor. Oh God. Right – let’s try again. I press the accelerator pedal again, more softly this time, lift the clutch and we move slowly down the street.
After that slightly shaky start, the rest of the lesson goes all right. I might even venture to say it goes quite well. We drive round a few industrial estates and then back out onto the main road. I even drive all the way home! As we near the house, I can see Adam’s car parked outside. “That’s Adam’s Bentley” I say brightly, nodding towards it and Sam’s eyes widen. I draw to a halt just near the front door and switch the engine off.
“So how do you think that lesson went Gail?” Sam asks me.
“All right I think - not too bad at all” I reply. We are still alive so that’s a good start.
“I think you did really well - to say you haven’t driven in a while. You need to start revising for your theory test as soon as you can though, because once you’ve passed that, then you can concentrate on your practical test” Sam says.
“Yes I will” I say firmly. I’m getting into this driving lark now. “I’ve been and bought the book and the CD-ROM today so I can get started”.
“Good” Sam says. “Did you want to book another lesson now?”
“Yes” I say and book a few more before paying for the one I’ve just had. I reach round for my shopping and get out of the car. As I feel in my handbag for my door key, I can see that Sam has moved back to the driver’s seat but has not driven off yet. I think she is checking that I do actually live here and am not going to ring for a taxi the minute she’s gone. I’m just about to put my key in the door when Adam opens it.
“How did it go?” he asks, beaming at me.
“Oh great thanks” I say, “That’s my driving instructor - look” and I point at Sam’s car. Adam smiles and waves at her. Sam gawps at him and I can’t help but feel a teensy-weensy bit smug. I bet she’s probably going to charge me more now for my lessons now though she can see I wasn’t lying about who I go out with.
“Tell me all about it then” Adam says, breaking into my thoughts as we walk down to the kitchen. “And I’ll make you want a cup of tea”.
“Thanks” I say. I put my bags onto the breakfast bar and slide onto one of the chairs while Adam makes us both a drink. “It went all right” I say, “Although I forgot to take the handbrake off when I first started…”
“Oh, that’s nothing - don’t worry about that”.
“Well – we did shoot forward rather quickly when I took it off as I still had my foot on the accelerator” I continue and Adam smiles, “But after that we went round some quiet industrial estates on the other side of town and I was fine. I even drove home!”
“That’s great!” Adam says encouragingly.
“I know – I quite enjoyed it really” I say. “I’m looking forward to the next one, which is at the same time on Friday. Sam wants me to put in for my theory test as soon as possible as well” I add, “So I’ve been and bought the theory test book and a CD–ROM – I’ll show you them actually” and I take them out of the bag.
Adam sits down next to me, picks up the CD –ROMs and blanches at the price on the back. “They aren’t cheap are they?” he says, “I’m surprised they cost that much!”
“I know! I thought that too” I reply. “I think it’s because they know you need to buy them really”.
“It’s a bit different to when I learnt to drive” Adam says, putting the CD-Rom down on the table and beginning to flip through the theory test book, “When I took my test, at the end the examiner just asked me a few questions from the highway code and that was it”.
“Well it’s all changed now” I say, “I need to know the answers to all the questions as any one of them could come up in the test”.
“I’ll help you” Adam says eagerly, “If you want me to test you or anything, just say”.
“Thanks Adam, I appreciate that,” I say and smile at him over her cup of tea. “You could sit the test for me – that would help!”
“I think they’d know that I wasn’t you!” Adam says laughing. “Especially if I’ve not shaved that morning!” He puts his arm round me and gives me a hug. “You are doing really well you know” he says, “It takes a lot of guts learning to drive when you are that bit older.”
“I’m not that old!” I protest. “You make me sound ancient!”
“No - you know I don’t mean it like that!” Adam says. “I think it’s a really brave thing to do”.
“I think Sam is the brave one, not me” I reply smiling.
Adam laughed. “Just think though Gail – you’ve took that first step towards getting that Audi R8 today!” he says.
“I think that’s quite a way off yet” I say, “but you’re right - it gives me something to aim for”. Not that I can afford one, but that’s by the by.
“I tell you something – I’d rather sit my driving test than meet your mum and dad tomorrow afternoon” Adam says.
“Why?” I ask surprised, “They’re not that bad!”
“No – I know that Gail” Adam says earnestly, “I just want to make sure I make a good impression”.
“Well – I don’t think you can mess it up like I did when I met your mum and dad” I reply dryly, “Unless you were thinking of jumping off their sofa while playing air guitar?”
Adam grins. “I’ll save that for when they have a party” he says. “Now do you want me to give you a lift to Sharon and Tony’s?”
“Oh would you?” I say gratefully, “that would be great”.
“Anything for you Gail – you know that” Adam says. “Fifteen quid alright for the fare?” he adds jokingly and I laugh.
*****
“So how did your first driving lesson go darling?” Sharon asks as she hands me and Gina a glass of sparkling water. We are sat in Sharon’s living room – a stunning room with fantastic views over the fields outside.
“It was okay actually” I say and tell them all about it.
“You are brave you know” Gina says, “I’d offer to take you out but I’ve picked up so many bad habits, I don’t want to pass them on to you”. You mean always driving like a suicidal F1 driver I think to myself and smile as Tony brings a tray laden with food in. He puts the tray down on the coffee table and Sharon picks up one of the plates and inspects the sandwich.
