Page 50 of Five Gold Rings
‘Any clues?’ he asks me cheekily, clinking my tin.
‘I’m afraid not. Oooooh… TURN THIS ONE UP, JOE!’
I’m lucky that Theo finds me vaguely amusing and turns up the music as I sway in the back seat to a bit of Chris Rea. ‘This is Joe’s favourite Christmas song,’ I say, hoping Joe doesn’t find me too strange for remembering that. I don’t think he does but he does give me a look that tells me it was easier to drive when I was laid out sparko in the back seat.
‘So, tell me more about your Lukas,’ I enquire as I sway, mimicking playing a piano.
‘So you know Lukas, too? Interesting… We’ve been together for five years. We met in a bakery in Shoreditch. There was only one sourdough loaf left and we were being polite trying to offer it to each other, so we split it in half and traded numbers.’
‘A yeast-cute,’ I say drunkenly, chuckling at my own joke. No one else laughs.
‘He works in theatre, I’m in graphic design. We have a cat called Olaf. He’s my best friend,’ he says, a happiness coming over him to talk about his little family. ‘Not the cat. Lukas. I’m sorry if I made you think he was anything but a good man,’ he tells Joe.
Joe shrugs as he drives. ‘Don’t worry. You care about him deeply, that much I knew.’
‘He’s always been very open and honest with me so the last month it’s been weird to see him so different.’
I frown; I can’t help comparing his words to my present situation, thinking about the openness and honesty that was lacking in what I had with Chris. Maybe I was a fool for not having seen what was happening before my very eyes. But I don’t react. I just keep playing my imaginary piano, impressing myself with my ad libs.
‘Are you guys going to give me any other hints? Is it a good surprise?’ Theo asks.
‘Yes,’ I say, Joe pulling the car past the bright lights of Piccadilly, The Ritz and weaving into the streets of St James’ Square. It’s a detour through parts of this city that know exactly how to do Christmas. There are more Christmas lights than bricks.
‘Are we going to a restaurant?’ he asks.
‘No.’
‘We’re not going on a boat, are we?’
I see Joe’s body stiffen and I roar hysterically. ‘Definitely not. Park up here, Joe. We can walk up.’
As the car stops, we organise ourselves and Joe comes round to my side of the car, offering me a hand as I step out. His touch feels different to me at the moment – there’s something there that makes me not want to let go. I stand and stumble slightly on my heels as he catches me.
‘Steady on there, Bambi. Are we still a bit pished?’ he jokes.
I can’t reply because I know that’s only part of why I stumbled. Breathe, Eve. Park that feeling for a moment. You must. ‘Let’s go find Lukas,’ I tell them in a sprightly manner.
‘Trafalgar Square?’ Theo asks us, staring curiously down the streets. We both nod as we edge closer and it reveals itself to us. Naturally, it’s teeming with people, but it’s always been one of my favourite parts of this city. I think it’s how people mill and congregate here. They stand still for a moment to take in Nelson, his lions, they swan in and out of the National Gallery, they lie on the stately stone stairs and take many pictures. An excellent decision from Lukas to propose here. I shrug my shoulders as Theo wanders over the street to find his love, leaving Joe and I watching.
‘What’s the deal here?’ Joe asks me.
‘I have no idea.’
I turn and see that Joe is shivering from the cold. I link my arm through his and I feel his body lean and mould into mine. It feels right. I just can’t tell him that. We then watch as a tall man stood at the top of the stairs waves to Theo, and his expression changes. It relaxes. That sort of moment when you see someone with whom you can be yourself, an attraction towards someone you know and have the greatest of feelings for. We catch up with him, trying to dodge the crowds, the street artists and a couple of men in reindeer onesies on a charity collection.
‘Well, good evening,’ Theo says, greeting Lukas, kissing him on the cheek. ‘I don’t get it. This does not feel like a surprise.’
‘So damn hard to please,’ Lukas tells him, grinning, strong Nordic tones in his voice. They embrace and he sees us walking behind. ‘Eve and Joe?’ he asks.
‘Yes, we are so sorry, Mr Tolv,’ I tell him.
‘It’s fine. Do you have it?’
Joe nods.
‘Have what?’ Theo asks.
Lukas then puts a thumbs up to one of the street artists and, well, I can’t quite believe what comes next because a Santa barges past me and starts… well, dancing like he’s Fred Astaire. That’s impressive with that extra padding he’s obviously carrying. And music. Out of nowhere, there’s a band. The most carefully hidden band I’ve ever seen. And it’s not just them, it’s a chorus of women in red dresses, men dressed up as toy soldiers, who appear in some amazingly choreographed routine that encircles us. I’m talking dozens of people flash mobbing in costume but with style, not like they’ve learnt this routine in their bedrooms. Theo’s jaw has dropped, he’s half laughing, half embarrassed at the attention and being lit up by a thousand lights of other people’s camera phones. Everyone around me is dancing. I feel like I’m on stage withThe Nutcrackerand have forgotten my part.