He peeled her off him. ‘But you still have to work tonight and tomorrow.’
‘Of course.’ She hesitated before asking, ‘May I have my wages?’
He shook his head. ‘Not until the day after tomorrow.’
With no money she couldn’t buy a ticket, but it didn’t matter. She left work early and went back to the squat to shower and change. Looking in the small, speckled mirror she saw a slightly thinner, now-freckled, face. Her sun-lightened hair gleamed as it hung over her tanned shoulders. She looked really pretty. What a surprise he was going to get.
She walked into town, soaking up the evening sun. People were promenading, hand in hand, or sitting on the pavements under coloured umbrellas sipping cold wine or beer. A tapas bar was playing a pop song. Sennen relaxed. The music put a bounce in her step and confidence in her heart. Tonight was going to be the best night of her life.
Outside the theatre, an excited crowd was milling around, laughing and calling to each other. Sennen looked closely at the photographs of the performers hanging in the glass cases of the outer walls of the building.
There were names and faces of famous magicians from all over the world but she couldn’t find Ali’s. At last the crowd thinned as they went inside to find their seats and she could get a closer look. In a group photo of the cast, she saw him. Fourth from the end, next to the cabaret dancers in rhinestoned leotards with feathers in their hair and fake eyelashes. He was looking straight out to the camera, his dazzling smile lighting his face, his eyes looking right at her. She put her hand to the glass and touched him. It suddenly all seemed worth it. ‘Ali. I’m here to surprise you. Not long now. I have missed you.’
She had two hours to wait. She sat in a side-street café next to the stage door and ordered a coke, her eyes glued to the theatre’s exit. She could hear the band through the back wall and the applause from the audience as the last curtain call was taken.
She finished the coke and, leaving the money by the empty glass, she walked to the stage door. She was the first person there. Soon the fans would have escaped the theatre and be here, jostling with their programmes for autographs. She stood her ground as they started to arrive.
The stage door opened and a gaggle of the girl dancers appeared in leggings and warm cardigans, still with their showgirl make-up on. Their boyfriends swiftly escorted them away. Next came some men carrying musical instruments, then two glamorous women, a double act, Sennen supposed, who signed a few autographs and then … there he was.
Her heart missed a beat. His dark hair was even longer, hanging sexily in his eyes and tumbling over his shoulders. He beamed at the autograph hunters as they pressed forward.
She held back, wanting to freeze this moment for as long as she could. He signed a woman’s ticket and, giving her pen back, looked around for the next person who wanted his attention. And saw her. At least, she thought he did. He reached for another pen, signed another programme, posed for another photograph then reached his hand out to her. She took it. ‘Hello,’ she said smiling at him. ‘Surprise.’
He smiled back in confused recognition, then froze. He dropped her hand.
‘Ali. It’s me,’ she said, suddenly fearful.
Another woman’s hand reached to grasp his. He smiled now, but not at Sennen. He was looking at someone behind her. ‘Darling,’ he said.
Sennen turned. A pretty blonde with long legs was pulling him from the crowd. ‘Ali, come on. I promised the babysitter we’d be back.’
Sennen stood between them. ‘Ali? It’s me, Sennen.’
He knew who she was. His eyes told her that. For a second he stared back at her with what, fear? Panic? The woman pushed Sennen out of the way. ‘Excuse me, love. He needs to get out of here.’
Sennen fell back as Ali swept past, looking anywhere but at her.
When Rosemary and Rachel got home later that evening, Sennen was already packed.
‘What are you doing?’ asked Rosemary, puzzled.
‘You’re going back,’ she said, struggling with the straps of her rucksack.
‘What?’ asked Rosemary.
Sennen looked at her, as though she were a halfwit. ‘It’s what you want isn’t it?
‘Well, yes, but … not right now. I’m sort of enjoying it now.’
Rachel, leaning against the bedroom door, held her hands up. ‘I know Spanish dentists can be bad, but this is ridiculous.’
Sennen turned on her. ‘It’s nothing to do with a dentist, I just … I just want to go. Okay?’
Rachel shrugged. ‘No skin off my nose. I’m going to make a cuppa if anyone’s interested.’
Alone in their room, Rosemary sat on the bed and watched as Sennen gathered up her passport and make-up.
‘What’s happened?’ she asked gently. ‘Is it Henry and Ella? Are they okay? Are you missing them?’
Sennen sat down and burst into tears. ‘I don’t know. I just … It’s me.’
‘What’s you?’
‘I just want to leave here, okay?’
‘Henry and Ella will be pleased to see you.’
‘Stop talking about them!’ Sennen rubbed her tears away ferociously.
‘But you’re their mum.’
‘Shut up! I don’t want Rachel to hear. Forget about them. I have.’
‘Have you?’
Sennen dissolved into tears again. ‘No,’ she sobbed. ‘But I want freedom. I don’t want to be judged any more. I don’t want my sainted parents looking at me in their disappointed way any more. I don’t want to be woken up at all hours of the night. I want to sleep, and lie in – and be me again.’
‘I’d love to have a baby,’ said Rosemary quietly.
Sennen pulled herself together and wiped her nose. ‘That’s what I thought, too.’
‘But I’ll have their dad to help me,’ said Rosemary.
‘Ha,’ Sennen scoffed, stuffing a pair of socks from the floor into her rucksack, ‘assuming he’ll want to hang around.’
‘I’m sorry.’ Rosemary passed Sennen a clean tissue. ‘I shouldn’t have said that.’ She watched as Sennen rubbed the smeared mascara from her face. ‘Any chance that their dad would help you?’
Sennen laughed bitterly. ‘Oh no. Absolutely not.’
Through the long night Sennen and Rosemary talked. Eventually Rosemary persuaded Sennen to return to Cornwall with her in the morning. ‘We’ll get the earliest ferry. We’ll go to your parents first and explain. I’ll be with you. By tomorrow night you will be in your own bed and Ella
