Romany cocked her head to one side as she thought about the question.
‘I think we should play it by ear,’ she said.
58
The champagne cork popped, and Maggie laughed as the pale liquid squirted out of the bottle and all over Tiger’s shirt.
‘I told you not to shake it,’ she said, but Tiger just laughed at her.
‘You, Maggie Summers, are the most sensible person I ever met,’ he said. ‘Who opens champagne without shaking it first?’
‘Well, somebody has to be sensible around here,’ she said, but there was a lightness in her tone.
Tiger poured the champagne into six flutes and they each took one and raised them high. They all looked around at one another, no one quite sure who should make the toast, none of them wanting to claim seniority over the others.
It was Leon who took the lead. He never stopped surprising her these days.
‘Congratulations, Romany,’ he began, ‘for smashing your A levels out of the park. Two A-stars and an A. It’s bloody fantastic and Durham are very lucky to have someone as special as you coming to study.’
‘Hear, hear,’ they all chorused loudly.
‘Yes,’ added Maggie. ‘To Romany.’
They all raised their glasses and drank to Romany, although she could barely stand still and was jumping from one foot to the other like a little girl, the champagne threatening to slop out of her glass and on to the neatly clipped grass.
Maggie had been unsure when Hope suggested that they have the celebratory drinks at her house. She had felt cheated and as if Hope, so newly in Romany’s life, had overstepped the mark by offering, but now that she was here, Maggie could see that it was the perfect spot. With the garden elegantly manicured and the bifold doors open on to the huge white kitchen, it looked like a show house or something from a glossy magazine: the perfect place to make Romany feel special.
And Romany looked as though she felt special. And loved. She hadn’t stopped smiling for a second and she kept looking around at them each in turn as if she couldn’t quite believe that they were all there celebrating together.
‘Thanks everyone,’ she said now. ‘But I couldn’t have done it without you lot on my team.’
Smiles slipped a little then. It was hard not to think of Angie in that moment.
‘Your mum would have been so very proud of you,’ Maggie managed to say before her throat began to constrict. ‘She loved you so much and all she ever wanted was for you to be happy.’
Romany started to cry, fat tears rolling down her pretty face.
‘I’ve done her proud, haven’t I?’ she asked, looking round at them for confirmation.
‘God, yes,’ said Tiger. He reached over and swept Romany into his arms. She looked so small as she leant into him, her head resting on his chest. ‘She’d be so proud of you, my darling girl. You have no idea.’
Romany peeled herself away from Tiger and wiped her tears with the flat of her hand.
‘My turn for a speech,’ she said. ‘I want to say thank you. To you all. I admit that when we first read that letter, I thought it was the stupidest idea ever. I was so angry with Mum for dying and then for saddling me with you lot, especially you, Tiger.’ She pulled a sheepish face, and he rolled his eyes. ‘But now I can see that Mum knew exactly what she was doing. You’ve all been so great, helping me through this year. And it’s lovely to have you in my life, Daniel.’ She looked up at him shyly and he nodded. ‘That wouldn’t have happened if it hadn’t been for Mum and her plan.’
She tipped her head to the sky and spoke to the heavens. ‘Thanks, Mum,’ she said, toasting the fluffy clouds.
Maggie wasn’t sure she could keep her emotions in check for much longer. She blinked hard to stop the tears.
‘And I know I’m not supposed to need my guardians any more,’ Romany continued, ‘but please don’t abandon me just yet. I don’t know anything about anything, not really. And I’ll definitely need you all in the holidays, so please can you stick around for a bit longer?’
‘Just you try shaking us off,’ replied Tiger, smiling so fondly at her that Maggie wanted to rush over and hug him.
They drained their glasses and Daniel opened another bottle. Romany told them all about the college at Durham and what she knew about her halls of residence, and Maggie listened and watched as the excitement came off her in waves. She’s just like we were, Maggie thought. So young and enthusiastic and ready to take on the world. If Angie had been here, then it would all have been so perfect. But then, she thought, if Angie had been here it was unlikely that they would all be standing here celebrating together.