7. Chapter 7

Chapter 7

Tessa darted across the street at Cecil Court, flipping off the disgruntled driver blaring his horn as she narrowly avoided his front bumper. Her eyes remained on her fellow vintage enthusiasts gathered at the entryway of the side street that was Bookseller’s Row. As she approached, she caught her breath before offering her excuses.

“Sorry I’m late,” she panted. “I ran from the tube station.”

“No worries,” her friend Lottie replied. “We haven’t gotten started yet, anyway.”

“Grand so.”

She greeted the others and was surprised to come across a new face. A young woman with bubblegum pink hair cut into a stylish pixie, pale skin, and deep blue eyes. Her makeup was glowy and fresh, enhancing her soft cheeks and wide smile. Her eyes lingered on Tessa a moment longer than they did everyone else.

“Tess, this is Skylar,” Lottie said. “She’s just moved back to London after studying in Germany for. . . what was it, two years? Three?”

“Two and some change,” Skylar said with a shrug. “What can I say? Munich is fantastic. So much culture.”

“And beer,” Lottie joked.

Skylar cracked a smile. “That too.”

“To say nothing about the men.”

“And the women.”

Skylar shot Tessa a wink as she said it, which made Tessa’s heart skip a beat.

Lottie laughed. “Alright, let’s shop already.”

The stores were too small for them all to shop together, so they split up into the ones they were most interested in. A couple ducked into the one with a focus on military history. The others went into the larger store that had some new releases available. Tessa decided to head to the children’s book store. She started at the back, perusing the vintage editions of Alice in Wonderland. As she turned to pick up a rare copy of Winnie the Pooh, another outstretched hand made her stop. She looked up to find Skylar had followed her in.

“Children’s books?” Skylar questioned, picking up the Winnie the Pooh copy and examining it before handing it to Tessa.

“Aye,” Tessa replied with a smile. “A friend of mine is up the duff, I’m afraid. I’m about to be an auntie before my time.”

Skylar chuckled. “Is your friend at least happy about it?”

“Oh, aye, she’s buzzing. Her husband will be too, I expect.”

“Y’know, it’s early for books. They can’t read for ages.”

“Wains love having stuff, even if they can’t use it.”

Skylar smirked and ran her hand across the table as she crossed around it, letting her fingers brush the aged covers. “You’re a sweet friend to think of her. How far along is she?”

“She’s only just found out,” Tessa replied. “Perhaps it is too early. Aren’t you supposed to wait twelve weeks or something?”

“I mean, if they’re already telling people—”

“Shite. They haven’t told anyone.”

“What?”

“I only know because I was around hers when she got the call from her doctor. Am I giving them bad luck by telling people?” Tessa’s heart rate picked up. She dropped the book on the table. “Fuck-a-doodle-doo, I’ve cursed them.”

Skylar approached and placed a warm hand on Tessa’s shoulder. “Tessa, I’m sure it’s fine.”

Tessa took a deep breath. “Sorry. I dunno why I’m so nervous.”

“It’s alright.” Skylar slid her hand down Tessa’s arm to take her hand. “You’re cute when you’re nervous.”

“I’m actually cute all the time, but thank you,” Tessa returned.

Skylar threw her head back and laughed before giving Tessa’s hand a squeeze. “You should go with Winnie the Pooh.”

“Yeah?”

“Of course. He’s sweet, body positive, gender neutral. Can’t go wrong.”

Tessa picked up the book again and held it to her chest. “Perfect.”

She took it up to the till and paid. They wrapped it in paper before handing it to Tessa in a bag, and she met Skylar by the door.

After shopping, the group headed to a café for lunch. Most everyone had found one little treasure from Bookseller’s Row. One of Tessa’s favorite things about London was the variety of vintage shops. If you had one thing in mind you needed, it was easy to narrow down. When they had a showcase or an auction, there was always a good spread of different items. And sometimes, a find could be returned to its rightful home.

Last year, Tessa found a jewelry set at a secondhand shop, did some research, and found out they were more valuable than what she paid for them. They once belonged to the Colfield family, the head of which was an earl. Though the estate eventually fell out of the family due to financial strain. Tessa sold them at a charity gala to Laci Miller, a model whose family owned the home the Colfields previously occupied. That kind of serendipity always made Tessa glad she had this hobby. Though she supposed with her multiple past lives, it was no wonder she was drawn to old things.

“What got you into collecting vintage?” Skylar asked from her seat beside Tessa.

“Ach, I dunno,” Tessa answered with a shrug. “I suppose it helps me feel connected. To the past, and to people.”

“I find it hard to believe a beautiful girl like you struggles to connect.”

Tessa flushed. “You’d be surprised.”

Skylar carried on. “I love your accent, by the way. Where are you from?”

“Derry, but don’t hold it against me,” Tessa joked.

Skylar’s brow furrowed. “I could never. That must have been a tense childhood. I’m surprised you even wanted to come to England.”

“I was just a wee girl when it was really bad,” Tessa said, looking at her hands. “The tension lingered even after peace was official, but compared to what my parents lived through, I don’t have the right to complain.”

“How old were you when the Troubles ended?”

“Four, but as I said, it wasn’t quite over. People don’t just turn off hate.”

One of her earliest memories, when her da was teaching her to read, and she was practicing on the signs along the road as they drove to Portnoo for a holiday. She spotted the fresh paint on the brick side of a building that said ALL TAIGS ARE TARGETS and she asked him what that meant. She would never forget the way he swallowed and told her—it was a nasty word for Catholics—and he pressed his foot further onto the gas. Her mother crossed herself and gripped Da’s hand. That was three months after the Good Friday Agreement. Jamie was the only person who knew that story. And a couple others she remembered from that time, things she never even told Billie about.

“Is that why you came to England, then?” Skylar asked. “To get away from the violence?”

“That, and to go to university,” Tessa answered, grateful for the shift in subject. “I was particularly drawn to London because of the diversity. I wanted to be somewhere I knew I’d meet people from all walks of life.”

“No shortage of that here, especially with the massive amount of tourists each year.”

She dug into her purse and retrieved a pack of cigarettes and a lighter. She lit up and took a long drag, turning her face to blow the smoke away from Tessa.

“I suppose a similar thing took me to Germany,” Skylar said. “Growing up in London, it lost its appeal for me. I wanted to be somewhere I could walk around and truly not know anyone. Leave it up to fate to decide who would cross my path.”

“Did it work?”

“Like a charm,” she said with a wink. “I met loads of people, and I loved it.”

“But you’re back in London.”

“Not for long.” Smoke billowed out from between her lips. “I know I’ll be traveling again soon.”

“Where to?”

“Not sure yet. I’ve never been to Ireland before. Perhaps there’s somewhere you can recommend.”

“Oh, aye, but I’m not as familiar with the Free State, so—”

“Actually,” Skylar cut across her with a smirk. “I think I’ve found what I’m looking for right here.”

Tessa’s back hit the corridor wall, Skylar’s lips pressed into hers, moans in the backs of their throats, their shopping bags abandoned on the floor. The flat door was only feet away, but they couldn’t wait. After lunch at the café, the group continued shopping. As they did, Skylar kept brushing her hand against Tessa’s, she wrapped a warm scarf around Tessa’s neck, and she tucked a flyaway piece of hair behind Tessa’s ear.

At first, Tessa resisted the advances. She didn’t do casual sex anymore after getting that wild streak out of her system in the immediate aftermath of her breakup with Jamie. But Skylar was flirty and cute, with the prettiest pink lips, and Tessa wanted to kiss her. And, she told herself, moving on was the only way to get rid of her thoughts of Jamie. So, she asked Skylar back to hers, and there they were, making out in the hallway.

“God, you’re gorgeous,” Skylar said breathlessly between kisses.

“You should see yourself,” Tessa replied.

Skylar, with flushed cheeks and kiss-swollen lips, standing in the dim hallway, was like a shot from an indie movie. She grinned and pulled Tessa back in for another heated kiss, this time slipping her tongue into Tessa’s mouth. Tessa whimpered, her hands flying to Skylar’s hair and gripping it between her fingers.

A sound from behind the door made Tessa stop, drawing back from Skylar, whose brows furrowed.

“Tessa?”

“Shh, I think I hear something.”

Tessa stepped closer to her door. There was a voice, but she didn’t recognize it as Niamh’s, who would have been at training, anyway. Billie still had a key, but it wasn’t her either. It did sound feminine, though. Skylar gathered their shopping bags and followed.

“Is that. . . music?” she whispered.

Tessa heard it too. A driving beat and some piano. The melody hit, and Tessa recognized it immediately. “I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor. Which could only mean one thing.

“Oh, sweet, suffering Jesus.”

“What?” Skylar asked with alarm.

Tessa didn’t answer. With a heavy sigh, she reached for the doorknob and turned it. The music blared as she threw the door open and her sitting room came into view. She stormed in.

“MA!”