Lost and Found - 20

20

Tuesday 6^th July 2008

Amelia couldn’t quite get used to not working. She’d never taken more than a week off in one go, here she was enjoying her second of four weeks off. Though she had plenty to occupy her. Li had arrived last night, late, and was still sleeping as she tried to organise her home.  A large suitcase sat in the corner of the lounge and she frequently added items to it. They’d booked into a luxurious resort in Hawaii, hoping that it would be as opulent as the one in Forgetting Sarah Marshall. They’d seen it in the cinema together earlier in the year, and it had long since influenced their plans for the next holiday!

When Li finally surfaced they hit the shops, both of them wanting a new dress to wear to the awards. In a particular boutique that had become Amelia’s favourite, they both found exactly what they wanted. Li a black strappy dress that came to her knees, flattering her petite figure, Amelia a floor length red number of thick taffeta with ruffles around the base. Amelia insisted on paying for them both, her gift of congratulations to her best friend.

Later they drank wine at a roof terrace bar, then shared a handmade pizza topped with olives and crispy prosciutto as they enjoyed the early evening sunshine.

                “So how are things with Clay?” Li asked at the first opportunity to really catch up. “I mean since you’ve left work.”

Amelia contemplated that question for a few moments, she’d come to care a lot for Clay, he was kind, loving, generous all the attributes you’d look for in a man. But she did know that there wasn’t the same electricity that she’d found instantly rekindled in that brief encounter with Sol back in London. She’d rationalised over the days weeks and months that there was the excitement of forbidden fruit, and she was convinced her reaction to him was just that, adrenaline and anxiety at fear of being discovered. No, Clay was what she wanted. He was good looking, she was very attracted to him, and he treated her with respect, more than any other man in her life had. He was a great kisser, and the sex was great, no complaints in that department. No she wanted to see Sol at the awards tomorrow and maybe even hear what he had to say, and then, only then could she close that chapter of her life. Get over him, move on.

Clay had flown to Philadelphia the previous day but he was due home in time to accompany them to the awards. Daichi had flown home to Japan for a family funeral, so Li didn’t have a date, on hearing that Clay had suggested her join them later after the presentation, that way there wouldn’t be any awkwardness for Li.

Wednesday7th July 2008

                “Wow! You look amazing!” Amelia gushed at Li as she appeared from the spare bedroom. The dress was stunning, she’d known that, but Li had coupled it with a silver wispy shawl and similar elegant heels, and her hair piled into an extravagant style was dotted with similar silver flowers.  She looked so quirky, yet elegant, a striking combination, “that dress is perfect on you!”

Li chuckled, “you stand there looking like some sort of Amazonian princess telling little me that I look nice! You will stop traffic in that red!”

Li always referred to Amelia as Amazonian, she’d always thought it was a polite way of saying ‘fuller figure’, but she’d not been this slim ever, and standing a good foot taller than Li did give her a staggering appearance in red.

                “We make a beautiful pair Li, how come we never felt this good when we were both single and on the prowl?”

Li laughed again, “Maybe it’s our confidence in our new men that is making us feel so great?”

Amelia agreed, “I think you might be right.”

The awards were being held in a hotel ballroom near Times Square. Whilst it was high profile in the literary world, it was anything but A list celebrity. Very few faces were familiar, and there were very little paparazzi present. But saying that there was no lack of expense spared in both decor and refreshments.

The whole of the reception room was decked out in the theme of the evening which was Fairy Tales. As they entered the room in awe of the magical decoration, floor to ceiling panels depicting beautifully painted images of Snow White, Cinderella and the Snow Queen, linked by billowing, draping swathes of silver and pastel coloured fabric. The bar to their right was a gingerbread house, and the doorways between rooms were raised portcullises and ivy covered towers.

                “Wow! All this for an awards ceremony?”

Li nodded, “apparently last year it was themed Moulin Rouge. I saw pictures, and they were wonderful.”

Grabbing a drink from a waiter dressed like the Big Bad Wolf, Amelia handed one to Li, “well I definitely didn’t expect this!”

Grinning, Li hooked an arm through hers, “I know, it’s brilliant! Shall we find out seats?”

They were seated at a large round table with ten others, their names written in elaborate lettering on delicate place cards. The dining room was as elaborate as the reception room, and each table was adorned with candelabra and flowers. The whole place was like a magical forest, and Amelia was enchanted.

                “You could’ve warned me that it was going to be this posh Li! I feel a real pauper here!”

                “As if!”

The room started to fill, and soon Li was introducing her to several of the directors, publishers and other authors from her publishing house. As she shook hands with another writer who was up for a crime fiction award, she felt rather than saw Sol approach. Turning slowly Amelia saw him at the entrance to the dining room, dressed in a well cut dark suit, his dark hair impeccable. He was talking to a woman, someone she didn’t recognise, then he looked up and the rest of the room seemed to pale into insignificance as his eyes found hers.

She rued the way her heart raced, her palms became clammy, and the buzzing in her ears that filtered out any conversation. But she couldn’t fight it. This was all about the adrenaline, talking; clearing the air would leave her to move on with her life. She knew that!

Despite that her breathing rate increased as she came towards the table, talking to many people as he did. Eventually he paused across the table from them and acknowledged everyone there. Li beamed at him and Amelia could tell she respected him a lot.

                “You remember my friend Amelia.”

Sol finally returned his eyes to Amelia and smiled politely, “of course. Good to see you again.” With that he turned to talk to another woman who had approached the table.

                “Where’s Helena? I thought she was your editor?”

Li shook her head, “she is...she was...she left to join a rival company about six weeks ago.”

                “Really? That must make things awkward at home!” She nodded in the direction of Sol in as innocently a way as she could.

Again shaking her head Li added, “Well after she left Mr Tanner for someone much younger then it became unworkable really. She’d been on gardening leave for ages; she actually left a few weeks before the launch!”

Amelia felt the room starting to spin, no wonder he’d been so desperate, so confused. He’d needed her attention, wanted to explain. She’d snubbed him in the worst possible way. Shaking her head she realised what a bitch she’d been. He could’ve come up and spoke to her in front of everyone that night, he had nothing to hide anymore, the only reason he could possibly want to sneak into the bathroom behind her was to save her blushes, to protect her...and Clay.

Taking a steadying breath, she tried to meet Sol’s eyes, tried to at least offer and apology. But he avoided her rather too well. As they started to serve dinner the evening became more unpleasant than it started. Sol was sat to Amelia’s right, two seats along, but the angle of the table meant that she couldn’t see much of him.

Li barely ate any food, and it was then that Amelia realised how nervous she was. Squeezing her hand, Amelia leaned in and whispered, “You need to eat or this champagne will knock you out. Nothing worse than passing out on stage as you pick up your first literary award!”

                “I’m not going to win Amelia; I’m just here for the experience!”

An hour later they were a little calmer; Li had managed to eat, and had switched to soft drinks to keep a clear head. There were fifteen categories and Li was up in the third one, which Amelia felt was a God send as she’d relax after that whatever the result. People seemed to meander a little more now, leaving the tables to chat and socialise. And it was a few minutes later when the person next to her, Malcolm a partner of Sol’s left for the bar. Li had also gone to the bathroom, so Amelia found herself alone. Looking to her right she waited for the moment that Sol glanced towards her, then spoke.

                “Why didn’t you tell me...about Helena?”

The look he gave her was hostile to put it mildly, “I asked to speak to you, and you chose not to listen. As far as I’m concerned it’s over Meals. The last thing I need is your misplaced pity! So please...just enjoy your evening and pretend I’m not here!”

With that he turned to his right and another colleague and ignored her. She was furious, so many emotions had swept through her that evening already, and this was the tin hat on her foul mood. She was so tempted to walk away, away from Sol once and for all, but she couldn’t leave Li. Yet again her hands were tied.

Sol refused to look her way, and all too soon Li was back and the actual presentation started. As the moment of truth grew closer and closer, Amelia realised how much Li was shaking. So she reached out and took her hand, squeezing it in a supportive way.

                “The prize for International Fiction Book of the year has been won by so many prestigious tomes in the past...” Mansel Martin a TV Arts presenter finally got to the crux of the evening for Li. He waffled about past winners then named the individual candidates with a resume of their book, followed by some of the critics’ views on them.

                “And the winner is...” Li’s eyes were closed and Amelia prayed with every ounce of her being and almost screamed as she heard the words, “In the Passion of Belief...Li Wan Cheung!”

Li was stunned, her mouth wide open, and tears already welling at her eyes, Amelia felt more than proud, she loved Li like a sister, and this was one of their greatest moments in their lives. When she stood everyone around the table stood to congratulate her, and after a round of hugs, she turned back to Amelia and hugged her tightly.

Li looked so small up on the stage, barely able to reach the microphone. Screens to her left and right showed pictures of her, her book as she struggled to speak.

                “China in the late eighties was an unbelievable place. Nowhere else have I seen people so desperate for change. The actions of that time and the scenes at Tiananmen Square had a double impact on me. I lost my parents, my family, my identity, but if it wasn’t for that, I’d never have left my homeland, never be stood here in front of you all so proud that my fictional representation of such a shocking time has hit home with you all.”

Amelia had a lump in her throat, so overcome with emotion as Li picked her out in the crowd.

                “I have a lot to thank, Mitchell and Tanner for their support and belief, my vision became theirs and I’m stood here as an author thanks to them...” she then proceeded to mention college lectures, her adopted parents who were currently working in Ghana as voluntary doctors. Then her eyes again met Amelia’s.

                “Then there’s the person who has been there from day one, she’d heard every chapter, every rewrite and every characterisation. When my book wasn’t signed and I couldn’t pay the bills she did that, and she offered me a shoulder after all those rejection letters. This award is for my best friend Amelia. Thanks and I love you!”

Tears flowed down Amelia’s face as her friend blew a kiss and was then ushered off the stage with the man who’d presented her award. Wiping at a stray tear, she was amazed when a pristine white handkerchief appeared in front of her, glancing up she realised it had come from Sol.

She was torn between ignoring him and using it, and the tears dripping off her chin meant she had to swallow her pride and accept it. He nodded in a businesslike manner and mumbled, “You deserved that. The dedication that is. Well done!”  Then all eyes were back on the stage for the next award.