He falls silent.
When Sabrina walks in holding a tray of drinks I can’t help but be relieved at the interruption. She’s changed into an elf costume and from the looks of it, we should all be able to keep our drinks on the table this evening; there’s no big tail or gingerbread fur to knock things flying.
I speak too soon, as she trips on her oversized elf boots. The tray goes flying as she takes a messy tumble. Jasper launches himself across the table and somehow manages to catch the tray and the bottle of wine. The glasses bounce to the carpet but don’t break.
‘Whoa,’ CJ says. ‘You’re like a superhero, Jasper.’
I laugh. He did look rather god-like, flinging himself into the air like that.
‘A superhero would have caught the glasses too.’ Ever so humble, our own real-life hero.
I edge around the table and give Sabrina a hand up. ‘Are you OK?’ Her elf tights are laddered where she landed hard on her knees.
When she looks up at me, her eyes are glassy with tears, but she lets out a laugh as if she’s fine, or is pretending to be at any rate.
‘I’m such a klutz. Thanks for saving the day, Jasper. I’ve already had a run-in with my manager about my performance, which is “lacking” apparently.’ She darts a glance over her shoulder. ‘Actually, forget I said that. Me and my big mouth. I also got a warning about fraternising with the guests. Apparently that’s forbidden too.’
I frown. ‘You got in trouble for being out with us?’
She nods, expression miserable. ‘Yeah, someone saw me and reported it.’
Princess pulls out a chair and helps Sabrina into it. On closer inspection, her knee is quite badly hurt; it’s already swelling. ‘Barry,’ Princess says. ‘Can you ask George for an icepack for Sabrina’s knee?’
‘Sure, hold tight.’ Princess and Barry exchange a look and hold it for a fraction of a second too long.
What’s going on there? Barry hurries away and Princess looks anywhere but at me. Is she thinking of chancing love? I’m dying to ask her but poor Sabrina’s bottom lip is quivering as she tries to hold herself together, so I turn my attention back to my young friend.
‘I’m so sorry you got in trouble,’ I say. ‘It’s a ridiculous rule being told what you can do in your time off and, as for all the rest, I’m sure I speak for us all when I say you’re the best staff member on board.’ Yes, there have been a few accidents, but that’s to be expected on a compact carriage, whilst wearing festive costumes that are more than a little extra.
Sabrina gives me watery smile. ‘Thanks, Aubrey. It’s fine, I have been rather preoccupied and not at my best. I probably deserve the telling off, it’s just they’re a little stricter here than I’m used to and my new manager does not mince her words.’
Barry returns with an icepack and some gauze.
‘What about your knee with having to work this evening?’ I ask. ‘You may need to rest it?’
‘Tell me who this manager person is!’ Princess blurts out. ‘No one threatens you, Sabrina. I mean it!’ There’s fire in her eyes, and I don’t doubt Princess will march down the carriage to staff quarters and give Sabrina’s manager a piece of her mind. ‘WHO IS SHE!’ There’s a guttural edge to her voice that makes us all freeze.
We’re wide-eyed when suddenly the tension breaks and we fall about laughing. ‘Sorry.’ Princess lets out an embarrassed giggle. ‘Even though I don’t have children, apparently I still have Tiger Mum DNA.’
That sets us off again. Once we’re all composed, Sabrina says, ‘Thank you, Princess. I’ll be OK. Honestly, I did break the rules. But my manager was most upset by all the breakages on board, but like, what breakages? I’m sure I’m being blamed for someone else’s fumbles. George probably, but I don’t want to point the finger his way, do I? Not with him being new and all.’
Who’s going to tell her? I move my gaze around the Unlucky in Love Travel Club and realise it’s going to have to be me. No one wants to enlighten the poor girl when she’s already feeling so low.
Gently as I can, I say, ‘I’m sorry to say the breakages were all you, Sabrina.’ She gasps, so I hurry on. ‘But it was not your fault! Your reindeer tail was responsible, being the perfect height to knock glasses, plates, candles to the floor.’
‘What! I’m sure I would have been aware if that was— Ooh.’ She covers her face in her hands. ‘The stupid reindeer earmuffs. I couldn’t hear!’
I bite my lip and nod. ‘And the furry gingerbread costume. Same thing.’
A burst of laughter escapes from her small frame. ‘Why didn’t anyone tell me?’
I pull my lips to the side. ‘You make a very good point.’
Sabrina reties her ponytail. ‘Well, at least there’s an explanation for it. Every time I turned around, George was cleaning mess from the carpet and I just figured he had a bad case of butter fingers. And all that time he was fixing up my mistakes?’
I give her a solemn nod.
With a deep exhale she says, ‘I’ll be more aware tomorrow when I have to dress up as a flipping Christmas tree with gift box shoes, I’m not even joking. It’s as wide as it is gaudy. Anyway, thanks for this.’ She points to her knee. The swelling has reduced a fraction. ‘I better get back to it and try to be a bit more spatially aware.’
