37

Star

“Can I return the dress to you now, Rosa?” I ask as soon as Rosa answers her phone.

For a couple of seconds Rosa is too surprised to answer. “As in right now?” I sniff. “Yes.”

Her response is immediate. “Of course. Fortunately for you I’m just vegetating in front of the TV with a tub of ice cream and a whole box of tissues.”

“Thank you,” I say and hang up.

When we get to Rosa’s apartment building I thank Andrei and tell him I won’t need him again. He is a true gentleman and waits until I enter the building before he gets back into the car.

I get into the lift sniffing and blubbering. By the time the lift doors open I’m sobbing. Rosa opens her door and I walk into her arms. “I’ve been such a fool,” I repeat again and again.

She helps me out of the dress and gives me a comfortable pair of sweats to get into. The whole time I am blubbering and sniffing and spluttering.

We sit on the sofa. She pours me a humongous glass of wine. I take it and start gulping it down. “Whoa. Slow down.