In The Bag

A ROMANTIC SHORT STORY BY AMANDA SMITH

When Paige saw the expensive handbag, she couldn’t believe her luck…

Paige rested her forehead against the window of the 11.01 to Polegate and closed her eyes.

The sun was shining. If she tried hard enough, she could just about fantasise that she was barefoot on a beach, a white dress dragging sand along as she made her way down a seashell-lined aisle.

She opened her eyes.

In reality, she was sitting unnervingly close to the toilets on a busy train.

But today was a happy day, she reminded herself. It was just Sasha’s happy day.

One day it would be her turn.

She didn’t know anyone else going today and felt the gnawing in her stomach that she got when she was going somewhere alone.

Which was pretty much always.

Yet another wedding at the singles’ table, she thought, just as a dark cloud blocked out the sunshine.

The train pulled into her stop, but Paige hung back.

She double checked her seat to make sure she had everything – a habit she’d inherited from her mum.

Patting her shawl, fascinator and handbag, she felt confident to leave the train.

She heard a beeping sound signalling that the doors were about to close and she was forced to take an inelegant leap on to the platform.

Unfortunately her bag couldn’t keep up and the strap got caught in the door.

Paige willed the train to release it from its clutches, but to no avail.

The train started to pull out from the station and all Paige could do was cling on and run alongside the train as fast as her gold slingbacks would allow.

Panic rose as she realised she was running out of platform.

Drastic action was required.

With one giant yank of her bag, she managed to wrestle it free.

A loud ripping sound indicated a new problem.

Once safely in a taxi, she took a moment to survey the damage.

The strap had come off and torn a hole in the seam.

She checked she hadn’t lost any possessions during her dash to the taxi rank.

Purse, phone, lipstick. Thank goodness her wedding essentials were still there.

She fished out her keys on their hand-crafted lemon keyring.

She held it to her chest in relief. She couldn’t stand the idea of losing her mum’s final gift to her.

“I don’t suppose there’s a shop on the way?” she asked the driver.

“That depends on what you’re after,” he replied. “Gregson’s does a lovely topside of beef, but I doubt you’re cooking a roast dressed like that.”

“Sorry, I should have been more specific.” Paige inwardly groaned. “I need a new handbag.”

“That’s tricky.” The driver whistled through his teeth. “You could try the charity shop on the high street, but it’ll depend on what they’ve had in.”

Paige was willing to take her chances. She was stressed about being late, but at least she might get a nice new bag out of this.

When life gives you lemons, she thought with a wry smile at her keyring.

That was what her mum would have said.

The driver agreed to wait while she dashed inside the shop.

Paige was thrilled to find a full section of handbags.

She tried various options with her pale pink dress, but each one seemed to clash.

With panic setting in, she sifted through the shelves until one particular bag stopped her in her tracks.

It was pale gold and pleated to look like a handheld fan.

She recognised it as a designer bag. Being a stylist had its perks, but that didn’t extend to keeping anything you used on photoshoots.

She took it to the till.

“Just this, please,” she said to the shop assistant, whose name tag read Mary.

“A lovely choice.” Mary smiled. “Five pounds, please.”

Paige’s jaw dropped.

She reached through the hole in her bag to fish out her purse, but she was overcome with guilt.

“I can’t give you five pounds for it,” she blurted out.

It’s worth hundreds!

“Really?” Mary stroked the bag gently. “I suppose I can believe that. Annie always had an eye for fashion.”

“Annie?” Paige was in a rush, but she was intrigued.

“She was a local. Lovely woman.” Mary replied. “She passed away not long ago and we received a large donation of her things.

“I’m afraid we’re all a bit clueless about fashion, so we weren’t sure what to charge.”

“Let me make an extra donation.” Paige couldn’t let herself profit from this situation. “And I’d be happy to come back and help you identify any other designer bags.”

“That would be splendid.” Mary grabbed a pen to write down her contact details. “You know, you remind me a bit of Annie.”

Back in the taxi, Paige started transferring her possessions.

She unzipped the inner pocket of her new bag to tuck her tissues away, but realised there was already something there.

She tugged at the tiny, white corner of paper to reveal a strip of photobooth photos.

She smiled at the images of an glamorous woman – Annie, she assumed– and a tall man wearing a tuxedo.

They were both beaming at the camera and holding up silly props, including a feather boa and Bride sign for Annie and giant sunglasses for the man.

Paige couldn’t help but notice an age difference between Annie and her husband, but she had to admit that Annie looked fabulous, so it wasn’t too surprising.

A small logo in the bottom corner read: A & R – when life gives you lemons . . .

She gasped at the use of her mum’s favourite phrase and thought back to what Mary had said.

Maybe Annie and Paige really did have something in common.

Paige was a few minutes late to the ceremony.

She was mortified, but hurried inside as silently as she could, trying to ignore the many pairs of eyes that had turned to stare.

She slipped into the back row next to an older man with a beard and a young man with floppy hair and a suit that didn’t fit properly.

In her fluster to sit down, she kicked the chair leg, losing her balance.

She steadied herself on the row in front, accidentally letting go of her new bag, which tumbed to the floor.

The younger man picked it up and returned it to her.

“Great entrance.” He winked.

Paige blushed, and she wasn’t sure it was wholly because of her lateness.

Soon it was time for the guests to spill out into the sunshine for photos.

Paige pretended to be fixated on a display of childhood pictures of Sasha and James, hating the awkwardness of not knowing anyone.

“So you decided to let the ceremony go ahead, then?”

A voice appeared behind her and she turned to find herself face to face with the young man from the ceremony.

“Excuse me?” Paige replied.

“I thought you were going to object,” the man joked. “I’m glad you didn’t – they seem like a nice couple.”

“You don’t know them?” Paige asked, wondering if she should call security.

“Sasha’s an old family friend, but I haven’t seen her for years,” he replied. “My mum was her godmother. I’m here as a last-minute plus one for Dad. Hence the borrowed suit.”

“Well, it’s nice to meet you, Mr Plus One.” She tried not to laugh at his exposed ankles and wrists. “I’m Miss Uni Roommate, but you can call me Paige.”

“Well, in theory, you could call me Harry, but that seems less fun,” he replied.

“Where is your dad?” Paige asked.

“He’s doing the rounds,” Harry explained, flagging down a passing waiter. “He’s holding up much better than I thought he would.

“The last wedding he went to was his and my mum’s vow renewal. That was just before she passed away, so this could be a difficult day for him.”

“I’m so sorry to hear that,” Paige replied. “But it’s very sweet that you’ve come as moral support.”

“I’m glad you think so.” Harry smiled as the waiter refilled his glass. “So Miss Uni Roommate, are you local? I’m a Londoner.”

Was it just her imagination or did he emphasise the word “miss”?

“I also came down from London this morning,” Paige replied as she reached her glass out to the waiter.

As she did so, her new bag, which had been nestled between her arm and her ribs, dropped to the ground.

“What’s with you and this bag?” Harry chuckled as he bent down to pick it up for the second time. “Are you trying to get rid of it?”

“Quite the opposite.” Paige gratefully took it back. “I only got it today and I love it.”

“You bought your outfit on the way?” Harry asked. “I have to say you look amazing.”

“The dress was planned.” Paige’s cheeks were suddenly as pink as her outfit. “But I had a disaster on the train and had to replace my bag.

“So I thought, why not replace it with the most beautiful one I could find?”

“Why not, indeed?” Harry agreed, as he tipped his glass in the air in a mock toast. “When life gives you lemons, and all that.”

Paige said nothing, but stared at him for a second longer than was acceptable.

“What?” Harry asked. “Have you never heard that phrase?”

“Again, exactly the opposite,” Paige replied slowly, the cogs in her head starting to turn. “My mum used to say it all the time.”

“Mine, too!” Harry exclaimed. “It was practically her catchphrase.”

Following dinner and the speeches, the band invited everyone to the dance floor.

This signalled the worst part of being at a wedding alone, so Paige busied herself pretending to look for something in her bag.

“I’m disappointed you aren’t up there showing off your moves!” Harry’s voice startled her, causing her bag to go flying for a third time.

She looked up and met Harry’s smiling eyes.

In his right hand he held her bag, which he’d very deftly caught.

“Sorry if I scared you,” he said, slipping into the chair next to her. “But I’m starting to think you actually are trying to get rid of this.”

He did a double take as he put the bag on the table, as though he was seeing it with fresh eyes.

“This probably sounds stupid given how many times you’ve thrown it at me today, but this bag looks familiar,” he said as he turned it over in his hands.

“I wondered if you recognised it,” Paige replied gently, everything finally clicking into place. “This is going to sound strange, but was your mum called Annie?”

“How do you know that?” Harry asked, a slight lump present in his voice.

“I think this bag belonged to her,” Paige explained as she reached inside it. “I found these photos.”

“I don’t believe it,” Harry said quietly as he took the photos from her outstretched hand. “It’s us.”

When I first saw them I thought you were a married couple!

Paige giggled, and luckily Harry joined in.

“This was my parents’ vow renewal. My mum wanted to make every second count, so she organised the most extravagant party you could imagine. It was perfect.”

“She sounds like quite the woman,” Paige replied.

“She really was.” Harry looked at Paige. “You remind me of her.”

“I’m just glad I was able to return these to you,” Paige said, not sure how to respond. “What are the chances I’d meet you on the very day I bought this bag?”

“Do you know what? I’m actually not surprised. Mum did always know best when it came to my love life.”

Paige nearly choked on her drink.

“Your . . . love life?” she enquired tentatively.

“I don’t know what to say,” Harry continued, sounding a little shy himself. “There’s just something about you.”

“Well, I think there’s something about you, too,” she said, summoning all of her courage. “Do you fancy a dance?”

“I thought you’d never ask,” Harry replied, setting down his glass. “But for the safety of everyone here, leave your bag on the table.”

Paige giggled, put her bag down and took Harry’s hand.

“When we get back to London, would you like to go for a drink?” Harry asked as they walked towards the dance floor.

“That sounds lovely,” Paige replied with a smile. “Mine’s a lemonade!”

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