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her weight.
    ‘Em!’ Natalie’s voice jolted her
out of her daze.  Natalie hurried over to her and gave her a huge hug.  ‘You
made it in one piece.  And just the one suitcase?’
    ‘It’s all I could manage by myself,
seeing as Dad refused to take me,’ Emma said, all her disgruntled feelings
returning.  ‘You should have seen the stubborn mule’s face when I asked him,’
she glowered.
    ‘Well never mind, you’re here now. 
I’ve got a taxi waiting outside, so we’d better hurry.’ 
    Emma began to pull the suitcase
along, which was cumbersome and made it difficult to follow Natalie as she
rushed along towards the exit, weaving her way through the crowds and never
checking to see if Emma was still following.  Eventually they made it to the
taxi and Emma sank down on the seat feeling exhausted.  But the journey still
wasn’t over as the taxi driver had to navigate his way around the busy London
streets.  Natalie chattered away telling Emma about all the improvements she’d
been making to their new house.
    ‘It’s going to really wow you, Em,’
she said.  ‘I mean really.  I will admit that I’m not the only person who
worked on it, but it does have my personal touch.  And I have to say, Em,
you’re going to love your room!’
    Emma grinned.  She was happy to be
here, but so tired after her journey.  Natalie didn’t seem to appreciate this,
demanding Emma react to everything she was telling her.
    ‘Em, I know you’re tired,’ she said
eventually, ‘but you could be a little bit more enthusiastic.  I’ve been
working really hard on the house all week.’
    ‘Sorry, Natalie.  It’s just the
journey has taken it out of me.  But the house and everything, it all sounds
great.  I can’t wait to see my room.’
    This seemed to pacify Natalie, who
turned her attention to pointing out the various landmarks of London as they passed
and their significance.  Emma made a real effort to sound interested, but she
was so tired and felt a little resentful of Natalie for not understanding that.
  Natalie talked on and Emma nodded in the right places to keep up the illusion
that she was listening even though she was shattered.  Then just when she
thought she couldn’t take any more, Natalie’s voice chirped in her ear, ‘Here
we are.’
    The taxi rolled to a halt.  Emma
got out and stood for a moment to look at her new home.  It was a handsome
house, terraced but large with three storeys and huge bay windows.  The
brickwork was a greyish buff colour and it all looked very smart.  Natalie paid
the driver and then the two girls wrestled Emma’s suitcase from the taxi and
into the generous-sized hallway of their new home.  Natalie threw her keys on
the polished wooden stand below the large gilt mirror.  Emma saw her glance at
her reflection as she did so.  Natalie would never allow her faultless
appearance to slip even for a moment. 
    ‘OK, Em, we’ll take your suitcase
up in a minute, but first I think a cup of tea and some cake is called for,’
she said.
    ‘That sounds great.’ Emma looked
around her as she followed Natalie down the hall towards the kitchen, greedily
drinking in her surroundings; the gorgeous decoration of the hallway, stairs
and, just visible, the landing above.  The walls were a pale pastel pink colour
and the floorboards were highly polished, obviously the original.  Natalie had
done a marvellous job that was for sure.  Or rather the team of painters and
decorators she must have hired. 
    They had their tea and cake sitting
in the sunny conservatory.  Emma sank into the wonderfully comfy wicker seat
with its so-soft cushions.  Natalie asked her about the journey.  Emma told her
about Reg and his kindliness to her.
    ‘He was so sweet, Nat, you would
have loved him.  I think I’ll keep in contact with him.’
    ‘If you want, though I don’t really
see the point.  It’s not like you’re going to see him any time soon.  You’ll be
too busy for one