Valkyrie took away the meals of the skating party and asked if they'd like anything for desert.
"We do have a guilt free desert," she added, "which is Scottish strawberries marinated in a balsamic vinegar suace with basil and no fat Greek yoghurt."
The eyebrows of the eldest skater went up.
"How many calories is that?"
"One hundred and seventy six point six. I know because I've asked myself. Believe me, when you're trying to watch what you're eating and you can have whatever you want free everyday it's so hard."
The table laughed. Jana looked at the desert menu and bit her lip.
"Um...how many calories are in the brownie and the cheesecake?"
Valkyrie's face fell. "Oh, God. I'm not going to find out for you, but I'll get another one of the waitresses to do it."
There was more laughter and Valkyrie went to fetch Natalie. She sat back down with the others who were now halfway through their meal. Dexter's phone lay face up on the table, switched off. Valkyrie took a spare piece of cutlery and started nibbling at Saracen's plaice.
"You researched the AT?" She asked. Dexter didn't look up from his meal.
"Yep."
"Scared yourself silly?"
"Yep."
"Still planning on going?"
"Nope."
She nodded. "I thought that might change your mind."
"I noticed you haven't got a Christmas tree up at the moment." Skulduggery said. Shr shrugged.
"I can't really afford small luxuries. I've already blown my budget on your Christmas...gifts...oops."
They stared at her. "Val." Saracen said sternly. "You don't have to buy us anything. You need to focus on you for the time being."
"I don't need to buy you anything? Of course I do. Don't be daft. It's not like I went massively over. Only a little. Isn't this what Christmas is about?"
That shut them up.
They finishes their meals and Valkyrie took the plates away and went back to clear away the puddings. She saw that Jana and the dark haired girl had both ordered the cheescake.
"The brownie was seven hundred calories." the eldest one said. Valkyrie's face fell.
"No! Oh no...though I have to say that probably won't stop me from eating it on a regular basis. Can I get you any coffees?"
"Can I have another glass of wine please?" the coach asked. Valkyrie could see she was completely plastered, but that wasn't her decision; besides, she was in a good mood.
"Certainly." she smiled, writing it down. Whatever conversation they were having resumed. When she came back with the wine, the eldest skater and the coach were singing. Jana and thr other two were in fits of laughter.
"The sad thing is," the mother said, "Lisa here hasn't had a drop of alcohol."
"It doesn't matter how hard I try," Lisa said loudly, "I just can't sing."
"Everyone can sing." Valkyrie said. Lisa tilted her head.
"Can you sing?"
"Erm...I guess?"
"Cool! Will you sing something for us?"
Valkyrie laughed wholeheartedly. "Absolutely not."
"Oh go on, sing something. Sing...I dreamed a dream in time gone by. "
Lisa put on an extremely serious face and attempted to add a vibrato to it and, Valkyrie was sorry to say, failed rather miserably. She shook her head no, but both Lisa and the coach were adamant.
"Sing Hold On Till May." Jana said. She bit her lip to hold the smile down and raised her eyes.
"Ok." She said, silencing the table. She averted her gaze and looked at the Dead Men behind their heads.
"She sits up high,
Surrounded by the sun.
One million branches
And she loves everyone. Ok, that's it. That's all I'm singing."
Lisa and Jana and the dark haired girl looked at each other.
"All right, she can actually sing." The dark haired girl spoke up.
"You should sing professionally," Lisa gushed. Valkyrie shook her head again.
"I can sing a little but I don't have that much talent. I wouldn't get very far."
"You're more talented than me," Lisa continued, and then cleared her throat. "She sits up high, Surrounded by what is it? The sun..."
This rendition of Hold On Till May was really no better than the I Dreamed a Dream attempt and they all knew it, and more laughter erupted. Valkyrie couldn't help but join in. The mother looked up at her and frowned.
"You aren't...studying acting, are you?"
"No. Why?"
"Oh, I just saw someone who looked like you at the academy the other day. I was interviewing one of the professors. But since it wasn't you I must be coming off as a bit weird right now."
Valkyrie shook her head. "Of course not. I think I just have that kind of face. Would you like the bill now or a bit later?"
"Now I think. Jana has a competition tomorrow and we should be getting back to the hotel."
"Ok. No problem."
Valkyrie went to the till to fetch the bill and allowed her heart to sink into the pit of her stomach. Did that woman see the reflection at the acting academy?
Her fingers shook slightly as they whisked over the buttons on the computer.
"Come on," she told herself quietly, "get it together."
She brought the bill to the table. Lisa was still singing (or trying, in any case) and the coach was joining in. She set the bill down on the table and Lisa suddenly stopped.
"Do you know Jamie Oliver?" she asked. Valkyrie nodded.
"Yes. I mean, I'm not like his best friend or anything, I don't have his phone number, but I've met him."
"That is so cool." Jana added. Valkyrie shrugged. "Yeah. He's nice."
She walked back to her table and took a quick break.
"Are we going home after they've left?"
"Yeah. I think so." Skulduggery assured her. She half smiled. "Is everything ok?"
"Yeah, it's just...that woman saw the reflection at the acting academy. I know it shouldn't bother me, but...it does."
"Stop thinking about Stephanie." Dexter insisted. "Just enjoy your Christmas. We're going to make it the best Christmas ever. Promise."
"Yeah, especially since we're getting the...ow! Don't kick me!"
Saracen glared at Skulduggery, who gave him a warning look. Valkyrie frowned.
"What? What are you getting?"
They exchanged awkward glances and Valkyrie was about to press further when she saw some of the skating party getting up to go to the toilet.
"Ok, I'm coming back after I've taken the bill."
She went over to the table and collected the bill as the mother and the coach got up and shrugged their coats on. It was cold outside after all.
"Thank you for a lovely evening." The coach said.
"It was my pleasure," Valkyrie smiled, "You guys can definitely come back."
"We'll most certainly come back. Both the food and the service was excellent. In fact, I may write a very nice letter to Mr Oliver. What's your name?"
"Valkyrie. It's not exactly easy to forget."
"I think it's a lovely name." the mother said, and all of a sudden Valkyrie wanted this person to be her adopted mother.
The skaters rejoined the party, Lisa still singing, and they went down the stairs.
"Good luck in your competition tomorrow." She called after Jana, who smiled and thanked her. She looked down at the bill and saw that they'd paid an extra twenty euros. She smiled gratefully.
After much discussion, Valkyrie bullied Dexter and Saracen out of the front seat and couldn't help but fall asleep on the ride home. At the house, she said goodbye to the others and walked inside, quite prepared to go to sleep in her clothes on the sofa straight away; but then she remembered that band Jana had told her about, All Time Low. She took out her phone and sat on the sofa and searched All Time Low on YouTube. She had to admit; they were pretty amazing. She fell asleep listening to their music.