The Best of My Love … and the Best of That Night

 Friday 2 December 1977


Went to Josephine’s tonight with Andy and honestly, it felt magic. I don’t know how we managed it, but between us we only spent a fiver, and it was £1.50 each just to get in. Drinks must have been cheaper than I realised — I had two brandies, a whisky and orange, and then orange juice later on when I started to feel the warmth of it all. We didn’t need a taxi home either, which probably helped.

But money aside, Josephine’s was like walking straight into another world. The lights were all soft purples and pinks, moving across the dance floor like they were alive. Everything shimmered — the walls, the floor, even the people. I kept catching sight of my dress in the mirrors: that blue one, the colour close to Pantone 646, the one with the floaty top layer that curves down just below my tummy. It swings when I dance, and under the club lights it looked almost silvery. I wore my silver locket too, and it kept brushing cool against my skin when I moved.

The music was perfect tonight. Native New Yorker came on early and set the whole place moving. Then Black Is Black, then How Deep Is Your Love — that one made the whole club slow right down, all soft lights and couples swaying. But the real moment was when they played The Best of My Love by The Emotions. It felt like the whole room lifted. Andy kept smiling at me in that way he does, and in the lights he looked almost unreal — funny to think, now, that he reminds me of Harry Kane, even though of course Harry Kane wasn’t even born then.

It was strange, though — as much as the place felt glamorous and free, I couldn’t really flirt or look around properly with Andy there. Josephine’s feels like the kind of place where anything could happen, where you could catch someone’s eye across the room, but I’m not that sort of girl. Not when I’m with someone.

Still, it was the best night out I’ve had anywhere so far. I’ll have to get Abigail to come with me next time — she’d absolutely love it.

Funny to think, writing this, how in years to come The Best of My Love will always pull me straight back to Andy. Even though I’ll finish with him in the new year.

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