Chapter Eighteen #2
‘I admit I love entertaining.’ Sheila hesitated.
‘And we have a lot of wine that no one but me is going to drink unless we have a party.’ Sheila shot Hattie a look and then looked more serious.
‘I’m so grateful for everything you’ve done for Fiona.
You saved her from a complete disaster.’ Sheila put her hand on Hattie’s and squeezed it.
‘I only did what anyone would have done in the circumstances.’ She paused, remembering how angry and threatening Lance could be. ‘And you played your part, Sheila. We all did.’
Sheila removed her hand. ‘But you initiated it. I can’t thank you enough.’
‘As I said, we all did it together. But if it wasn’t too much trouble, and you let me help, and share the cost, I would quite like a birthday party this year.’
‘I’d love that! And we’ll argue about costs later. Are you a significant age? Is it your big three-oh?’
Hattie laughed. ‘I wish! It’s just for fun, really.
’ It sounded lame but it was the best reason she could think of.
She couldn’t explain that she wanted a way of getting Mr Saye and her sister together, although inviting him to a party would be awkward.
She couldn’t guarantee he’d come. ‘Or what about another quiz?’
Sheila looked confused. ‘I couldn’t organise a whole quiz. Why a quiz? It seems a strange way to celebrate your birthday.’
Hattie wished she could explain that you can ask people you don’t really know to a quiz in a way you couldn’t ask them to a birthday party. But she was prepared to invite a man she didn’t know if it meant her sister might fall in love.
She made a dismissive gesture. ‘Oh, you know, everyone loves quizzes, but it would be a lot of work.’
‘So a party it is. Who do you want to invite?’ Sheila got up and found a notebook. ‘This is going to be fun!’
‘What will Malcolm think of the idea?’
‘Malcolm and I have been having words lately. It wasn’t until I saw Lance being such a bully that I really realised that Malcolm had those tendencies too. He doesn’t want me to leave, and so he’s being far more considerate.’
Hattie disguised her surprise behind a drink of water. It was very brave of Sheila to confront Malcolm about his behaviour, and credit to him that he admitted his faults. There was more behind this comfortable middle-class couple than she would have suspected.
‘That’s amazing, Sheila.’
‘It was tough but it needed to be done.’ Sheila smiled briefly and moved on. ‘Now, the party…’
‘How many people do you think the party should be for?’
‘How long is a piece of string! We’ll put the gazebo up.
Rent patio heaters if it’s not warm. I think we want a reasonable number, don’t we?
I don’t want Fiona and Nick to feel self-conscious; we’ll need enough of a crowd that they can feel anonymous.
How many people would you like?’ She pushed her notebook across the table.
‘I’m always better with a pen in my hand and something to write on. ’
Hattie wrote quickly. Rose and Sam, Leonie and Mr Saye. Luke, herself, Xander. She added the names of two more couples. ‘It’s eleven people. But I could trim the list if you’d prefer fewer.’ She sighed. ‘I’d invite my old friend Mary, but she might find it all a bit much, she’s nearly ninety.’
‘I’m sure we can accommodate her if she does want to come. And otherwise, your list is fine – in fact, it could be much longer! I can invite the Jenkinses, they’re neighbours, and maybe Rachel Anstruther-Jones and her husband – you remember, the terrifying woman who we went to the quiz for.’
‘I remember her! She asked for free advice about her property, although everyone does, so I won’t hold that against her.’
‘So if they came they wouldn’t spoil the party for you?’
‘Of course not! I believe in mixing people up at parties. Although I may ask if Xander would like to invite a friend, if that’s all right.’
‘Please do! And have some more to eat. I’ve got quite excited about this party. When the wedding was called off, although I was deeply relieved, I felt a bit cheated out of a big do with my daughter…’
It was nearly four o’clock before Hattie got away, glad that Luke was picking up Xander.
Sheila had been so enthusiastic it had given her confidence that inviting a man she didn’t know at all to a party was actually fine.
She would feel better if she discussed it with Rose though.
She pulled in next to a hedge and called her.
‘Hey, Rose! Do you and Sam fancy coming up for supper?’
‘When would you like us?’
‘About half six?’
‘Oh, I meant which day. Is it urgent?’ Rose knew Hattie well enough to spot she had an agenda.
‘I do have something I need to talk to you about.’
‘Well, Sam’s got a council meeting. How would you like just me tonight?’
‘Perfect! I’ll pick you up and drop you off, then you can drink.’
‘I’ll get Sam to bring me, it’s on his way, but you can take me home afterwards if you like. His meeting might go on forever.’ She paused. ‘You haven’t been drinking much lately. You’re not pregnant, are you?’
Hattie giggled. ‘Chance would be a fine thing.’
‘Then it must be visions you want to talk about,’ said Rose. ‘I’ll be with you by seven – half past at the latest.’