Page 132 of The Sunrise Sisterhood

Liz sat bolt upright. ‘You’re the one behind the cancellations?’

‘I might have dropped a few of them a note, expressing your sorrow but that you’d got in a muddle and double-booked them.’

‘But I’d never do that,’ Liz exclaimed. ‘And as for taking Patrick from you, that’s not true!’

‘I could have ruined your business, Liz,’ Viv said in a tone which implied that Liz should be grateful that she hadn’t. ‘I still could. Getting pissed out of your skull at a catering event? I can’t imagine many people would want you sniffing around their wine racks if that got out.’

Liz felt sick. ‘Viv, you wouldn’t! It was a one-off and the event wasn’t even for one of your clients.’

‘I can’t believe you’d go after Patrick after I told you that he was a catch. So much for the sisterhood. You’ve lost me an attractive man and the possibility of a new property on my books.’

Liz’s hackles rose; from what Patrick had told her, Viv had been responsible for both of those losses herself.

‘After Jen died,’ Viv continued, ‘I covered for you, rang round all of my clients who’d got bookings with you to explain what had happened. You owed me, Liz, and how did you repay me?’

‘Look, Viv, I’m sorry, I really am. I hadn’t realised that you were so keen on him. Noah gave me the impression that you were seeing people casually.’

Viv was quiet for a moment, obviously not sure how to respond to that one.

Liz carried on while she had the chance. ‘I haven’t even been on a date with him, so I really don’t think I’m to blame for what has or hasn’t happened between you.’

‘So I gather,’ Viv bit back. ‘But I dropped by on the off chance he was there this afternoon and he wouldn’t even let me across the threshold. Kept blathering on about going for a picnic with you.’

Liz couldn’t hold back her smile, imagining Patrick fending Viv off. She couldn’t wait for tomorrow. It suddenly dawned on her how much she was looking forward to seeing him and how foolish she had been. She had almost let him slip through her fingers; she could so easily have lost him to Viv, as she’d lost Mike to Jen all those years ago. Although perhaps in Mike’s case that had worked out for the best in the end. Patrick seemed impervious to Viv’s charms, but even so, there was a distinct whiff of déjà vu about the situation.

‘Anyway, I’ve said my piece.’ Viv appeared to be running out of steam. ‘Under the circumstances, you’ll understand that I’ll no longer be recommending your services to my clients.’

‘Oh that’s a relief,’ said Liz, summoning up the backbone she should have relied on a long time ago.

‘Excuse me?’

‘I was going to let you know that I won’t be taking any more bookings; you’ve saved me a call.’

‘Why ever not?’ Viv sounded most put out.

‘This is not public knowledge,’ Liz lowered her voice to sound mysterious. ‘But I’ve decided to set up a supper club. Very exclusive, small numbers, gourmet food cooked and served here at Clemency House.’

‘Oh, I see.’

‘You’re the first to know, Viv, and I’d rather no one else knows for the time being.’

‘Of course,’ Viv purred. ‘You can count on my discretion.’

Liz bit back a giggle, she could virtually hear the cogs in Viv’s brain deciding who she was going to call and tell first.

‘I don’t expect you’ll want to come,’ said Liz airily, ‘but as a gesture of my gratitude, I’d love you to come to the first supper club, as my guest of course.’

There was a pause and then, ‘With a plus-one?’

Liz pulled a face. ‘Naturally.’

That was a quarter of her eight places accounted for. Still, if it meant repairing her relationship with Viv, it was worth it.

‘Excellent.’ Viv sounded smug. ‘Let me know the dates and I’ll see what I can do. I met a divine chartered surveyor at a property viewing yesterday, he might do nicely. Bye for now.’

Well, that went rather well, Liz thought to herself proudly. She’d been thinking about reviving the supper club idea for a while, but it had taken Viv’s provocation for her ideas to fall into place.

She pushed herself off the bed, ran her fingers through her hair and put her feet back in her slippers.