Page 44 of The Sunrise Sisterhood

‘Yes, well, he sounds awful,’ teased Skye. ‘No wonder you aren’t interested.’

‘I’m not not interested, but he’s a client.’ Liz pointed out. ‘It wouldn’t be proper.’

‘You’re his caterer, not his counsellor, I don’t think you’d be struck off for going on a date with him.’

Patrick and Liz. It wasn’t totally ridiculous, she mused.

‘He’s never given me any indication that he’s interested in me, and I’ve never thought about him in that way before because …’ Because once Liz had decided that the only man she’d ever fall in love with was Mike, she didn’t think of anyone that way. She couldn’t say that, so settled instead for, ‘He’s not the usual type I go for.’

‘So who is?’ Skye demanded.

‘Pff!’ Liz gulped at her glass of water and tried not to think about Mike’s lean body and the way her stomach flipped when he smiled. ‘That’s the million-dollar question. But as far as Patrick goes, you’ll be able to judge for yourself. The Delmarges are having afternoon tea at my house soon. The old ladies wanted to see where I live.’

‘I’ll help with the catering so you can play the grand hostess,’ Skye offered. ‘If he’s not right, he’s not right. But you won’t know until you try, will you?’

‘I’ll think about it,’ she promised. ‘It’s got to be a better option than Barry from Babbacombe who claims to be VWE.’

Skye frowned. ‘I might have to google that.’

‘I wouldn’t if I were you,’ said Liz, handing her a knife. ‘The images are hard to unsee. Now, chop this very well-endowed cucumber into slices for the salad.’

‘Liz!’ Skye exclaimed, shocked, and they both burst out laughing.

An hour later, most of the guests had arrived and everything was running smoothly. In theory, Liz could relax. The food was virtually done and the garden looked beautiful and there had been no catastrophes. Skye had done a brilliant job with the table setting – or floor setting, to be more accurate. Cushions spread along the rug acted as seats and she’d dotted the orange marigolds in a pattern down the centre instead of in the bud vases as planned. Bespoke menus and colourful napkins were tucked into water glasses and there were paper lanterns hanging from the trees.

But Liz couldn’t relax. Goodness knows what her blood pressure was, but her head felt like it was about to explode. She was having serious doubts about the vegetable rendang. Had she done enough? What if the first few guests took too much and there was nothing for the last ones. Or the rice? Why on earth had she agreed to cook rice for twenty people? Twenty-one, she corrected herself. And why had she allowed herself to be talked into this cuisine? She wasn’t entirely sure where Indonesia even was, and she’d certainly never eaten half the food on today’s menu.

She wished she was at home. Or with Clare and Ivy pushing a trolley around Tesco. What was that machine they had on Star Trek for transporting people? All she could remember was the command: Beam me up, Scotty.

‘Are you talking to yourself?’ Skye set the empty drinks tray down and began mixing another batch of cocktails. The birthday girl, Angel, had requested Twinkles made from champagne, supplied by her older brother, with vodka and elderflower and topped with a lemon-peel garnish.

‘Habit,’ Liz replied, eyeing up the drinks; they looked very refreshing. ‘Some of my best conversations have been with myself. I’m so hot, Skye, I might self-combust.’

She’d been scraping the seeds from a pile of green chillies, and she was trying not to touch her face. There was a threat of a storm in the sticky air and not a breath of wind. The kitchen was like a furnace.

Skye added some ice to Liz’s water glass. ‘Keep yourself hydrated. I’m going to take another tray of cocktails outside.’

Liz sipped her water and watched as people helped themselves to drinks while Angel opened her gifts and hugged all her friends. They were mostly women, but there were a few men, including Viv’s son, Noah, who was here with his girlfriend. All having a good time, all of them young and beautiful.

Liz had a sudden flashback to Jen and Mike’s engagement party. They too had been young and beautiful, and head over heels in love. It had been sparkling wine rather than champagne back then, but the corks had popped just as loudly, the mood every bit as celebratory. As the first two of their peers to name the day, everyone had been overexcited by this big step towards growing up and settling down.

For Liz, the party was bittersweet; she was happy for them, of course she was, but two were about to become one and there’d be no room for a third person in their marriage. They were moving on without her, and despite the crowd and the noise, she’d never felt more alone. For the first time since the happy couple had got together, it had really felt as if she was losing Jen from her life. She remembered having a desperate urge to get really drunk and forget all about it for a while.

‘Am I the last to arrive?’ a voice came from behind her.

Liz jumped, sloshing her water. She put the glass down and smiled at a woman with a mane of soft dark curls. ‘Hello! Not sure.’

‘My apologies,’ said the new arrival, grabbing a cloth to mop up the water.

‘Not at all, I was miles away,’ said Liz, realising that her hands were trembling. ‘I can finish that, you join the others in the garden. Help yourself to a cocktail.’

‘I’m driving, but thanks.’

Liz took a deep breath, annoyed with herself for letting such an old memory unsettle her. She counted the party: twenty-one. Everyone had arrived, so that girl had been the last. Time to start the rice. As she reached towards the rice cooker, she knocked against an open bottle of vodka and caught it before it hit the floor.

There was still some left in it.

Her mouth felt parched despite the water she’d been drinking; this was a thirst only alcohol could slake. She looked round to check no one was watching. One small sip wouldn’t hurt, it would take the edge off her nerves, help her to settle. She swigged from the vodka bottle and gasped as the spirit hit the back of her throat. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. That was better. Just one more little sip …