Page 29 of Lie For Me

‘No, Mum,’ Lucy said, on cue. ‘You need to have help with these things.’

‘And of course really, this sort of event,’ she lowered her voice and gestured about the room, ‘is for the bride’s family to take care of, but they aren’t people of…’ She contorted her face into something that tried to convey understanding and superiority all at once. ‘Great means.’

She smoothed the collar on her designer jacket with an elegantly manicured hand decked in rings and glanced over at Kathleen in her Marks & Spencer dress.

‘We wanted to make sure that the children had a weekend to remember, so your father and I stepped in to help.’

Lucy knew that stepped in to help was code for paid out sizeable sums in order to exert major influence over the event, but she kept her mouth firmly shut.

Valerie was looking at Lucy’s dress and pursing her lips. Lucy wished she’d asked the hotel for an iron.

‘Did you hear about Heather’s promotion? Moved up to partner now. I think they knew they were on to a good thing and wanted to lock her in before they lost her.’ She nodded to herself. ‘She’s an asset to them. And,’ Valerie said, at a volume designed for anyone within range to hear, ‘it’s an excellent remuneration package, too.’

‘Yes,’ Lucy said. ‘Heather messaged me, it’s great news.’

‘Did you send her a card?’ Valerie asked.

‘For what?’ Lucy was puzzled.

‘For her new job! Congratulations on her new job!’

‘But Mum, it’s the same job, isn’t it, that she had before? In the same place?’

‘Darling,’ her mother said reproachfully. ‘Being made partner,’ ––Lucy could have sworn her mother’s voice went up two decibels when she said made partner–– ‘is not the same job as before. I think Heather would really appreciate a card.’

She straightened the neckline on Lucy’s dress.

‘It’s only been a few weeks, so perhaps you could send one when you get home, hmm?’ She smiled.

Lucy chewed on an olive and gave a slight nod.

‘Now tell me, how are you two?’ Valerie asked, looking from one to the other. ‘Quite the turn up for the books, you two getting together.’ She brushed imaginary fluff off her immaculate suit. ‘I can’t wait to hear how that came about,’ she said in a breathy voice.

It seemed her mother could wait, as she didn’t pause for either Jack or Lucy to get a word in edgeways. ‘So glad for you, darling, that you’re here with someone. And it does make things easier for us, with seating plans and whatnot.’

Lucy shovelled a caramelised onion tartlet into her mouth and chewed furiously.

‘And perhaps we’ll be doing this again soon.’ She swept her hand over the festivities. ‘For you two.’

Jack gave an obliging smile, and Lucy blushed and choked on some pastry.

‘And how is work, darling?’ Valerie made a face of concern. ‘I do worry about you, working there. It’s very out of the way, and you’re not really with people your own age. Are there any promotions for you, do you think?’

‘Mum, the people I work with are around my age,’ Lucy said for the umpteenth time. ‘It’s the volunteers that I support that are more your—’ She looked at her mother and stopped herself. ‘A bit older than me.’

Valerie blinked at her. Lucy took a breath, wanting so much to share the love for her work with her mother.

‘The events programme has gone so well this year. We’ve seen a ten per cent increase in visitors so far compared to last year, mostly families with children, which is great. And there’s actually an amazing event on next month, which I’ve worked so hard on. It’s been a lot of work, but I am so excited—’

‘Darling.’ Her mother stopped her with a hand on her arm, her mouth pressed in a firm line. ‘I know exactly what you mean about events being a lot of work. This,’ she looked around the room, rubbed at her temple and sighed deeply, ‘this has been a lot to take on. And, of course, there’s Kathleen—calls herself Kath—but sometimes it’s harder working with someone than just getting on and getting something done yourself. You know, not everyone really listens, do they?’

No, they don’t.

‘Now darling, I want to hear more about your little job, I do, and we can share our events war stories later. But your brother is over there talking to the wedding planner, and I really don’t want him making last-minute changes to what we’ve agreed. We’ll talk more soon, yes? And you can tell me what you thought of the food tonight.’ She kissed Lucy on the cheek. ‘Kathleen organised it,’ she whispered and pulled a face.

Then she was gone, weaving back through the tables, glass in the air, calling, ‘Ollie, darling!’

Lucy grabbed a fresh flute of champagne from the table and gulped it down, then started attacking a fruit kebab.

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