Page 31 of Be Less Panda

Nancy laid the table while Olivia filled two plates with large portions of pasta and sauce.

‘Wine with your meal, madame?’ Olivia asked, taking a bottle of white out of the fridge.

‘It’s Tuesday. What’s got into you?’

‘Who says we can’t have wine on a Tuesday?’

‘No one, but I’ve got work in the morning.’

‘You managed to work with the mother of all hangovers the other week, so I’m sure one glass of Sancerre won’t negatively impact your ability to sell books tomorrow.’

Nancy studied the very ornate label. ‘Is this from Pierre’s family’s vineyard?’

‘Yes. His father sent me home with a whole case of it.’ Olivia looked delighted.

‘It looks expensive.’

‘It is. But I’m hoping he’ll give me more next time I visit, so there’s no point in storing it away for years.’ Olivia expertly removed the cork and poured a couple of glasses. ’Cheers!’

‘Cheers!’ Nancy clinked her glass against Olivia’s.

‘What did I miss while I was away?’ Olivia asked as she sat down to eat.

‘Nothing! It rained most of the weekend. I tidied the flat, wrote a couple of letters home, read a book, and went to the cinema to seeCasablanca, thinking it would have French subtitles so I could still listen to the soundtrack, but it turned out to be dubbed. It was a good job I remembered the plot. Then I went back to The Louvre.’

‘Any sign of Hans there this time?’

‘No. I’ve not seen or heard anything from him or Dieter all weekend.’

‘Interesting. I thought he might pay you a call. I bumped into him on Friday and made a point of telling him I was going away for a few days.’

‘You’ve got that matchmaking look on your face again. I’ve told you we’re just friends.’

‘Who spend an hour together after work at least four times a week.’

‘And no time together at weekends even though we’re neighbours. You always conveniently forget about that, I notice.’

‘I think we should throw a party,’ Olivia said.

‘Why did talking about Hans prompt you to suggest that?’

‘No reason.’ Olivia had her best innocent look on her face now. ‘I enjoy going to other people’s parties. I think it’s time I returned the favour, and now there are two of us here to share the organising, it seems like a good time to do it.’

Even if there was an element of matchmaking involved, Nancy was desperate for some more company. ‘I’m up for it. When were you thinking?’

‘Next Saturday? Then we’ve got Sunday to recover.’

‘Are you planning a boozy do a la Christa and Ingrid?’

‘No, we can’t afford that. Just some nibbles and a few bottles of cheap plonk - I’m locking the Sancerre away. People usually bring a bottle. We’re unlikely to run out.’

‘We need to make it more enticing than that. Otherwise, no one will come. Shall we have a theme?’

‘Good idea. How about Kings and Queens?’ Olivia suggested.

‘The costumes might be tricky. We don’t want it to look naff.’

‘Ok then.’ Olivia looked excited. ‘Greeks and Romans. All you need is a sheet and a belt, and it’s toga time.’

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