Page 35 of The Reno
“It’s nice that you do this, you know. You, Pat and Sandra. I didn’t say it before because I was shocked to see you in chef whites.”
“New kink unlocked, huh, Red?” He gave me a side-longglance. My face heated. When I went red, I wentred. Tomato. The curse of the gingers.
Liam grinned. “We raise the money to keep it going, just to cover the food and drink costs. Just because they are a bit poorly doesn’t mean they shouldn’t have a pint. Or a glass of prosecco for theladies.”
“You know, that’s a dated view that women aren’t supposed to drink—”
“I’m winding you up.” Liam bumped his elbow against mine. “I don’t have a problem with you sinking Guinness.” His tone was light, even if it didn’t reflect in his face.
“I don’t sink Guinness.”
“Okay, Red,” he said, laced with sarcasm.
“Can you stop calling me that? It’s a bit immature, don’t you think?”
“Definitely immature,” Liam said, “but unfortunately for you, I find it entertaining.”
I rolled my eyes, and Liam’s lips twitched. It was the most relaxed I’d seen him, jovial even. It was… nice. I felt like maybe we had thawed some of the ice between us.
We arranged the sandwiches next to cakes and scones on thetiered stands.
“How many people are coming?” I asked Liam as he arranged another five stands. He kept bringing more from his car. I was just standing uselessly, watching his large hands doing delicate work. It was such a juxtaposition that it threw me off.
“Do you always ask this many questions?”
“Just answer them.”
“About fifty in total. I store the stands at my house because there’s no space here.”
“That’s… nice of you.”
“Yes, you’ve mentioned how nice it is. Several times.”
I narrowed my eyes. “It’s just an impressive operation.”
“It was all Pat’s and Sandra’s idea. It’s their baby.”
Sandra’s voice behind us made me jump. “You’re being too modest, Liam.” Sandra collected the stands, arching an eyebrow at Liam. “We couldn’t do this without you, and you know it.” Sandra touched my shoulders. “Love, would you help us work the room out there? We like to have a chat with everyone while they are here.”
“Sure”—I glanced at Liam—“unless—”
Liam huffed. “As helpful as you’ve been, I can manage on my own.”
I nodded, disappointed to leave the small kitchen, where I had the excuse to watch Liam working. I walked back into the main room and was welcomed to the sound of Glenn Miller playing over the speakers. Every table was full, with some guests chatting happily while others were quieter and withdrawn.
Sandra touched my shoulder. “Some have more severe symptoms than others. It can show itself in very different ways, too. My dad, God bless him, struggled with fits of anger. He was just so frustrated with himself. But others are more easygoing and relaxed. Why don’t you start on Dot’s table?” Sandra pointed to the lady dressed in a black-and-white polka-dot blouse with immaculate black trousers.
Dot was inspecting her manicured hands likethey didn’t meet her standards. She had perfectly coiffed white hair, which came down to her shoulders. Impressive, considering she must have been in her late eighties. She had bright red kitten heels with a matching red gloss handbag. She was glamourous. She was terrifying.
But I took a deep breath and approached her table anyway.
TEN
“Hi.” I smiled brightly. “I’m Kat. I love your top.”
Dot shifted in her seat and looked at me, perusing me from the top of my head to the bottom. My grin remained plastered on my face while she assessed me.
“Moisturiser.”
