Page 134 of Fix Them Up
‘How were your travels?’
‘It was a holiday.’ Mum’s lips pursed. I’d been teasing her about it being a trip of a lifetime. ‘A three-week cruise doesn’t constitute itself as travelling.’
I grinned and shrugged. ‘Sounds like it to me.’
Graham’s eyes lit up. ‘It was amazing, Kat. They had performers every night and a casino! I’d never bet before, but I was quite a blackjack fan by the end. And the sand in the Bahamas was white, and the water was like a bath.’
Mum smiled. ‘It was nice to have a break.’
My eyebrows rose. That was a rave review when it came to my mum. Five stars.
Mum touched my forearm and nodded. ‘Everything looks lovely, Kat.’
I couldn’t keep the pride from my smile. ‘Thank you.’
Liam slung his arm around my shoulder. ‘She’s outdone herself. Again.’
‘She has.’ Mum’s face turned up to Liam’s, respect shining there. ‘I hope you both have a lovely evening.’
‘Oh, Kat. I wanted to ask if Peter is coming along. Just I found out about this dig –’
Mum pulled at Graham’s checked shirt. ‘Come on, darling. Let’s leave the lovebirds.’
‘Next time, then!’ Graham laughed, raising his flute.
I laughed, turning to Liam. ‘They seem happy.’
‘I was thinking the same,’ Liam said. ‘And I think your mum likes me now. That’s a relief. Not sure I could face that stare again.’
I nodded. ‘The scary teacher stare. It’s famous.’
‘I can see why.’ Liam shuddered.
I laughed. ‘Who’s the coward now?’
‘Self-preservation, Red. It’s self-preservation.’ Liam grabbed another champagne flute from one of the trays and took my empty one. ‘Now, go on. Work the room.’ Liam nodded at the crowd behind me. Several people were watching, most of them friends, but I had some clients in mind I wanted to speak to today. I knew Pat wanted some rooms redesigned in her house, and Liam’s ex-clients, the Joneses, were also here, and they had thick wallets.
I took a deep breath and stepped forward into the crowd.
*
‘Such a good party, Kat,’ Pat slurred as she teetered towards the door with Auntie Sandra on her arm. ‘Such a fun night.’
‘It was marvellous,’ Sandra agreed. ‘Even Peter seemed in good spirits.’
‘I’m so glad you had a good time,’ I said, trying to suppress my laugh, as the two friends walked in a zigzag.
‘Oh!’ Pat gasped, turning. ‘Did we tell you, Kat? Peter said he’d let Noodle come to the club!’
I laughed. ‘Yes, you did.’ They’d told me three times already.
‘It’s ’cos he was buzzed on champagne. But I’m holding him to it.’ Pat hiccupped.
I opened the door, the bell dinging, and the two friends laughed their way up the street, where I knew my uncle was waiting in his car to drive them home. I turned around to assess the damage but found the room was immaculate.
I frowned. There had been tons of napkins and empty flutes, but they were all gone. Then, Liam appeared from the kitchenette at the back of the shop, rubbing his hands with a tea towel. He grinned when he took me in, throwing the tea towel over his shoulder and leaning against the wall.
‘One hell of a party, Red.’ He smiled.
