Page 74 of The Day After Christmas
‘I think you’re missing the point.’
‘It’s Harry, isn’t it?’
Felicity sighed. ‘It might be, yes. And Tristan. And James.Wewere thinking we could do it in a couple of weeks’ time, on Saturday 6th, maybe? Saskia and Harry – sorry, Diana – are all lined up and I’ve sort of taken the liberty of organising some food vans and we charge people to come and look round and see the animals.’ She felt her face flush. ‘And perhaps we might raise a bit of money for the bank?’
Andrea’s forehead crinkled as she leant against the cheap Formica worktop.
‘It’s very sweet but we need a lot of money to make this work. I still don’t think?—’
Felicity cut her off. ‘What have we got to lose? You never know, someone might make a big donation.’ She tried to keep her voice steady. Chance would be a fine thing but they had totry.
‘Well, I don’t know. I suppose it’s worth a try,’ said her boss after a moment. ‘Now tell me more about this conversation the other night. I want to know everything.’
Felicity shrugged. ‘We just had Harry and Tristan over for dinner. Nothing really to report.’
Andrea’s face fell. That clearly wasn’t the right thing to say.
‘Nothing? Didn’t he… they… didn’t they mention me?’
Understanding dawned at last. ‘Do you mean, did my long-lost father talk about you? Is that what you’re asking?’ said Felicity. She couldn’t help scowling just a little bit.
Andrea had the good grace to look a little bit awkward about it, as she nodded. ‘Yes. I just…’
‘Are you in love with him?’ said Felicity, taking both of them by surprise.
‘Am I what?’
‘You heard me.’
Her boss looked stunned.
‘Don’t tell me you’re lost for words,’ said Felicity, incredulously. ‘You’ve never ever been lost for words in the whole time I’ve known you.’
Andrea turned away and pretended to wipe the counter. ‘I’m locking up in a minute,’ she muttered under her breath. ‘Time to go.’
Conversation over then.
Felicity nodded and headed for the door. Then she turned, and spoke quietly to her boss’s back. ‘Sorry, I hope I didn’t overstep the mark there.’
Andrea’s shoulders sagged a little, but she didn’t turn. ‘Not at all. We’re practically family.’
‘Ew,’ said Felicity.
Andrea turned to face her then, a smile just twitching at the corner of her lips.
‘Not like that. I mean, you and I are practically family, that’s what I meant.’
Felicity resisted the urge to go and hug her. ‘I know what you meant. I feel the same. But still, I shouldn’t have said it.’
‘Don’t worry about it. See you tomorrow.’
‘Yeah, see you. Glad the whole Diana Edwards thing hasn’t put you off.’
‘Quite the opposite if anything,’ said Andrea.
‘Ew,’ said Felicity again, with feeling this time.
As she drove back to the house that night, rain pattering on the windshield of her old beat-up Mini Clubman, Felicity couldn’t shake a weird feeling of doom.
