‘Oh sorry, Will, I must’ve gone into a micro-doze there. This morning feels like a long time ago, I’m afraid,’ she blurted. ‘So, what happened with the washing machine anyhow?’
‘Ah, not a bother. Ronan went out and changed the fuse, and sure, none of us were any the worse for it. Sorry about the dinner, though, it didn’t turn out quite like we’d hoped .?.?.’ There was no stopping him, she realised; he was chatting away at full volume.
She did a casual, larky laugh, but again, she could feel Pete’s eyes boring into her back. Just keep it light, she thought to herself .?.?.
‘Anyway, it looks like lunchtime is over. Good luck with round two!’ she bantered.
Rosemarie caught her on her way upstairs. ‘Ally, how does it look like it’s going?’ she hissed. Ally hadn’t a notion how it was going – her own life was way too stressful to leave any space for Rosemarie’s drama.
‘Erm, looks great to me. Why?’
‘I’m just not sure .?.?. I think it’s fine, but .?.?. it’s hard to tell.’
Ally picked up just how smitten she was with Fergus. This was no time for logic, just full-on positivity.
‘Don’t be daft, it’s going great, he really likes you. And no, I’m not just saying that.’ Reassured, Rosemarie followed the lads back upstairs.
Franny and Fleur were having a tête-à-tête that seemed to comprise nothing but sexy giggling. Or rather, she was giggling madly, which seemed to be infectious, like yawning.
‘So?’ The deep voice behind Ally made her jump. (Oh help, she wasn’t able for this .?.?.)
‘Pete?! God, I hope it’s all going well, I feel ridiculously responsible.’
He smiled guardedly.
‘Are these .?.?. close friends of yours?’ he asked pointedly. Oh shit.
‘Ah, they’re lads .?.?. They’re .?.?. gas,’ she blurted out, trying to distance herself from the situation as much as possible. Thankfully, he seemed to move on.
‘Your friend’s a good little worker, in fairness. I was sceptical but I’m surprised at how she got stuck in.’
‘That’s great to hear.’ Hormones were clearly turbocharging Rosemarie’s eagerness to throw herself into hard work. But what could she say to connect with Pete? She felt a million miles away from him right now, conversing awkwardly as though they barely knew each other. Fuck, everyone else seemed to be doing fine but this whole day had really backfired on her.
He muttered something about getting on with it and clumped up the stairs. This was excruciating. How had she ever expected to get away with inviting William in without being exposed as a big tart?
She cleared away the tables, feeling self-conscious under Fleur’s gaze; she was doing a job that could be seen by someas low status, which really bugged her. How dare Fleur judge, anyway?
The lovebirds arrived up to the cash desk.
‘Ally, thank you soooo much for looking after us. I think this has become our favourite place. We’ve such romantic memories here, haven’t we, Franny?’
Fleur spoke in a floaty voice that would make any sane person want to puke. Was it her imagination or was Francis looking evasive? For a moment Ally wondered if the girl knew what happened and was busy making a point, but decided it was unlikely. Still, she felt guilty. Fake as she found Fleur, the girl was entitled to have her relationship in peace.
* * *
The afternoon wore on with the soundtrack of continuous clunking and thumping coming from upstairs. A large chest of drawers was hauled down by William and Ronan. After that, she heard Rosemarie’s voice. ‘OK .?.?. OK .?.?. Fergus, I’ve got it.’
Ally stuck her head around the corner and saw an upright piano being shunted down the stairs between them, with Rosemarie at the lower end. To Ally it looked, frankly, dangerous. Suddenly, there was a yelp of alarm from Rosemarie.
‘Oh God, Fergus, it’s falling .?.?.I can’t hold it.?.?.Help!’ Ally watched in horror as Rosemarie started to lose her footing on the stairs, and without thinking, she flung herself forward to take some of the strain, before realising in panic that the weight of the piano was far beyond both of their strength combined.
From nowhere, Fergus leaped onto the bannisters, past the piano, and then dropped down in front of it, wedging his full force against it .?.?. as it ground to a halt.
‘Laaads, get in here!’ he roared.
William and Ronan joined him, taking a place on either side of him.
‘Jaaaysus, my foot,’ howled Fergus.
