Liv has appeared from behind us and I almost don’t recognise her out of sportswear. Tonight, she’s wearing a sky-blue chiffon long-sleeved midi dress and nude high heels. Her make-up is even better than mine. Must she always be the centre of attention?
‘I was just saying what a wonderful eye for design you have,’ I say quickly, my eyes bypassing Anna’s. ‘I love how contemporary it is.’
‘Oh, that’s so sweet of you.’ She looks genuinely flattered as she places her hand on my arm.
‘It’s ... neat,’ I add and smile to myself.
She takes a big sniff. ‘What are you wearing?’
‘Coco Mademoiselle. Kind of my signature scent. Expensive, but gorgeous.’
‘I’d always assumed it was created for the younger market. I didn’t realise it was multi-generational.’ She turns to Anna before I can defend myself. ‘And what do you think of the place?’
‘It’s amazing,’ Anna fawns.
‘Oh, and look.’ Liv lifts her necklace in her fingers. The pendant is flame-shaped and in two shades of blue.
‘It matches your dress perfectly,’ says Anna, beaming.
I’d take the compliment with a pinch of salt from someone whose floral dress reminds me of a well-kept grave.
‘I really appreciate you making something bespoke for me,’ Liv says. ‘Are you sure I can’t pay you for it?’
‘No, absolutely not,’ Anna replies. ‘My orders have more than trebled since your friend included them on her Instagram page.’
‘Just wait until those bracelets appear inGrazia. You’ll need to take on an apprentice to keep up with demand. You’ll have to train Margot.’ She laughs, but I know there’s a dig somewhere. ‘Do you have any skills we don’t know about, Margot?’
‘Is cynicism a skill?’ says Anna a little too quickly.
‘More of a blessing,’ I retort. ‘Actually, I just started a job myself. A little reality show that studio bosses think might be a hit. They needed a name to get it off the ground, so they begged me to ...’
But before I can sprinkle unicorn glitter over bullshit, Liv’s eye is caught by something over my shoulder and she makes her excuses and leaves.
As she wanders away, I catch Brandon’s eye. He’s chatting to the mayor – well, if it’s not the mayor, then it’s a man with questionable taste in gold necklaces. Perhaps he could be Anna’s apprentice. Brandon is casually dressed in white Converse trainers, smart blue trousers, a blue tux-style fitted jacket with a white vest underneath. I bet it was Liv’s idea to coordinate their outfits. She’s made them look like the mid-1990s Beckhams.
I linger on Brandon perhaps a little longer than I should, but he’s far more interesting than listening to Anna blathering on about a new line of jewellery designs. You can tell by the way he carries himself that he’s a confident man. There’s also something quite sexy about a stay-at-home dad. He makes his way over to us, and as he kisses my cheek, I recognise his aftershave immediately – Acqua Di Parma Colonia Essenza. My pulse quickens. Nicu used to wear this scent a lot. He might still do, but he never comes close enough for me to get a whiff of it.
‘You must be very proud of your wife,’ I say.
‘I am. Whatever she puts her mind to, she gets.’
‘Does that include you?’
He laughs. ‘I suppose so.’
‘I don’t think I’ve ever asked her. How did you two meet?’
‘A mutual friend’s leaving dinner,’ he recalls. ‘We sat next to each other at a restaurant and began talking.’
‘I thought you were going to tell me that you swiped left. Isn’t that how most couples meet these days?’
‘We’re a little old-fashioned, I suppose.’
‘Yet you’re the one who looks after the kids while your wife’s working.’
‘I’m in an expanding minority.’ Brandon shrugs. ‘And I wouldn’t have it any other way. It’s a gift to watch your kids grow up. But I don’t need to tell you that. You’re a mum, you know what I mean.’
If mine had been a gift, I’d have asked for the receipt and returned them by now.
