My hebe and the raspberry canes look like they’ve been caught in the jet stream of a 747.
Mattie smirked as a memory of Nell feeding raspberries to her in bed came to mind. Flirting outrageously was one way to find out if Nell was only interested in retrieving her shirt.Shame. I rather liked your raspberries. Juicy and succulent.
Nell’s reply came quickly.Am I correct in presuming you have a one-track mind? Or are you genuinely interested in the state of my garden?
Mattie imagined the look on Nell’s face right now. Prim and austere or the impish grin? Both had the ability to make Mattie’s toes curl.Hebe was the Greek goddess of youth, wasn’t she?
My hebe is not looking remotely youthful. Are you flirting with me, Ms Elliott?
Mattie chuckled.Would you consider joint custody for the shirt?
No.
You give me no choice. Consider it kidnapped. Ransom only payable in person.Would Nell bite?
What’s the price?
Dinner, to make up for the one I cooked and you didn’t arrive for.Mattie couldn’t help the dig, because she still remembered far too well the amount of pacing up and down that stupidly small cottage she’d done when Nell hadn’t turned up. But being combative wasn’t the way to go with Nell.Though I know it wasn’t your fault.
Next Wednesday? The 18th?
Mattie’s eyes sprung wide in surprise. Nell was that eager?
I’ll be in London for a Police Federation conference. Could sneak out for a few hours in the evening.
Okay, so now Mattie’s day had perked up. Jon’s book launch party was on the 19th, so Mattie would be able to enjoy a few hours with Nell the day before. Was it going to double up as a booty call? She sure as hell hoped so.
“Order for Mattie.”
She looked up at the sound of her name being called and realised the waiter was holding out a bag of food for her. She beamed at him. Food and a date. Result.
By the time she got home, she was starving, so she didn’t bother to plate the noodles and scoffed them from the takeaway box instead. One week until she met up with Nell again. In what part of London was her conference being held? If it was central, then Mattie could suggest they meet on the South Bank, somewhere a few minutes’ walk from her apartment. If Nell was game, she’d bring her back here. Just the thought of it made her pulse, and other things, zing. Even though there was no chance of her forgetting the arrangement, she opened the diary on her phone to make a note of it and groaned. She’d got it wrong. Jon’s book launch party was on the 18th. She’d double-booked herself.Got plans for 18th. Can you make 19th instead?
Nell’s response came a few minutes later.Sorry, no. Conference dinner that evening. Can you fit me in around your plans?
Wasn’t that the million-dollar question? She could but was it wise? She didn’t want to miss this opportunity to reconnect now it’d been offered. She rang Shona, ostensibly about theatre tickets, but used the opportunity to outline her dilemma. “If I cancel on Nell, I might not get another chance. But I can’t cancel on Jon, much as I’d like to.”
“Don’t stress it,” said Shona. “Invite her as your plus-one.”
“And risk her witnessing me have an anxiety attack? You know how much I’m already freaking out about the party.” Mattie shuddered. Why would anyone be excited about reliving the worst thing that’d ever happened to them dressed up as “Congratulations, you’re a hero?” “Anyway, you and Lisa are my plus-ones.”
“You’re being pedantic, Mattie. You know Jon invited us separately.”
“I know, it’s just...” She flopped back against the sofa. It was going to be tight for Shona and Lisa to make it to the bookstore venue in the centre of town after work, and she knew they wereonly doing it to support her. More than anybody, they knew how hyper-stressful the event would be for her.
“Your other option is to book a table for dinner after the launch and tell Nell she’s welcome to join us,” said Shona. “If you’re fine and dandy, we’ll make an excuse and head home. If you’re not, we’ll hang around to support you.”
“She might think it’s weird, me inviting her to meet my friends.”
“Instead of rushing her back to your place for a booty call?” Shona laughed. “Be honest, you’ve been pining for her.”
“Lusting, yes. Pining, no.” Pining was different from wondering, on several occasions, how Nell was managing. She’d been denied a proper chance to check-in with her because of the police operation. Naturally, Mattie had followed developments in the case and knew that the suspect had been remanded in custody on attempted murder and arson charges, but it was Nell she’d been thinking about… Nell and that bastard ex of hers.
“Are you worried that she wants more than a booty call? Is that why this is throwing you?” Shona hummed. “Oh, wait, doyouwant more than a booty call? What happened in Vegas doesn’t want to stay in Vegas after all?”
“Vegas has nothing to do with anything.”
Shona laughed. “One day, my darling friend, you will tumble into besotted love like the rest of us. I can’t help but wonder if that day is fast approaching.”
