‘Which will be everything! Supposing William doesn’t turn up!’
‘He’ll turn up. He adores you.’
When Helena was driving away she reflected it wasn’t William not turning up that was worrying her mum, it was Martin. And he wouldn’t turn up, not if he was still feeling angry and resentful. She had a few phone calls to make, she realised, before she could relax and sort out what she was wearing for the lunch the following day.
Chapter Thirty-seven
‘It’s so kind of you to see me so early,’ said Gilly to her hairdresser as she was handed a cup of tea. ‘I should have sorted it out sooner but I got distracted.’
‘That’s OK,’ said Debbie. ‘I don’t mind an early start. Working from home means I’m here. Aren’t you lucky with the weather!’
‘I know! We had made provision for it being cold and rainy but I don’t think we’ll need the heaters.’
‘These days all the seasons are unpredictable,’ said Debbie. ‘So, just a wash and blow-dry?’
‘Please.’ Gilly settled back to enjoy the blissful experience of having her hair washed. ‘I couldn’t drop off last night and of course went into a deep sleep at about five thirty.’
‘Oh, I hate that! But you feel all right now?’
Gilly nodded as Debbie’s skilful hands rubbed away her tension. ‘I’m fine.’
‘You know, when people say “fine” they always mean the exact opposite.’
Gilly laughed. ‘No! I really am fine!’ She crossed her fingers under her robe. While she longed to confide in Debbie and knew she’d be wise and non-judgemental, she felt that not talking about Martin’s refusal to accept William made it less real. Besides, there was nothing she could do about it today.
‘So, tell me about William then,’ said Debbie, when Gilly had moved from the washbasin and was in front of the mirror.
‘He’s lovely. Sort of quiet but exciting enough for me.’
‘What do you mean? Or shouldn’t I ask?’
Gilly was perfecting her ‘I’m totally happy’ laugh and executed one now. ‘I mean, he took me gliding and I loved it!’
Debbie was suitably impressed. ‘Wow, Gilly!’ She hesitated. ‘Should I just take a bit off the back? It seems a bit heavy …’
Gilly liked the effect her new enthusiasm for gliding had on people. She briefly considered buying a set of motorbike leathers and telling everyone she had a Harley. Her reputation as a ‘nice lady’ would finally be in pieces.
Feeling better for having her hair done, when Gilly arrived home she went out to meet the caterers who had arrived while she’d been away.
Franco from the Italian wine bar near William’s house, who was in charge, was delightfully Italian, full of compliments and charming comments on thesurroundings. Once she had been reassured that everything that should be served hot would be, and the cold things would be cold and not room temperature, she allowed herself to be taken to see the contents of Franco’s special van.
There were platters of charcuterie, so finely cut you could probably read through it. Plates of stuffed artichokes like little roses, finely sliced courgettes formed into cylinders and filled with (Franco told her) pine nuts and breadcrumbs, parmesan and thyme. Salvers of stuffed courgette flowers, almost too pretty to eat, and comforting troughs of aubergine parmigiana, lasagne and something Gilly couldn’t identify but looked delicious.
‘Everything will be served just as it should be,’ said Franco. ‘Our waiters will fill glasses, provide water and soft drinks; everything will be perfect.’
‘I’m so happy,’ said Gilly.
‘We are doing our best for William,’ said Franco. ‘He is good man.’ There were also bowls of salad and piles of roasted asparagus: enough vegan and healthy options to please even Cressida (should she happen to come).
‘It all looks amazing,’ Gilly said. ‘Thank you so much.’
‘As I said, it is for William. He once helped us when we were in trouble. And now he has a beautiful companion, we want to do our best for her, too.’ He took this opportunity to kiss her hand.
As she went back into the house she was blushing and chiding herself for being flattered. Franco probably said that to all the girls, she told herself.
Now to see to the flowers for the tables.
As she went round her garden, secateurs and bucket of water in hand, followed by Ulysses who was grumpy because he’d been thrown out of the catering van several times, she realised she was excited.
