Although she was alone, she blushed from head to toe. Quite why she felt so embarrassed at the thoughtof her sister knowing she had sex, she wasn’t sure. She couldn’t possibly go downstairs in Luke’s shirt now. She was just starting to panic when Luke opened the bedroom door and pushed her case through, giving her a knowing smile as he did.
She was delighted to see it but found it very carelessly packed. Her underwear and toiletries were there, and a pair of jeans, but somehow no top. What had she been thinking last night? Luke’s shirt would have to do.
In the hallway, she spotted a metal tape measure on a shelf. Almost weeping with relief, she picked it up and went into the sitting room.
‘Oh, hi, Lennie! Tom! And Xander! I didn’t know you were coming! Luke? I think standard curtains would be fine in there. Or you could have a blind.’
Her sister, Tom, Luke and Xander all looked at her. Hattie realised she had no idea of what had been said. Had Luke announced the fact that they’d got together as he’d opened the door?
Even the dogs paused in their making a fuss of Xander to look at her quizzically.
‘It’s no good pretending you were measuring up for curtains,’ said Leonie, appearing amused. ‘It’s perfectly obvious that something’s going on between you. Quite apart from the fact that that shirt is way too big for you, there’s this.’ She indicated the builder’s bucket, the champagne bottle and the glasses.
‘We were celebrating, ‘said Hattie, unwilling to admit defeat. ‘Luke is buying a house!’
‘Another one?’ said Leonie.
‘You can never have too many,’ said Luke, seriously.
‘Mary’s house! He’s buying it for me,’ said Hattie. ‘Not for me, but on my behalf.’
‘Oh, that’s amazing!’ said Leonie. ‘Your own home that you won’t have to keep moving out of. That’s brilliant! Well done, both of you.’ She gave her sister a tight hug; Hattie was rather taken aback.
‘We’re celebrating too!’ said Tom, brandishing a full bottle of champagne.
Hattie relaxed. With news of her own to share, Leonie wasn’t going to be interested in the details of what Hattie and Luke had been up to.
‘I’ll get some glasses,’ said Hattie.
‘Do you know where they are?’ asked Leonie, suddenly very innocent.
‘Of course. We lived here, remember!’
Leonie gave her a sisterly smile which made Hattie want to kick her.
Hattie found glasses and some unopened snacks.
‘Can I go to the cabin and make a bit of a track, do you think?’ asked Xander. ‘I realise no one is going to give me champagne.’
‘Of course!’ said Hattie, grateful for one less embarrassed person in the room before realising that it was Leonie’s job to give permission really.
‘So, what’s your excuse for champagne?’ asked Hattie when Tom had filled the glasses and Luke had passed them round. ‘Although I hope I can guess!’
Tom nodded. ‘We’re engaged!’
Hattie swooped on her sister and hugged her. ‘That’s such lovely news!’
‘Yes,’ said Leonie. ‘And we’re going to have an engagement party – where Mum and Dad had their do.’
‘As well as a wedding?’ asked Luke.
Leonie nodded. ‘The wedding will take a while to organise and Mum and Dad want everyone to have metTom beforehand. And, Hattie, I’m taking you shopping for a proper outfit. You may have looked amazing in that slip dress but Mum was not impressed.’ She shot Luke a look before continuing, ‘I’m assuming you’ll have a plus one.’
‘She will,’ said Luke. ‘And I liked the slip dress.’ He gave Hattie a lingering look.
‘So, when did this happen, then?’ asked Leonie, nodding at Hattie and Luke. ‘I want all the details.’
‘You can’t haveall the details,’ said Luke firmly, ‘but maybe – Hattie? Do you want to show Leonie and Tom?’
