Fiona sighed, obviously tempted. ‘I’d better not. I have so much to do for the wedding. And Lance is in London.’
Hattie was prepared for this. ‘It’s just a little preview. No point in dragging Lance to something he’ll hate. Shall I pop round anyway? I’m over that way and can call in.’
Fiona sighed. ‘Oh, all right then.’
Hattie decided this was not a hard ‘no’ and after they had disconnected she got in the car, hoping her lies wouldn’t catch her out.
When she arrived, Fiona’s mother opened the door to her. ‘I’d be delighted if you could take Fiona out foran hour or so,’ she said rapidly. ‘She’s so stressed about the wedding and she can’t stress if she can’t look at the spreadsheet or worry about Lance liking the colour of the bridesmaids’ dresses.’
Then Fiona appeared in pyjamas covered in pink elephants. ‘Mum! Invite Hattie in! Oh, you haven’t met, have you? Mum, this is Hattie, house hunter extraordinaire, and this is my mother, Sheila.’
Hattie and Sheila exchanged smiles. ‘Fiona talks about you a lot.’
‘We did have a very bonding early meeting involving a shared piece of chocolate gateau,’ said Hattie. ‘It was so delicious, but Lance was very disapproving of us for putting so much refined sugar into our bodies.’
Sheila laughed. ‘That sounds like Lance! There’s coffee in the kitchen: come through,’ she said, leading the way.
‘I haven’t got much time…’ Hattie said to Sheila’s back.
When they reached the kitchen, Sheila turned to her daughter. ‘Darling, why don’t you pop some clothes on? It would be good for you to get out of the house and if you could pick up some milk while you’re out, it would save me a trip to the shops.’
When Fiona had gone upstairs, Sheila said, ‘I’m quite worried about her. She consults Lance on absolutely everything, and what sort of a man is interested in bridesmaids’ dresses?’
Hattie nodded, aware this question didn’t require an answer. ‘Is he in London a lot?’
Sheila was pouring coffee; she nodded. ‘Of course. It’s where his work is and Fiona gave up a job she loved there. But why do they want to live down here? Why not a nice little flat in Shoreditch?’
‘It is lovely down here. And it’s where you are.’ Hattie smiled. Sheila wasn’t very like her own mother and she could imagine Fiona wanting to live near her. ‘I feel we’ve got to know each other over the viewings and she’s quite a home bird really, isn’t she? She’s going to have such fun decorating a house, putting her stamp on it.’
Sheila pursed her lips. ‘As long as she doesn’t feel obliged to consult Lance on every detail. And I’m sure she’ll find a nice little part-time job – part-time so she can “be a proper wife” to Lance, as he put it. But I don’t think Fi should want to live near her parents when she’s first married. I’m worried, I can tell you.’ She paused. ‘I’ve got no one else to discuss it with. Fiona’s father just thinks I’m fussing.’
Hattie was worried too but didn’t know what to say. She put a comforting hand on Sheila’s instead. It was reassuring to think she would have an ally if she managed to separate Fiona from the horrible Lance. She took a sip of the too-strong coffee Sheila had given her. ‘I’m afraid I haven’t got long…’
Sheila left the room so she could shout up the stairs. ‘Hurry, darling! You don’t need make-up on.’
Fiona appeared a couple of minutes later looking like a twelve-year-old, pretty but unadorned.
‘Thank you for being so quick,’ said Hattie, abandoning her coffee. ‘We can nip along and see the house and then get the milk.’
As they left the house, Hattie spotted a mobile phone on the hall table, but she didn’t mention it. If it was Fiona’s, it sounded as if it would be good for her to be away from it.
Unfortunately, Fiona remembered her phone when they were hardly out of the drive. She wanted to turnback but Hattie accelerated instead of turning round. ‘We’ll call Lance from my phone when we get to the house. We can send a picture if you like the place.’
Fiona sighed and sat back in her seat. ‘I need to ask him what he thinks about the bridesmaids’ dresses.’
Hattie said, ‘My mother would say that bridesmaids’ dresses were a pink job and not for men to worry about.’ This wasn’t quite true but she wanted to make Fiona laugh.
It did. ‘My mother has said the same, but Lance wants to know every detail about the wedding. He’s very meticulous about everything, even what I wear. When I first met him he sort of examined me and said I should wear sapphires because they’d complement my eyes. So romantic!’
‘Mm,’ said Hattie, non-committal.
‘I always ask his advice before I buy anything now. I love that he’s so interested. He likes to know all about my clothes and my make-up. He’s changed my style quite a bit.’
‘And you don’tmindhim changing your style?’ Hattie tried not to show how horrifying she found this thought.
‘Of course not! I love him! I want to be perfect for him.’
‘I’m sure you’re perfect just as you are!’
