‘I had them at free wine and nibbles,’ Nina said with a laugh.
‘That’ll do it every time,’ said Ben. ‘Never fails.’
‘But are they buying any pictures?’ asked Venetia, glancing around the gallery.
‘Yes,’ said Nina, lowering her voice. ‘Jakob’s been busy with the red stickers. I can’t tell you how relieved I am. Anyway, let’s find you something to drink and then you can have a browse, see if there’s anything that takes your fancy.’
‘Oh, here we go, here’s the hard sell,’ said Ronnie with a chuckle, ‘time now to empty our wallets!’
‘Behave yourself,’ Venetia warned him, ‘you’re mixing with the great and the good of Cambridge now, not the hoi polloi of Majorca!’
Nina smiled, genuinely happy that her friends had come, and while trying to catch the attention of a waitress, she said, ‘No Emily, then?’
‘No, she had a better offer,’ said Cassie. ‘Remember that hot barista in the coffee shop I told you about, the one who put a cute heart in her latte?’
‘Yes, I remember you mentioning him. Didn’t you also say that she applied for a job at that place?’
‘She did. She started work there a few days ago and was asked out today by Franco-the-Hot-Barista-from-Vicenza.’
‘Who’s from Vicenza?’
The question came from Jakob who, and with perfect timing had materialised with a tray of drinks which he immediately began handing out.
‘The guy with whom Emily is on a date tonight,’ said Cassie. ‘But never mind all that, let me at this wine and then I’m going to look at the paintings.’
‘I’ll come with you,’ said Venetia.
‘That leaves you and me to do a reconnoitre, Ronnie,’ said Ben. ‘Shall we?’
‘Lead on, lead on!’
Nina watched them go and was about to ask Jakob if he knew how Saul was coping, and if there was any chance that he might actually be pleased with the reaction to his pictures, when once more the door opened. This time it was Keith and Hilary who came in. Nina had invited them ages ago, as she always had when she held an exhibition, but she hadn’t expected either of them to come. And certainly not together.
Aware that Jakob had discreetly melted away, she welcomed her in-laws.
‘This is a lovely surprise,’ she said, noting that Hilary was looking infinitely better than a few weeks ago. She was smartly dressed in a camel-coloured full-length coat, make-up applied, and her hair washed and nicely styled. The transformation was extraordinary. As was the change in Keith. But not in a good way. He seemed drawn and haggard, his shoulders hunched, perhaps from the cold, but nonetheless she thought she perceived a trace of the familiar old twinkling light in his eyes. A twinkle that had not been there the last time they’d met, when she’d harangued him about stepping up and helping Hilary.
‘We’ve never missed one of your exhibitions,’ Hilary said, ‘soof course we thought we’d come along and support you, as we’ve always done.’
‘But weren’t you collecting your puppy this week?’ Nina said.
‘We’re doing that tomorrow,’ Hilary replied, her face brightening with a smile. ‘I have everything ready,’ she went on. ‘I’m so looking forward to bringing him home. You’ll have to come and see him. He’s so sweet, a gorgeous little bundle of fluffy joy.’
‘I’ve seen plenty of photos, and I can vouch for the high cute factor,’ Keith joined in.
There was a lot to unpack in what Nina was hearing and quite apart from Hilary sounding girlishly excited, there was Keith’s apparent inclusion in what was going on. Were they reconciled? And what of Keith’s relationship with Diane? But now wasn’t the time to delve into all that. So instead, she said, ‘Do you have a name for the puppy?’
‘I’m calling him Teddy,’ Hilary said, ‘because that’s exactly what he looks like.’
‘It sounds perfect,’ said Nina. ‘Now then, what can I offer you to drink?’
‘I hate to be a party pooper, but would it be possible for me to sit down, please?’ asked Keith.
Nina looked at him concerned. ‘Are you feeling unwell?’
‘Can you believe it,’ Hilary said, ‘he hurt his back earlier in the week playing the hero when he came to stack a delivery of logs for me.’
It was such a typically Hilary thing to say, and it made Nina smile.
