‘What a pain for you.’
‘Not the end of the world,’ he says briskly. ‘So, how are things up there? Everything okay?’
‘Er, yeah!’ Shelley tries to radiate confidence. ‘All of your guests have arrived and they’re great, they’relovely…’
‘Was that the Sampsons’ child answering the phone?’
‘Oh, yes. Sorry about that,’ she blusters. ‘Just as well it was you, huh?’
‘Er, yeah.’
She can sense him frowning.
‘Anyway, we’re on top of everything,’ she breezes on. ‘We’ve just finished breakfast and everything’s cleared up?—’
‘What, already?’ he asks in surprise.
‘Yep, all done. We did bacon and eggs – oh, and I found three eggs in the hen house this morning! Three freshly laid eggs! Not that we needed them but so lovely to see. Isn’t it magical, the way that happens?’
He pauses. ‘The way hens lay eggs? I guess so?—’
‘Oh, I know that’s just normal to you,’ she goes on. ‘But it’s so gorgeous here, Michael. We’re loving it. You really are so lucky. Oh, and Frida loved the vegetarian haggis and I tried some too. Delicious! I’m such asoutherner, aren’t I? Never had it before?—’
‘Well, I’m glad you’re enjoying yourselves,’ he cuts in.
‘I hope you are too,’ she says. ‘So how are things with?—’
‘All fine,’ he says quickly, and now Shelley gets it. Krissy is there with him in his hotel room.
‘Great,’ she says. ‘Well, I don’t want to interrupt?—’
‘No, I calledyou, remember?’
‘Oh yes, of course…’ She laughs. ‘Well, okay. Just before you go, there is thisonething…’
‘What’s that?’
‘The, um… the meals,’ she starts.
‘The meals?’
‘Yes. The dinners.We mustn’t have listened properly or taken it all in. Because I’m sure you must have told us?—’
‘Told you what?’ he says, sounding baffled.
‘Er, where they are. The tagines and pies and berry crumbles?—’
‘Oh God. Didn’t I say?’
‘Maybe not. But it was fine,’ Shelley adds quickly. ‘We drove to the chippy instead. I hope you’re not mad with us?—’
‘Mad? Of course I’m not mad!’ He exhales loudly. ‘I’msosorry. Can’t believe I didn’t tell you where the other freezer is…’
‘Theotherfreezer?’ Shelley repeats.
‘Yeah. I don’t what I was thinking. It’s in the woodshed,’ he adds.
Shelley blinks slowly. ‘Right.’
