‘What are you laughing at, you load of weirdos?’he asked, as his elders hiccupped and swayed.
‘I don’t know, mate, but it’s time we all calmed down and had something to eat before everyone falls over.Alex makes a mean gin,’ said Edward, ‘and is it true that you’re a sushi fan, young George?’
‘Youdiddo sushi!Wicked!’said George, ecstatically, eyes widening as he saw the platter of artfully arranged vegetarian tasters, with dainty rolls of rice and seaweed and strips of tender yellow pepper.
‘There’s also a dish of creamy garlic mushrooms and some crusty bread for those of you who aren’t into raw fish, and Alex has made a salad of great magnificence, haven’t you, mate?’
‘If we eat all this, we’ll never manage that pie,’ said Jess, digging into both dishes happily.
‘Oh, yes we will,’ said Harry and Leo simultaneously.Edward smiled at the sight of his guests taking so much pleasure in the food he’d created for them.He sat down in the empty seat next to Mab, and looked as if he meant to enjoy himself.
Much later, as George lay dozing on a pile of cushions in the corner, when the coffee cups had been refilled and the remains of the tiny homemade vegan petits fours were scattered on a silver tray in the centre of the table, Mab could see that everyone was ready for some serious talking.During the spectacular meal, Edward had outlined his plans for the future, and Leo had chipped in with questions and comments.It was decision time.Edward sat back in his chair, and eyed his chief guest.
‘So, Leo, you’ve heard pretty much everything I’ve got to say.Have you got anything left to ask me?’
‘I don’t think so, but maybe one of the others has thought of something I’ve missed?’
There was a short silence as the rest of the company struggled to think through a haze of excellent wine and far too much dinner.Finally Mab said, ‘There is one thing that’s been bothering me, Edward.’
‘Go on then, Mab, fire away,’ Edward said, taking a nervous gulp of wine.
‘Well, it’s just that in all this talk, and I reckon it’s a fabulous idea, just for the record, about a merger between The Chocolate Cake Bookstore and Beattie’s Bakehouse, there’s one person who hasn’t been mentioned.’
‘Who’s that then, Mabel?’asked Stan, draping an arm round the back of Jess’s chair.Jess glanced at him under her eyelashes and appeared to decide to let Stan’s arm remain there.He grinned at her and then focused on his sister again.
‘It’s Beattie.Where does your wife come into all these plans, Edward?Are her business commitments going to get in the way of her joining us?Will she still be able to cook for you?What about the future?’
The future.To Mab, those simple words seemed to fill the room.Silence fell again, but this time it was an edgy, ominous quiet, like the moment before a thunderstorm.Finally Alex cleared his throat.
‘Go on, Ed, you can’t put it off any longer.Tell them.’
Edward leaned forward.‘You asked a very important question there, Mab.The fact of the matter is, there will be no Beattie in this arrangement.’
‘No Beattie?You don’t mean… has she left you, Edward?’
‘Yes, she has left me, Mab.And the reason that she’s left me is that…’ he paused, and this time the silence was deafening, ‘I’m gay.’
There was a collective gasp.Then Alex stood up.
‘And while you’re all mulling over that one, here’s something else to consider.I’m gay too, and I’m moving down here to be with Edward.We’ve… well, we’ve fallen in love and he’s asked me to live with him and work alongside him in the business, while I get established as an artist.’
As a coming-out party, this must rank as one of the most spectacular, thought Mab, as she watched the expressions on the faces of her fellow diners, and as a conversation stopper, it had to be one of the best.But what was she going to do now?What about the baby?Mab willed Edward to look at her, but he was gazing at Alex as if he couldn’t believe his luck.
Harry was the first to speak.‘Well, lad, I can’t say I’m delighted, although I always knew you weren’t the marrying kind.I wish you well in whatever you do and whoever it’s with.But who’s going to look after my bloody signwriting business?’
At this honest outburst, the tension was released.Laughing and crying, Alex got up to hug his dad, and suddenly everyone else was on their feet too, kissing, hugging, wiping their eyes and generally getting totally over-excited.Under cover of the chaos, Mab hissed to Edward, ‘We need to talk.And soon.’
He looked back at her, flushed and happy.‘I know.Tomorrow morning, first thing?I’ll message you.’
At last, George’s clear voice cut into the babble.‘Do you think you could all be a bit quieter?I’m trying to sleep here.And what does “gay” mean anyway?’
32
Early the next morning in Leo’s flat there were widespread groans as George’s alarm clock decided to play the Oompah-Loompa song at top volume.
‘What the hell time is it?’shouted Leo, staggering from his room clad only in a pair of black boxers.
‘Sorry, Leo…’ said George as he joined him.‘Nice pants, by the way.’
