‘I see them all the time,’ she protested. ‘How long are you staying?’
‘We’ll discuss tomorrow – go on, scoot now. Everyone’shere to celebrate you, and I’m told Cynthia’s expecting us all for breakfast in the morning, so we can …’
‘Oh no, I’m not letting you go that easily,’ she protested. ‘Come on – let me introduce you around. Connor, you already know, and his wife, Jodi …’
She was beaming with pride as she took him around the room, enjoying the banter while wondering how on earth she was going to continue with the new series now that he was in Europe. Feeling a small tug on her arm she turned to find Iz beside her.
‘Oh, I’m sorry, have I not introduced you?’ Cristy cried, actually certain she had.
‘It’s fine,’ Iz said and leaned in close to make herself heard above the hubbub of voices and music. ‘I hear you’re planning to delay the start of the new series. If true, I just wanted to let you know that the sponsors won’t like that, so …’
Cristy drew back in astonishment. ‘This is hardly the time, Iz,’ she said sharply.
Looking shocked, Iz said, ‘No! Of course not, I’m sorry. I just thought … Oh God, I’m so bad at parties … Please just shoot me.’
Apparently sensing a problem, Clove sailed in, saying, ‘Hey, Iz, come and meet one of David’s cousins. She’s a hoot.’
Shooting her researcher a grateful look, Cristy turned back to her brother, to find him play-flirting with Rosie, who’d apparently ditched Aiden in favour of the ‘guest of honour’.
‘Your reaction was perfect,’ David told her as they danced a little later. ‘I think it meant a lot to Tom.’
‘Not as much as it did to me to see him.’ Cristy smiled, watching Tom chatting with Andee and Graeme now and thinking of how much she wanted to catch up with him herself. ‘I have to admit,’ she continued, ‘I had a mad theory you’d invited Paul Kinsley.’
Surprised, David said, ‘Seriously? With your whole team around you and Andee here … Will you mention anything to her before she leaves?’
‘I can’t until I’ve made a decision, although I have to admit I’d love to talk it through with her. If I knew she was up for it … Well, that’s why I can’t mention it, because if she is and I end up decidingI’mnot, that would leave us in a very bad place.’
David conceded the point and allowed Matthew to cut in, before disappearing in the direction of the bar.
‘Has Tom shared his news with you yet?’ Matthew asked, moving her around the floor.
‘What news?’ she asked, instantly worried. ‘Is he OK?’
‘Sure. He’s fine. Sorry, I shouldn’t have … I assumed he’d have told you by now.’
‘What is it?’ she urged when Matthew didn’t continue.
‘It’s not for me to say, but … Go ask him,’ he said, and turned her to where Tom was now dancing with David’s mother.
She was already part way there before she realized that if it was that big and he wanted to discuss it now, he’d already have told her. ‘Maybe he’s saving it until we’re alone together?’ she suggested, turning back to Matthew.
Matthew nodded. ‘That would make sense. He won’t want to make this evening about him, when obviously it has to be all about you.’
She eyed him suspiciously, not sure if that was a barb or not. ‘Maybe time for me to dance with someone else,’ she said, and leaving him rolling his eyes, she went to grab Connor.
‘Enjoying it?’ Connor asked, expertly twirling her around.
‘I think so,’ she replied. ‘I mean, yes, of course … It’s just that Matthew … Actually, don’t let’s talk about him. Did you tell Iz we’re delaying the first upload?’
‘No, but I think Clove did. Why?’
‘She’s just told me that the sponsors won’t like it.’
His eyebrows shot up. ‘Great timing, Iz,’ he muttered, ‘but I guess we are going to have that battle on our hands if they’ve already got dates in their schedules. And I’m presuming from this that they do.’
‘We’re the ones in charge,’ she reminded him.
‘But we also need a budget, and if Harry and Meena have committed us to a timeline …’
