‘Olivia, isn’t it such a lovely story? Lucy meeting Piers on one of Barney’s speed-date evenings.’
‘Yes, Mum.’ And just because the bride and groom had met at a speed-date didn’t mean the rest of the world should try it. Quite frankly, pulling out my own toenails with a pair of rusty pliers had more appeal. Unfortunately Lucy’s success had given my other entrepreneurial cousin Barney a bright idea.
‘See, it can work.’ Her eyes twinkled, encouraging and pleading at the same time.
‘Yes and I’m sorry,’ I said, not feeling sorry at all. ‘It’s really not my thing. Anyone want a drink?’
‘You do know that Barney’s speed dates are for the discerning single,’ Auntie Brenda interrupted, her bright red curls clashing with her outfit as they bobbed with enthusiastic, maternal pride. ‘He doesn’t let just anyone in, you know. Invitation only.’
‘I know, Auntie Bren. Sounds wonderful,’ I lied. Wonderfully awful. ‘I’m sure Barney’s doing brilliantly, but—’
‘Olivia! You need to get back out there,’ my sister Kate butted in.
No. All I needed was a drink. And where had Kate popped up from? It wasn’t as if Mum needed reinforcements.
‘Honestly, Mum. She’s turned into a right bore. No sense of adventure.’
And going to live in a plush flat in Sydney’s Darling Harbour made her Ranulph Fiennes? A pioneering spirit she was not. Other people went off to Australia with a well-worn rucksackthat had earned its Glastonbury stripes, not a set of matching luggage Victoria Beckham would envy.
‘That’s not kind, Kate,’ said Mum, determined as always to treat us fairly, before turning to me with that I’m-concerned-about-you expression on her face. It was becoming a permanent fixture.
So I’d lost a bit of weight I could ill afford to lose. It had absolutely nothing to do with unrequited love — it was just a bit tricky eating sometimes. I’d taken to hiding in my room with a good book whenever Daniel was around, which meant I skipped a few dinners. Thankfully he was staying over a lot less now and I could top up at breakfast time.
‘It would be nice, though, if you helped your cousin.’ Mum was off again, like a seagull with a chip on the seafront. ‘We should support his business venture.’
‘The royal “we”?’ I asked with a flippancy I didn’t feel. In fact I felt a bit like that poor soggy chip — about to be gobbled up. I knew exactly where this was heading. ‘So you and Dad will be coming too?’
‘Don’t be silly now, dear.’
‘What about you?’ I turned to Kate with a limp grin. If I was going down, she could come too.
‘Sorry, hon, but I’ll be off back to Oz soon. Wouldn’t want to get their hopes up and then disappoint... besides, I’ve got a boyfriend.’
Ah yes, the perfect surf-stud stockbroker she’d met within a week of arriving in Australia. From her description of him you could bet the two of them made a stunning couple on Bondi beach or wherever the beautiful people of Sydney go. Kate is gorgeous and reminds me of one those pedigree Weimaraner dogs, all glossy and sleek. Me? I’m more like a Golden Retriever: long legs, brown eyes and lots of blonde curls — although not quite so dopey.
‘It’s time you got back in the water,’ said Kate, her voice gentling with concern.
‘What?’ I said, determined that the smile on my face didn’t slip. Red herrings were called for and quick. ‘I’ve been in the water plenty, I just don’t like to get in too deep.’ Short and sweet suited me fine, although recently those had begun to pall.
‘Olivia! Don’t be like that. You really need to get over him.’
I gave her a startled glance. Surely Kate didn’t know that I was pining for Daniel? I thought I’d done a rather fabulous job that day, keeping my feelings hidden, smiling a lot, laughing too loudly, avoiding looking in a certain direction. Look folks, I’m having a fantastic time. I’m not the least bit in love with Daniel. Not the least bit bothered that Emily’s all over him.
‘Mike didn’t deserve you . . .’
Phew. She was barking up the wrong tree. Thank you, thank you. Mike was another, completely different mistake. You’d think I was piling them up. He was Jurassic period, definitely ancient history.
And then squinting over her shoulder, I spotted Daniel with Emily.
‘Why not try it?’ Kate finished.
Her face, drawn in earnest lines, made me want to hug her. She hadn’t a clue.
Like a shopaholic with the credit cards cut up, but unable to stay away from the shops, my eyes sneaked another peep beyond Kate. Emily’s hand was snaking up Daniel’s back, her fingers toying with the blond hair at the nape of his neck.
You’d think seeing them together all the time would have given me some kind of immunity by now, like building resistance against germs, but no, every time I saw the two of them together, I caught the cold all over again.
I needed to do something. Take positive action and stop being so pathetic and spineless.
