Gloria spots Angelika and excuses himself to rush over and launch himself at her. “I’ve been dying to meet you!” he erupts. “I’ve heard all your stories! I swear down, you are iconic!”
Angelika looks slightly overwhelmed and twists her rings round her fingers. “Well, thank you.”
“Go on,” says Gloria, “ask me if I’ve got anything to suck on.”
There’s a second before Angelika understands what he’s getting at, then a twinkle appears in her eye. “Have you got anything to suck on, darling?”
Gloria snaps open his fan. “Those builders aren’t bad!”
The two of them hoot with laughter and I decide it’s safe to leave them.
I look around for Dad and Debbie. When they arrived, they looked nervous, and I noticed Dad tipping back his first beer. At first, he clung to Debbie’s side, apart from chatting to Giuseppe and some of the other builders, complimenting them on their windows. Then Theo joined them and they struck up some banter about City versus United. That’s something my younger self could never have imagined—seeing my football-obsessed dad chatting to my football-loving boyfriend. But I liked it, and I think Dad did, too.
I spot him with Debbie, the two of them standing in front ofthe grain store, sharing one of the first pizzas to come out of the oven. They’re chatting to Callum, who’s holding hands with Lina, and Mabel, who’s standing next to Freya, the two of them sipping Virgin Versilias. I lean in to check they’re all getting on.
“We were horrible to Adam at first,” Callum is saying. “We pretended his food was minging.”
“One time I scrubbed the toilet with his toothbrush,” adds Mabel.
Debbie chuckles. “I wouldn’t worry about that. When Adam were your age, I saw him wipin’ my toast on t’ kitchen floor.”
“I didn’t know you saw that!” I break in.
Debbie looks at me and rolls her eyes. “’Course I did, love. I just didn’t say owt because you chickened out and chucked it in t’ bin. I don’t mind admittin’, part of me were disappointed.”
“Iweren’t disappointed!” Dad pipes up. “But we had a right laugh about it, didn’t we, Debbie?”
The three of us have another laugh now and I’m relieved to see that everyone has loosened up.
Gloria moves in. “Addy, you didn’t tell me your dad was so handsome!”
I feel flummoxed and take a swig of my Prosecco. “Oh, urm, well …”
“Move over, Theo!” Gloria shouts out. “Mart, you’re my new favorite zaddy!”
Dad furrows his brow. “What’s a zaddy?”
“A hot daddy,” Gloria answers, with a snap of his fan.
Dad grins. “In that case, ta very much.”
Gloria turns to Debbie. “Respect, girl. What’s your secret?”
Debbie giggles bashfully. But before she can answer, Dad jumps in. “As if she needs a secret! Look at her—she’s beltin’ lookin’!”
Debbie continues giggling.
“Now I fancy him even more,” declares Gloria. “There’s nothing hotter than a man who appreciates his woman!”
That comment seems to delight both Dad and Debbie. And Callum pulls Lina closer and kisses her on the side of the head.
When Debbie asks Gloria to teach her how to throw a fan, I slip away.
I find Theo and he tells me Stefano has relieved him of his pizza-making duties. But I don’t have the chance to commandeer him, as Mabel grabs him to announce the start of the treasure hunt. Those who don’t want to play are invited to have a look around the house—and, while they’re at it, sign the visitors’ book.
I go into the larder to fill up my glass as everyone troops inside and up the stairs. Then I follow them, drifting from room to room, listening to what they’re saying, happy to lap up their compliments. While lots of people praise the renovations and décor, it’s Wilf and Arnaldo’s photos that attract the most attention.
“They’re absolutely lovely,” says Ian.
