‘Cupcake, Gracie?’ As I pass her my spare, she takes it and shoves it straight in her mouth. ‘Would you like a starfish to go on that?’
She’s very serious as she licks her fingers. ‘I don’t like fish.’
I can’t help grinning. ‘You didn’t say that when you ate my smoked salmon.’
‘You’ve made a friend for life there, Gracie,’ Immie says.
Rory blows out a long breath. ‘Which might be a good thing. Given the circumstances.’
Poppy’s keeping her voice light, but her tone is concerned. ‘Is everything okay?’
‘It could be better.’ Rory shakes his head. ‘Apparently they aren’t going to discharge Erin tomorrow after all. So we’re stuck here till Monday. At least.’
‘Well, the cottage is there as long as you need it.’ Poppy’s got her comforting voice on. ‘Would a cupcake help?’
Immie’s straight in there. ‘Or there’s a crate of Bad Ass Santa in the office?’ She’s obviously got more of a measure of Rory’s state of mind with her offer. ‘Any plans for Sunday, then? I’ve heard Bizzy Bouncers is good at the weekends. Or you could go to Crazy Kids, or Fun World.’ Or maybe she hasn’t got him at all, given these suggestions.
‘Fun? For who?’ Rory looks as though he’s about to vomit.
There’s a glint in Poppy’s eye. ‘Or maybe Immie and I could manage here with the kids, and you could help Holly with the wedding in Port Giles. That could be a better distribution of labour.’
Hell no. Not this again. I let out a low moan. ‘Pleaselet it be someone else.’
Immie joins in. ‘As Cornwall’s most popular guest you certainly know your way around weddings, Rorers. You’ve probably been to more ceremonies than Rafe and Kip put together.’
Poppy sighs. ‘A day here would be way less tiring for me, even with the kids here.’ Her eyes light up as she grins at Gracie. ‘We could do baking. Hey, how about we make snowman cupcakes?’
Rory’s face is a picture. ‘Or …’ Considering Fun World, or St Giles with me, he looks as if he’s been told to choose between having his nails pulled out or his teeth. Without anaesthetic. ‘Maybe I could help Poppy with the baking and Immie could do St Giles.’ His face crinkles into a smile as the thought takes shape.
For a few seconds we women all stare at each other.
‘So what do you think, Hols? Who would you like to take you, me or Rory?’ Immie’s up, hands on her hips, herForget the truck, ride the firefightert-shirt stretched tight across her boobs. If we were going for a fun night out in town, I wouldn’t be hesitating.
Poppy props her chin on her hands. ‘You know, Immie, you do a fabulous job here with the holiday cottages. But, you’d be the first to admit, you’re not strictly a front of house person.’
Rory’s laughing now. ‘Yes, Immie, with your colourful vocabulary and your knack for telling it how it is, you might easily lose it and end up telling the mother of the bride to stuff her ass hats and toad bollocks up her jacksy.’ He doesn’t seem to realise, if he carries on like this, he’s talking himself into a job here.
Immie’s suddenly indignant and the gloves are off. ‘Frig off, Sanderson. You might bribe your way into weddings with crates of beer, but losing count of the cars you’ve lost at sea is not a good look.’ She rolls her eyes, then gives a cough and flexes her biceps. ‘And don’t forget, I’m Arm Wrestling Champion of the Goose and Duck. My muscles are just right for lugging around equipmentandsorting out trouble.’
I jump in, clutching at strawsandclichés here. ‘Maybe Rafe or Kip could help me? Rory and I can’t bear to be in the same county, remember.’ If he had his own t-shirt, it would probably sayWalkingdisaster area … with issues.Although, on second thoughts, of course it wouldn’t. We all know it would just sayDickhead. Plain and simple. ‘Actually, I’ll toss this back to Poppy to choose.’ I can’t possibly tell her how much I wantherto be the one who comes.
Poppy folds her arms. ‘Sorry Hols, but you and Rory have both been to the venue. He’s got charm by the bucket load to use on the guests. And he does have a camera too.’
My stomach collapses. ‘You do?’ The camera came from left field. As for the charm, we all know I’ve yet to experience that personally.
Rory’s scowl is a lot bigger than his nod, so at a guess he’s regretting being the local Patrick Lichfield.
Immie shakes her head. ‘Flaming elephant balls, I’m out. In that case, Teddie’s mine.’
‘So that’s settled, then. Last call for jobs for Sunday?’ As Poppy looks around, beaming, I can’t quite believe what just happened.
As I pull down the corners of my mouth, I’m thinking I might have to do this on my own. ‘Tough luck, Rory. It’s a lose-lose situation.’
‘Back at you, Holly Berry.’
Which is great. Except when he comes across and gives me a conciliatory punch on the arm, the sudden blast of his body spray I get sends my stomach into freefall. Again.
Chapter 16
