If my mouth’s still hanging open, it’s because I’m staggered at what came out there; I haven’t winged it like that for so long, and there were details and everything. I mean, onesies … records … chestnuts? How did I think of throwing them in? I didn’t mean to do this, I seriously doubt I would have done if Libby hadn’t had Bill’s back rammed hard up against the wall. I used to be gutsy, always diving in with my ideas at meetings, being inspiring, geeing up our work team. But this last year I’ve buried myself as far under the table as I could and said nothing. There’s a part of me punching the air in my head because it feels so good to have come out of hiding and be doing it again.
‘Pizza …?’ It’s Willow. ‘I take it that will be gluten free?’
Abso – bloody – lutely.‘Of course.’
Fliss is beaming. ‘WatchingThe Holidayin the glow from the fire? That’s it, I’m in.’
Tiff’s eyes are shining. ‘Will it last all night, like a giant castle sleepover?’
I’m nodding madly. ‘Why not?’
Tansy’s jumped up. ‘And go all the way into tomorrow?’
I laugh. ‘So long as there’s a woman standing … it won’t have ended.’ I have no idea where the hell we’re going to get all the films from when we can’t stream them, and then I have a brainwave. ‘Everybody bring your favourite DVDs, we’ll vote on what to watch.’
Twenty-four hours, we might have to have some repeats. But so long as it gets Libby off Bill’s back, we’ll make up the rest as we go along. And in the meantime we’ll cross everything that we can find an engineer who can get the heating fired up again. Although for now, with this fun afternoon and evening ahead of us, the heating is the last thing anyone’s thinking about.
