‘I am. But I had wine at lunchtime so I’d have to get a mini cab.’
‘Or I can come and get you. I haven’t had any alcohol. Yet.’
‘You’d do that for me?’
‘Of course. And I wouldn’t even have to get my feet wet. So … is that a yes?’
‘Yes. Wait. No. I mean, yes to dinner at your hotel. But as for coming to get me…’ her voice trailed off. What could she say? I don’t want Granny Viv to see you. But what if there were no cabs free tonight?
‘It’s honestly no trouble.’
She took another deep breath. ‘It’s not about your kind offer. Don’t take this the wrong way, but the thing is, I’d rather my gran didn’t know we were having dinner tonight. I’m not keeping secrets. Well, I suppose I am in a way. But … well … Gran is determined that I should have a man in my life and she’s been banging on about it since I arrived. I’ll never hear the end of it if she sees you. Believe me, she’ll have us married and settled close by before you’ve opened the car door.’
‘I see. That could be … awkward. What if I pulled up outside next door and sent you a text to say I’d arrived?’
‘Nope. Millicent is Avery’s great-gran and a friend of Granny Viv’s. Avery is my daughter’s fiancé so my gran will hear about it as will the rest of my family. You could park at the end of the road. That should be safe.’
‘Then I’ll do that. And I’ll try not to be spotted by anyone, just in case.’
‘It’s no joke. You try living with a bunch of people who are all telling you that you need to get a man.’
He laughed. ‘I don’t think that’s something anyone around me would ever tell me I need to do. Shall we say eight? My table here is booked for eight-thirty so that should give us time. I’ll tell them it’ll be a table for two now, not for one. You haveno idea how pleased I am to receive your call. Eating alone doesn’t bother me but there’s something about eating alone on Valentine’s Day that simply doesn’t feel good.’
‘Eight is perfect. That gives me time to walk Rufus, feed him, shower and change. Oh. What’s the dress code there? I suppose jeans are out?’
‘In the dining room, yes. I think we could have dinner in the bar if you’d prefer. Although the menu isn’t as good. Or in my room. You can wear what you like in there.’
She hesitated. Dinner in his room? Would that be wise?
‘The dining room will be fine. It’s just that I didn’t bring much with me because I wasn’t planning on … Never mind. I’ve realised I can borrow something from Granny Viv. Don’t worry. Her clothes are much smarter – and more modern – than mine. I’ll see you at eight. Bye.’
‘Bye.’
Kate rang off and this time when the urge to do the happy dance struck her, she didn’t try to fight it.
Calming herself down, Kate switched the kettle on to make that pot of tea she had promised her gran, and was dealing with Rufus’s dinner when the dog ambled into the kitchen.
‘Can you read my mind?’ Kate laughed.
Having fed Rufus and made the tea, Kate took the tea tray into the sitting room.
‘Millie’s just called,’ said Granny Viv, placing her phone on the table beside her. ‘I told her you are going out and she’s coming round for the evening. You are going out, aren’t you?’
‘I am,’ said Kate, trying to hide her excitement.
‘May I ask with whom?’
‘Nope. But I would like to borrow a dress, please.’
Granny Viv beamed at her. ‘Help yourself. You know where they are.’
Kate poured the tea, handed a cup to her gran, and sat on the sofa day dreaming.
She and Beth and Rose had taken several of Granny Viv’s beautiful dresses away at Christmas, on Granny Viv’s insistence that she wouldn’t need many of them again and would rather the dresses be put to good use by her family.
But they hadn’t taken that many, and Kate could recall seeing a stunning purple dress that was just a fraction too tight at the end of last year.
Since then, Kate had shed a few pounds. More from anxiety about how quickly things were changing in her life than from intentionally trying to lose weight. That dress might fit her now.
