‘I didn’t realise you wanted a speech.’
‘Not aspeech, as such. You just need to explain what you’re raising money for and tell people that if a fire alarm goes off, they should run for their lives.’
‘Leave it with me. I’ll find someone.’
Although I’ve done plenty of public speaking over the years, I can’t say it’s my favourite thing in the world, especially to an audience of this size. Thankfully, I know just the man to step into my shoes.
‘Can I ask a favour?’ I say to Jeff, as he’s about to sit down.
‘As long as it has nothing to do with babysitting a hamster.’
‘Could you jump on stage and do an introduction?’
‘Me? I wouldn’t want to take your glory, Lisa.You’rethe one who masterminded this extravaganza. If Denise were here, she’d be straight up there with the mike. . .’
‘Honestly, I don’t mind. The limelight is all yours.’
‘You won’t need to ask him twice when you put it that way,’ drawls Andy, Jeff’s husband.
‘Oh, go on then,’ Jeff says, pushing back his shoulders heroically. ‘What do I need to say?’
After a short briefing, I take a seat on our table – just as one of my other favourite people arrives.
Nora is head coach at Roebury Tennis Club so most clothes look good on her athletic physique. But tonight’s blue shirt dress really compliments her pale skin, oval face and silky dark hair.
‘Well done on the decor, Lisa,’ she says approvingly, looking around the room. ‘It looks almost . . .’
‘Like a dimly lit sports hall?’
She chuckles. ‘Well, yes, but to be fair you didn’t have a lot to work with.’
For the first few months of our acquaintance, I didn’t really know Nora beyond what I’d seen from the clubhouse terrace, when I’d sit and watch her lessons with both of my boys. But I could instantly see why she was loved by adults and kids alike – for her infectious enthusiasm, encouragement and a superhuman ability to find something positive to say, no matter how bad the player or atrocious the shot.
I knew that her son Charlie was in the year below Jacob at Roebury and she’d also mentioned an older daughter, Isabelle, who is now at Bristol University studying Dentistry.But it was quite by chance that I discovered she and Rose were friends.
After that, it automatically followed that she and I would be too and, along with Jeff, we became a solid foursome, members of a WhatsApp group he set up with the name: ‘Roebury Besties’. All of which makes our mutual friend’s absence tonight all the more evident.
‘Have you seen Rose this week?’ Nora asks.
‘Only at the weekend, but we texted today. She nearly came tonight, but decided at the last minute to save her energies for something more salubrious.’
‘Poor thing. She’s really going through it, isn’t she?’ she says, with a small shudder. ‘Still, I bet Angel is looking after her.’
Nora’s husband, Iain, runs a freight business that has grown exponentially in the last few years, at least judging by the number of ski trips they started taking. He is a nice guy, although I can’t claim to know him particularly well. I’ve always thought of him as a bit of a closed book and he’s often away on business these days, so even at an event like this Nora is on her own.
‘Listen, sorry I couldn’t make it in time to help set up tonight,’ she continues. ‘Work is suddenly crazy now the summer league has started. I’d love to join the PTA but I don’t know how I’d fit everything in. You and Jeff are making me feel very guilty.’
‘Why, because of his floral arrangements?’
‘Hasn’t he told you he’s offered to do their end-of-year accounts?’ Nora says.
‘No! See . . . this how they suck you in,’ I say, under my breath. ‘Take my advice and stay well clear. You’ve got enough on your plate.’
‘So have you, haven’t you?’
‘I know, but I’ve been weak. There are forces at the PTA that I’m powerless to challenge,’ I say grimly.
She hoots with laughter. ‘Oh, Lisa . . .’
