‘I knew I liked you. You’re a woman of many talents. Surprise me with something interesting.’
So, of course, I went about making her a vodka martini.
‘Stirred, not shaken.’ I presented it and she laughed again and checked over her shoulder towards the corner where Stephen and Nick were. I popped an olive on a stick into the glass and congratulated myself on not looking over. ‘Where have you been? I thought you were planning on doing some sleuthing?’
‘Absolutely. Still the plan.’ She took a healthy swig. ‘Ooh, tasty. My late arrival is entirely strategic. I wanted to let them all start hanging loose, y’know? First couple of drinks under their belts, inhibitions lowered. Much easier. Plus.’ She leaned forward, pressing her generous cleavage against the bar and pointing one finger slightly towards the V-neck cut of her sparkly dress. ‘I needed to get my equipment in place.’
I blinked a couple of times, for the first time ever feeling some sympathy for men trying to keep their eyes off women’s breasts when they might be so beautifully arranged under their noses.
‘Urr, you’re planning to seduce someone with your ample charms?’
‘Nooo – although always a good back-up plan.’ She lowered her voice. ‘My Dictaphone is in my bra.’ She leaned back and gave me a wink. ‘Compliment is appreciated though, beautiful.’
‘Oh, Noelle, if only I were a lesbian.’ I waggled my eyebrows at her.
‘Same, precious. Something tells me a relationship with another woman would be a lot less hassle.’
‘Well, my friends Lisa and Geri say not – unfortunately. Same sex, same relationship shit to deal with.’
‘Less pee on the toilet seat though.’ She took another swig and hopped down from the bar stool. ‘Right, I’m off to schmooze. Hang in there, kiddo.’
Noelle began wandering, heading over to the spinster sisters, Matilda and Olive, first. Lydia was circulating again too. I busied myself queuing up another CD, this one Nat King Cole, Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra, and pointing out to myself that the evening was going well. People were chatting and laughing, the mince pies were going down nicely and even the kids were entertained. One of them was a boy about Joseph’s age. He was playing a game on his dad’s phone and every time he levelled up, he’d bounce up and down and his dad would look over to check and ruffle his hair. It was lovely; and yet, it turned my mouth as sour as if Ihadbeen drinking perfume.
I’d been so busy all day, fighting the fire, that I hadn’t spent much time dwelling on the arsonist and I didn’t know if that was me or Henry. I’d sacked him two nights before Christmas. Yes, he had deserved it, but Joseph didn’t. And it wasn’t my responsibility to keep Joseph happy, he wasn’t my son, but it didn’t stop me feeling lower than a woodlouse.
I swapped a tray of glasses full of mulled wine with Lydia’s now empty one and went to the kitchen to collect some more mince pies for it. I decided to use the main door, crossing the lobby, rather than use the dining room because if I didn’t see the mess in there, then it couldn’t get me. I was passing the toilets beside the office, when I heard a low moan that sent the hairs on the back of my neck prickling up.
I paused, looking around the empty lobby and waiting to see if it would come again. Everything was quiet except for the muffled bubble of noise behind the doors to the bar. I shook my head and was about to carry on my way – I wouldn’t have put it beyond the realms of possibility that I was hallucinating – when it came again, from the Ladies toilet.
Leaving the tray on the reception desk, I pushed the outer door to the toilets open. There were two cubicles inside and the one on the right was locked. ‘Is everything okay?’
‘Oh, Beth,’ Rachel’s voice gasped at me from behind the wooden door. ‘Yes, I went for a wee, but I think—’ She broke off to breathe and that was all I needed to hear.
‘I’ll get Ben.’
‘Yes. Please,’ she gasped.
I barrelled out of the toilet and slammed through the door into the bar in a way that made half the room turn and look at me.
Clearing my throat and straightening my dress, I attempted to send a reassuring smile around the room and then made my way over to Ben. He had a good hand, but I was sure he wouldn’t mind folding under the circumstances.
I touched his shoulder and leaned down to murmur in his ear. ‘Ben, Rachel needs you.’
He immediately spun to look at me, headbutting my eyebrow. I straightened up quickly, resisting the impulse to rub it.
‘Sorry. Is she okay? Is it the baby?’
I gave a little nod and began leading the way for him. I had to guide him through the maze of furniture and guests, with a hand firmly around his arm, after he nearly tripped over twice. When we got back to the toilet, Rachel had managed to unlock the door and put the lid down over the seat so she could sit on top.
She looked up and her eyes were all for Ben as he raced over and knelt down in front of her.
‘Rach, are you all right? Has it started? Is the baby coming?’
‘Yes. Yes, it’s started.’ She took his hand and squeezed it, giving him a shaky smile. ‘I’ve had backache all day, but I just thought I’d done too much clean—’ She broke off again, squeezing her eyes shut and breathing hard through her nose.
‘Okay. Okay. It’s happening,’ Ben said to himself. ‘How far apart are the contractions? How far apart is it when we need to go to the hospital?’ When Rachel didn’t answer, he looked over at me, his face turning white. ‘I’ve forgotten. I’ve forgotten everything. What do I do?’
‘Umm, I’m no expert or anything, but they do seem close together. You probably need to get her to the hospital. Should I call an ambulance?’
