‘I’m so sorry about this. There was nothing I could do.’
Callie stared at the girl with the wildly curling brown hair and startlingly blue eyes who was standing on the doorstep of Sea Haven House jiggling a baby on her hip. The voice was familiar, but she didn’t know the face. And why was she sorry?
An older woman’s voice boomed from the gate. ‘That hike up this hill will see me off. Far too steep.’ A tiny older woman, her petite appearance at odds with her carrying tones, began walking up to the house.
She was followed by a well-rounded version. ‘I agree, Maria. Far too steep. I’m out of puff.’
A third woman, tall and with a florid complexion, followed. ‘By Jove, that’s a climb,’ she exclaimed. ‘But you and Maria did insist on accompanying Jessica, so you’ve only got yourselves to blame.’
The young woman holding the baby grimaced. ‘As I said, I can only apologise. Tried putting them off with a walk around the harbour but failed.’ She grinned, dimples appearing.
Callie looked at her, to the baby, then to the trio of old women and back to her with mounting horror. ‘Jessica?’ she squeaked. No wonder the voice was familiar, Callie had spoken to her on the phone about the art competition.
‘That’s me. Jessica Starling. You must be Calliope.’ Thrusting out a hand she shook Callie’s. ‘Thought I’d introduce myself in person. It was supposed to be a solo mission, but The Aunts overheard and, I’m afraid, rather jumped on board.’ She leaned closer. ‘There was nothing I could do. Once they get an idea in their heads there’s no dissuading them. They’re on an almighty sugar high from three enormous salted caramel cornets from The Ice Cream Dream Kiosk.’ She screwed up her face. ‘And I’m afraid it gets worse. Ma and Pa are on their way too.’
‘But… but… but I’m not dressed, the house is a mess and… I’m not dressed,’ Callie repeated limply, horror mounting at the thought of an invasion by most of Johnny’s family.
Jessica looked her up and down. ‘Satin lounging pyjamas. You look fine to me. Besides, you’re an artist. Style it out with some artistic temperament and eccentricity.’ And, with that, Jessica brushed by her and into the house, followed by The Aunts. They made themselves comfortable in the sitting room, leaving Callie speechless and embarrassed. Her head began to throb in earnest.
‘Well, I must say, this is jolly pleasant,’ the thin aunt said, who Callie had established was called Maria. ‘Isn’t it, Becky?’
‘It is,’ the curvier aunt replied. ‘Jolly pleasant.’
‘Super to do a reccie on young Johnny’s gaff,’ the tallest aunt said.
‘It wasn’t the reason for my visit, Aunt Sybil,’ Jessica put in, reprovingly.
‘No?’ Sybil said it innocently but Callie caught the wink. ‘Smashing to see a different part of the town although,’ at this she fetched out a large white handkerchief and mopped her face, ‘I’d forgotten just how jolly steep this hill is. Rather glad to have a sit-down-breather before we mosey on up further.’
‘It’s called God Almighty Hill apparently,’ Callie said, edging over to shield the worst of the disaster in the kitchen and rakingher hair into some kind of order. ‘Because the only thing you can gasp when you’ve got to the top is, God Almighty.’ How had she got to standing in front of a mess of dirty pans, crockery and unwashed wine glasses in her pyjamas, entertaining four strangers?
Sybil began to laugh. It began as a quivering of her magnificent bosom, gurgled up into her throat making her jowls swing and emanated from her mouth as a loud honk. ‘Oh I say, that’s funny,’ she managed when the laughter stopped. ‘That’s the funniest thing I’ve heard since I got here. Did you hear, Maria? God Almighty Hill.’ She slapped a hefty thigh. ‘Have to say I was blaspheming like a good ’un on that climb up from the harbour. God Almighty Hill. Oh, I say!’ she roared.
Maria nodded and joined in. ‘Too funny,’ she spluttered.
Becky glanced at her sisters and got the joke. ‘Oh I say. Too funny!’
Johnny chose that moment to appear after his run. Callie tried not to notice his long well-muscled legs. Even hot and sweaty he was, well, hot. He seemed his usual calm self but she noticed a muscle tense in his cheek. He surveyed the scene. ‘This all sounds fun. What’s going on? And why are you all here?’ Filling a glass from the kitchen tap he drank it down in one, slammed it onto the kitchen work surface and mouthed, ‘Sorry,’ at her.
‘The Aunts are finding the name of Harbour Hill extremely amusing,’ Jessica said.
He frowned. ‘What’s so funny about Harbour Hill? It’s hilly and leads up from the harbour.’ He shrugged, nonplussed.
This elicited another round of laughter.
‘Let you in on the joke when your parents arrive, dear boy,’ Sybil said, in between snorts and guffaws. ‘Dorrie will appreciate it.’
Callie moved towards the kettle. Only one thing would do in such circumstances, and that was tea. Ignoring the pan with the remains of her carbonara in, she filled the kettle and flicked it on.
Johnny came close, whispering in her ear, ‘I’ll make the tea. If you want to escape, feel free.’
‘Thank you,’ she replied, relief flooding her. ‘I’m still in my pyjamas.’
His brows quirked. ‘And very nice they are too. Don’t worry, doubt if The Aunts will have noticed but my mother surely will.’ He chuckled at her scandalised horror. ‘Go. Make your escape now and no one will notice if I ply them with tea and biscuits.’ As she turned to leave he added, ‘And I’m sorry. I had no idea the family were going to descend en masse.’
‘Oh dear boy–’ one of The Aunts piped up, commanding his attention.
Callie fled.
