Just Between Us by Cathy Kelly

Author:Cathy Kelly [Cathy Kelly]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 9780007389322
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 2011-09-03T14:36:40+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY

Her parents’ big anniversary bash was just three days away when Holly gave her own party, a select birthday dinner for Tom. It had been her idea, although Kenny had taken it a step further and suggested making it a surprise and having it on Tom’s thirty-first birthday itself, which was a Thursday, instead of the day after.

‘He might have arranged something with his friends for that day,’ said Holly hesitantly when Joan and Kenny began brainstorming exactly how to inveigle Tom down to the pub, and then get him home in time for a surprise meal.

‘We’re his friends!’ Joan said, as if that was patently obvious. ‘Sure, he spends all his time with us.’

This was true. Tom went along with the three of them on their trips to the pub at the weekend, and on their forays to the Purple Mosquito, which, since the triumph of the speed dating night, was Joan’s favourite spot.

‘Imagine; so many men, so little time,’ she sighed. ‘I’m turning into a man magnet.’

‘Fridge magnet, more like,’ said Kenny. His fling with Raul was off and he was grumpy.

Holly found it fun going out with Tom along. She was never shy in his presence and when Kenny and Joan flitted off like social butterflies to talk to their enormous raft of acquaintances, Tom kept Holly company. It was nice to have someone to talk to instead of sitting on her own, pretending to look as if she was enjoying herself.

Tom, in turn, had brought the three of them hill-walking (not a huge success with either Joan or Kenny) and they’d all been out on a boat owned by a colleague of his (much more successful, although Kenny’s prized vintage Gaultier boating jacket turned out to be useless for keeping the cold out on the high seas. Tom had lent Kenny a windcheater and he’d spent the rest of the trip looking like a child in a grown-up’s clothing and moaning, ‘I can’t believe I’m actually wearing chain store clothes’ in a weak voice.)

Now, Holly tasted the sauce one last time. The subtle flavours of ginger, lemon grass and chicken all mingled together brilliantly. She smiled to herself with childish delight.

The flat was decked out in candles and balloons. Joan had done the blowing up, which she said was her aerobic exercise for the week. Holly had decked herself out in her best, slimming jeans and a daringly low-cut antique lace top in a glowing old gold. It was going to be a fantastic evening.

Joan had been in favour of a huge party, complete with flashing disco lights and a proper DJ. But because nobody had the funds, they reached a compromise: a small dinner for Tom, Holly, Kenny and Joan, followed by some wildness down at the Mosquito with the usual crowd.

It was all to be a big surprise, with Kenny and Joan charged with meeting Tom after work and dragging him off to the pub. They then had to get him home at eight on the nail.

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