Walking Back to Happiness by Lucy Dillon

Author:Lucy Dillon
Language: eng
Format: azw3, mobi, epub
Tags: Chick-Lit Romance
ISBN: 9781444713923
Publisher: Hachette UK
Published: 2010-12-09T00:00:00+00:00

After barking semi-coherent instructions from beneath her shades, Emer eventually retreated upstairs, and made a surprise appearance with a rejuvenated Alec three minutes before three o’clock, when Spike’s guests were due to arrive. They stood in the kitchen doorway like visiting royalty, surveying the mess with a tranquil sort of acceptance. Juliet couldn’t believe it was the same woman: Emer’s face was now perfectly made up, and she was wearing a fabulous designer tunic thing over her skinny jeans, and some expensive jewellery that looked like an apology made out of diamonds.

She was also intrigued to see Alec. After all Emer and Lorcan’s stories, she’d been expecting some Viking warrior, but instead, she was faced with a tall, bearded Geography teacher with very narrow trousers. The only rock’n’roll giveaway was the tattoo peeping out of his collar. Juliet thought it probably said, ‘Emer’.

There was a pregnant pause, and then Emer stepped over the discarded bags and Spike, who was playing with a potato ricer. She grabbed Juliet’s hands and said, ‘Thank you,’ with the sort of heartfelt emotion normally seen at major award ceremonies. ‘You’re amazing.’

‘Yes, thank you,’ said Alec. He was Scottish. ‘I don’t know how we can possibly—’

‘I’ve paid her already,’ said Lorcan, shortly.

‘I’ll expense it.’ He grinned nervously. ‘Double whatever Lorcan gave you.’

Juliet didn’t miss the chilly look that Lorcan shot at him.

‘Do you two . . . feel up to running a party?’ she asked tactfully.

‘Us? Oh, we’re fine,’ said Emer.

Juliet looked over at Lorcan and he nodded. ‘Not sure what we’re going to do without the entertainer, but I’m sure we’ll come up with something.’

‘If all else fails, we have an extensive dressing-up box,’ said Emer, sweeping a grand hand towards upstairs. ‘Capes, masks, glitter . . . It can change a small boy’s life up there.’

‘Did you like the trumpet?!’ said Alec, as if he hadn’t been passed out cold hours before. ‘Surprise gift.’

Juliet privately thought that a trumpet wasn’t the best choice of instrument for an asthmatic child who kept eating random things, but said nothing, and unwound her apron while she had the chance. ‘I’ll leave you to it,’ she said. ‘I’ve got a Labrador to check up on.’

Diane’s house was far enough away, surely. Not even Salvador’s amplifier could reach that far.

‘Ah, don’t go yet!’ said Emer, suddenly more like her everyday self. ‘Stay for one drink. I won’t make you play Pass The Parcel, I promise.’

‘I don’t really do kids’ parties.’ Juliet glanced between Emer and Lorcan. Lorcan shrugged as if he didn’t want to force her to stay, but wouldn’t mind if she hung on for a bit, for moral support. ‘Maybe one drink,’ she conceded. ‘Not alcoholic though . . .’

Emer clicked her fingers, and called, ‘Bargirls?’

Roisin and Florrie appeared, still sparkly, to take Juliet’s complicated drink order.

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