Ellie smiled, as if to atone for her previous grumpiness. ‘Leo - you look lovely. As always.’
‘I don’t - but thank you. I’m sorry I didn’t bring anything smart. You look terrific, though. Are your guests likely to be ultra stylish tonight, do you think?’
Ellie was busying herself putting various dips into bowls for the canapés, but she stopped for a moment and looked at Leo apologetically.
‘Well, Fiona and Charles are coming - so I guess Fiona will be in some posh frock or other.’
‘Oh God help us. She’s become such a snooty bugger. Does she still wear polo shirts with the collar artfully turned up at the back as part of her “casual look”?’
Ellie grinned, but declined to comment.
‘And I’ve never worked out why she married that plonker Charles? She didn’t exactly choose him because he was sex on legs, did she? I know she was your friend at school, but I can’t believe you have a single thing in common with her now.’
Ellie gave her sister a tolerant smile.
‘She’s not always had it easy, you know. Put your face straight, Leo. There are things about Fiona that you don’t know and I can’t tell you - but half of her performance is an act. Be a bit more forgiving of people.’
‘Ellie, you are the softest touch in the world. Always have been; always will be. I, on the other hand, do not suffer fools gladly - although tonight, as they’re your friends, I’ll be on my best behaviour. So is there anybody else that I know?’
Leo walked over to the massive fridge as she spoke and found an open bottle of white wine. She waved it in the air, and Ellie nodded as she carried on with her work.
‘Well, Pat’s coming - you know him.’
Leo pulled some glasses from a cupboard, and with her back to Ellie gave her verdict on the next pair of guests.
‘Excellent - that’s good news. Not about Pat. He’s a nice guy but a bit limp, if you know what I mean. But Georgia’s great. Tough cookie and a straight talker. Thank goodness for that. I can resist taking the piss out of Fiona and do some bitching with Georgia.’
She turned round with a big smile on her face, only to be greeted by Ellie’s look of dismay. One hand to her mouth, she muttered through her fingers.
‘Oh Christ. You don’t know, do you? Sorry Leo, I meant to tell you but it kept slipping my mind.’
Leo passed her sister the glass of wine, and watched her take a rather long drink. She said nothing and waited until Ellie was ready to talk.
‘Pat’s left Georgia. Well - Georgia kicked him out, to be accurate. And she’s my best friend so I’m on her side all the way, except that Pat is Max’s best friend, so it’s all a bit difficult.’
Leo said nothing, knowing that her sister would fill the silence without her having to ask the obvious questions.
‘It was so awful. It all started because Pat wanted babies. You know what he’s been like with Georgia over the years. He idolised her, and as she rose up through the ranks at work he did everything for her. They both put her career first, on the basis that a corporate lawyer makes considerably more than a school teacher. He could have looked anywhere in the country for a promotion, but she wouldn’t budge. And when Pat said he wanted to have kids, she said no. He said he would stay at home and look after them, she didn’t even have to give up her job. But she still said no.’
Ellie put her wine glass down and glanced at the time, obviously wanting to get this story over before anybody arrived.
‘Pat had an affair. There’s a pub that they all go to when there’s been a late meeting or whatever at school. She was a barmaid there. Max said that he should have seen it coming because he saw Pat spending a lot of time with her, but it never occurred to him. Now he thinks it was desperation on Pat’s part. He felt… I don’t know how to put it; unnecessary would be the best description, I think. This girl made him feel important. Anyway, Georgia found out. We don’t know exactly what happened, but apparently she received an anonymous text message. She kicked Pat out. I think she thought that he would come round to us and we’d talk some sense into him.