than Leo was nothing out of the ordinary. She was taller than average, but stooped slightly as if she wasn’t entirely comfortable with her height. Slim and rather flat chested, with fine blonde hair which hung limply in waves around a face thickly covered in foundation at least two shades too dark as if to hide poor skin, she was pretty in an insipid kind of way. But there was nothing particularly interesting about her, and not a hint of a smile on her face. Perhaps Pat had become tired of living in the shadow of Georgia’s radiance.
She could tell from where she was standing leaning against the fridge that Fiona was at her condescending best - or worst. Poor Mimi. It was pretty clear that there was no common ground for conversation, so Ellie steered Mimi back towards Leo.
‘And this is my sister, Leo.’
Leo was not a great one for a handshake, so just smiled and said hi. But Mimi had a puzzled frown on her face.
‘Half-sister, surely?’ she said, darting glances from one to the other. ‘Have I got that wrong?’
She went pink under the orange makeup, and her neck a blotchy red. It was clear to Leo that she had spoken without thinking.
‘We’re sisters,’ Ellie said.
Mimi turned to Ellie.
‘But Patrick told me that’s why you got all the money, and she didn’t get any.’ Mimi was digging herself in deeper and Leo was trying to think of a way of letting her off lightly. But she hadn’t allowed for a slightly sozzled Fiona, who had come for yet another refill.
She leaned across in front of Leo and spoke to Mimi. ‘I rather think the details of this family’s finances and fortunes are their business, and theirs alone, don’t you?’
Oh God, thought Leo. Now the poor girl’s going to feel even more stupid.
‘I’m sorry, but Patrick tells me everything. I didn’t realise it was a sensitive subject.’
‘It’s okay,’ Leo said. ‘Take no notice of Fiona - she’s pissed.’
Ellie obviously decided that this had to be nipped in the bud before it got out of hand.
‘Well, right now I have some canapés to finish off. Everybody else will be here soon, so can I have some volunteers to help. Not you, Fee. You might splash something on that dress.’
12
The red Porsche pulled up on the cobbled drive outside Max and Ellie’s front door, and Gary turned to his wife.
‘Stop blubbering, Penny. For fuck’s sake. You’re going to make a complete fool out of me if you don’t shut up. Stop it now, or I’ll really give you something to cry about.’
‘I’m sorry, Gary,’ Penny said through her sobs. ‘It’s been a horrible day, and you seem so angry. I’ve only seen you for five minutes all day.’
‘I am fucking angry. I don’t just seem it. You whinge all the time about your day, your life. And I can’t cope with you on top of everything else that I have to deal with.’
Gary glanced in the rear view mirror, and saw an unfamiliar figure walking up the long drive.
‘Jesus. Now we’re going to have a bleeding audience.’
Gary leaned across and grabbed Penny by her upper arms and gave her a sharp shake. She gave a small yelp of pain.
‘Christ, woman - I’m not hurting you. Now, for the last time, sort yourself out. Blow your nose, put your sunglasses on, and behave like the lady you’re not. For once in your life.’
Gary threw open his car door, and jumped out, a big smile plastered on his face as the newcomer got closer. Walking round the back of the Porsche, he approached the man with his hand outstretched.
‘Hi. I’m Gary Bateman. I presume you’re here for dinner with Max and Ellie. Good to meet you.’
The two men shook hands.
‘Hello. Tom Douglas, the new neighbour. I only moved in myself recently, and Max was kind enough to come round and invite me tonight so I could meet some other people.’
‘Well, they’re very hospitable, and great neighbours. I should know. They lived next door to us for years before moving here.’
Gary started to fidget as he saw Tom glance towards Penny. When would she get out of the sodding car?
Just then, an old black Discovery swept into the drive, usefully distracting the attention from the passenger in the Porsche.
The familiar form of Sean Summers jumped out.
‘Hey, Gary. What are you doing here, mate? Is something going on?’
Gary laughed with relief. A small diversion to prevent Penny showing him up even more.
‘We’re all here