for a party. Max and Ellie are having a bit of a housewarming, which means Ellie’s cooking - a treat not to be missed. This is their new neighbour, Tom. Tom, this is Sean - the guy who remodelled the whole house from the dismal place it used to be. You come to gate-crash, Sean?’
Sean looked uncomfortable for a moment. ‘Oh bugger. It’s a bit embarrassing turning up like this if they’ve got a party on. I’d better go. I brought round a spare set of keys that I’d been hanging on to, since I was passing anyway. Maybe you could give them to Ellie. Just let her know I was here, would you?’
Sean glanced towards the car. ‘What’s up with Penny - is she planning on staying in the car all night? Not that I blame her in that car. Since when did you have a Porsche, Gary? What’s happened to the Beemer?’
Gary’s irritation at Penny was growing by the minute. If she didn’t get out of that car soon, he was going to have to make some excuse to take her home and come back on his own. He’d bloody kill her.
‘I’ve got the car on trial. She’s a beaut, isn’t she? I’ve had her a few days. As for Penny, she had a sneezing fit on the way here. She can’t stop, and apparently it’s ruined her eye makeup, or something daft like that. I’ll go and see how she is.’
Before Gary could move, the front door of the house was flung open, and Max came out to greet them.
‘Good evening, gentlemen! What are you all doing hovering on the drive? Come in, and welcome to Willow Farm - unrecognisable, I think you’ll find.’ Max pointed to Sean. ‘And it’s all thanks to this man. Have you come to join us, Sean? You’d be very welcome. Do you want to go and get Bella?’
‘Sorry Max. I didn’t know you’d got something on tonight. I’ll get off, thanks. Bella’s not so good tonight, so she wouldn’t be able to come anyway.’
Gary was tempted to laugh. Of course Bella wouldn’t be able to come. She be totally wasted and out of it by now, no doubt.
‘Would she worry if you didn’t get back, do you think? Or you could phone her and see if she’s up for it if you like. Anyway, come on in, Sean, for goodness sake. Ellie will be delighted to see you.’
Sean appeared to hesitate, but not for long.
‘If you’re sure - that would be great, thanks. The kids are with my parents this weekend, and Bella will be asleep by now. If you’re positive it’s not going to be a problem?’
Gary was about to lose his cool completely if Penny didn’t get out of the car in the next ten seconds. He glanced over his shoulder to see that the neighbour - Tom, was it? had gone round to the passenger side and had opened the door. He was now crouching down talking to Penny. Jesus, he hoped the silly bitch maintained the sneezing story. What sort of an impression would this guy have of him, with a wife like that?
* * *
The kitchen was a hive of activity. As nobody appeared to want to move from the pre-dinner hubbub, Ellie had told Fiona to keep the men amused and Leo was laying out the canapés and preparing the asparagus and leek tarts to be popped under the grill for the glaze to brown. She hoped she was doing it right, but sincerely doubted it. Max had gone rushing off at the sound of the dull throb of an expensive car, and following the earlier hiccup with Mimi, things seem to have settled down.
Fiona had returned for yet more liquid refreshment when Max made his entry into the kitchen, along with not three, but four guests.
‘Ellie - one extra guest for dinner! Look who I found lurking on the doorstep bearing gifts.’ Max jangled a set of keys in the air, and placed them on the worktop.
As everyone turned to look at the new arrivals, Leo heard a sharp intake of air from somebody behind her. She turned her head quickly, but had no idea where it came from. Someone had received an unwelcome surprise, it would seem. This was getting more interesting by the minute.
Two faces Leo recognised were those of Gary and Penny Bateman, who handed Ellie a beautiful bunch of summer flowers. Penny seemed unable to meet Ellie’s eyes, but Gary