‘Well?’ demands Madison.
‘It might be.’ I shrug nonchalantly.
‘I knew it. Who is he?’
‘Oh, nobody.’ Grinning, I shake my head at her, whileknowing it’s useless because she’s not going to let it go that easily. ‘Okay,if you must know, I met a nice guy called Logan at the awards do. But it’s nobig deal.’
‘Is he a writer as well?’
I shake my head. ‘The Swan Hotel have hired his company todo their marketing.’
‘So are you seeing him again?’
I nod, feeling a little surge of excitement rushing throughme. ‘Tomorrow. We’re meeting at Barnham Books. At the top of the clock tower.’
She frowns. ‘The top of the...?’ Alightbulb goes on over her head. ‘Oh, like in your favourite movie.AnAffair to Last? Where they arrange to meet at the top of the Empire StateBuilding?’
‘It’sAn Affair to Remember,’ I correct her.
‘Wow, so you talked about your favourite films, then. Thissounds very promising. Although why you’re so fond of such a sloppy,sentimental movie, I’ll never know.’
I grin at her. ‘Life would be very tedious if we were allthe same.’
‘That’s true. Extremely tedious. Just like bloody January.’
‘Well, lookie who it is! My old friend Madison!’
Madison freezes, a horrified look on her face, which shequickly changes to a neutral expression. I spin round to find the blonde,scarlet-coat woman bearing down on us. The infamous Lilo, no less...
She plonks herself down at our table.
‘Maddy.’ She grins. ‘I like the coat. Charity shop?’
Madison strokes the fabric, looking defensive. ‘Anupmarketcharity shop. They only take designer stuff.’
Lila nods. ‘Fair play. Nice to see you’re still rocking thesophisticated-chic-on-a-café-wage look.’
Maddy presses her lips together. ‘On your own tonight, Lila?’
She nods. ‘I was supposed to be meeting up with an old workcolleague but she phoned just now to say her dog had been taken ill unexpectedly.But then I saw you coming in here so I thought – great chance to catch up withmy old buddy!’
‘So where’s Sean, then?’
‘On his stag do.’
‘You’re getting married?’ I ask politely. ‘I’m Martha, bythe way.’
‘Hello, Martha.’ Her eyes flick coolly over my hair and myoutfit. ‘Yes, the wedding’s on Saturday and I absolutely can’t wait!’
I smile. ‘You can’t wait to say I do to your fiancé?’
She looks at me as if I’m nuts. ‘Well, there’s that, ofcourse. But mainly I can’t wait for everyone to seethe dress. It’scouture, you know. Totally unique. It’s going to be the star of the show.’
‘Lovely.’
‘So when’s the hen do, Lilo... I mean,Lila?’ enquires Madison.
Lila’s eyes narrow briefly at the old nickname. Then she flicksback her long, elaborately curled hair, almost whisking the head off ourneighbour’s glass of Guinness. ‘Oh, I’m not having a hen do. Far too risky.’
