‘Hey, you. Don’t be so cheeky.’ Maddy grins at him. ‘If youhang around, though, I might let you share my welcome back surprise.’
She looks expectantly from Anita to Katja, and Anita nodssolemnly and goes to the fridge.
Maddy beams with delight as the dome-topped plate emergesand is placed on the table. ‘I shouldn’t, really. I’ve been stuffing my facenon-stop with boredom at home, but I’m sure I can find room for just one morepastry.’
‘Speech! Speech!’ Katja grins.
‘Okay. Here goes.’ Anita clears her throat. ‘Maddy, we hopeyou’ll soon be fully recovered from your disastrous attempt at slipping on abanana skin, and here’s just a little something to show you we’ve been thinkingabout you.’
With a flourish, she removes the dome, and Maddy’s facefalls.
‘Bloody hell, thanks, girls. You really shouldn’t have.’
I look from Anita to Katja to the big pile of browning bananaskins lying on the plate, and everyone bursts out laughing, including Maddy.
‘We were eating bananas for England yesterday,’ snortsKatja. ‘I’m totally fed up with the things.’
‘Me, too,’ laughs Anita, going to one of the cupboards. ‘Ihope you appreciate the lengths we went to in order to show our concern for you,Maddy.’
‘Oh, totally,’ says Maddy with heavy irony.
‘Anyway, here’s yourrealsurprise.’ Anita brings outa platter of pastries from the cupboard and places it on the table, and Maddy’seyes light up.
‘Well, that’s better. Raspberry jam and white icing. Myall-time favourites. Right, hold my crutches, Jack, while I dive in!’
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Later, back at Sycamore House, I arrive to find thefront door wide open, dust and rubble everywhere, and Rich and Liam shiftingthe remaining chunks of brick and plaster board and other assorted detritus outto the skip.
Liam ushers me in with a smile and I walk into the brand newspace that removing the wall has given me.
Amazed, I spin round admiringly. ‘Wow. This is incredible. Lovelyproportions and it’s so spacious now. It’s going to make a fabulous kitchen-diner.’
Rich walks in and says hello, pausing for just a second,hands on hips.
I’m sure Liam mentioned he’s sixty next year, but looking athis tanned and attractively craggy face, and bronzed toned arms, he looks thepicture of vibrant health and a good fifteen years younger than that. I guessthat’s what remaining active will do for you. And Rich is certainly active – aworkaholic was how Liam described him.
Rich hefts up one of the remaining lumps of brickwork,grinning as he says he needs to go because his wife will kill him if he doesn’tget back on time to take her out for dinner.
‘I’ve been promising for ages and I’m on a final warning,’he jokes. ‘But I can come back on Saturday and remove the old units?’
‘Oh. Yes,’ I say quickly. ‘That would be great!’
‘Right. Well, I’ll leave you to sweep up, Liam?’
‘Yes, no problem, mate.’
Rich is gone like a whirlwind. Next second, we hear his carreversing purposefully up the drive.
I look at Liam. ‘Wow. He’s nothing like Eddie.’
‘He’s not like anyone I know. The man’s a walkingpowerhouse. He thrives on being busy and he’ll never let you down.’
I chuckle. ‘As I said. Nothing like Eddie.’
‘You haven’t heard from him again?’
I flick my eyes to the ceiling. ‘Just a message yesterdaysaying they’ll be back next week. I texted back to say the wall will be down bythen but they can fit the new kitchen and bathroom instead.’ I shrug. ‘No replyyet, so I’m not holding my breath.’
