Page 43 of The Sunrise Sisterhood

Skye put the cake on the table and opened the doors.

‘It’s not a surprise party, so I won’t be asking you to hide in a cupboard or anything.’ Ele gave a tinkly laugh.

Good job, thought Liz, eyeing up the size of the largest cupboard.

‘Oh, there’ll be twenty-one guests now. Is that a problem? Angel’s brother is coming now too.’

‘We’ve got mountains of food,’ said Skye. ‘Enough for several more last-minute brothers.’

‘There is a cost per head, but we can waive one extra one.’ Liz gave her a gently reprimanding look.

Skye mouthed an apology.

‘Where will the guests sit?’ Liz asked, noticing the lack of dining space.

‘I’ve got a fold-up table to put outside which I thought you could serve from,’ Ele said. ‘I’ve left a pile of rugs out there too. Could you set those up in a long line please? We can eat cross-legged on the ground. Fingers crossed the rain holds off.’

Skye and Liz looked heavenwards, there was definitely a chance of rain later. Hopefully, the guests would have at least eaten dinner by then.

‘Want to see the cake?’ Skye lifted the box lid.

‘Oh my gosh.’ Ele clapped her hands. ‘That is awesome! Thanks so much for being so accommodating, with the vegan thing and the cake and the extra person.’

‘You’re welcome.’ Skye steered Ele firmly to the kitchen door. ‘You relax and leave everything to us. See you in half an hour.’ ‘Where are we going to put everything?’ she whispered, once they’d heard her feet thudding up the staircase.

‘We’ll just have to manage,’ said Liz, tying on an apron and passing the other one to Skye. ‘Let’s crack on.’

Within a few minutes, they’d unloaded the car, stowed everything in the fridge and cleared away as much of the paraphernalia from every surface as they could to give themselves extra room.

Soon, the hot food was on the stove and Liz had prepped the rice cooker ready to go as soon as the guests arrived.

Skye was assembling ingredients for a salad when Liz felt the phone in the pocket of her apron buzz with a notification. She fished it out, took one look at the screen and dropped it back in her pocket.

‘Oh my word, Barry.’ Liz felt her cheeks flame. ‘That’s you struck off the list. Good grief.’

‘What’s that?’ Skye glanced at her.

‘It’s that bloomin’ dating app,’ said Liz, fanning her face. ‘I don’t know how you young people cope. It’s so stressful.’

‘I’ve never used a dating app,’ said Skye. ‘I’d rather stay single than put myself out there.’

‘I’m beginning to come to the same conclusion,’ Liz huffed. ‘I promised Patrick Delmarge I’d have a go at dating, but the men on Tinder all have a one-track mind. Some of the comments are so blue, I can hardly bring myself to read them, let alone reply.’

Skye looked bemused. ‘You promised a client that you’d start dating. How on earth did that conversation go?’

Liz laughed. ‘It was his elderly aunt and mother who started it. Dropping hints that Patrick and I should start “courting” because we’re both single. He and I agreed it was about time we moved on from …’ She stopped herself from telling Skye what she’d admitted to the Delmarges: that she’d been harbouring an unrequited love for four decades.

‘From?’ Skye prompted.

‘Patrick’s a widower,’ she replied, dodging the question while removing fresh herbs from the cool box. ‘I get the impression he loved his wife very much. Moving on must be difficult when your heart belongs to someone who’s no longer there.’

Skye grinned at her. ‘You do know they were trying to set you up with each other, not other people?’

Liz chuckled. ‘Oh yes, they’re completely transparent. Dropping hints about him rattling around the house by himself and asking whether I like his shirt.’

‘So?’ Skye poured them both some water. ‘Why don’t you give the old ladies what they want?’

Liz gave it some thought. ‘Patrick is a perfectly lovely man. He’s always been kind and considerate to me, especially after Jen died. He’s devoted to his elderly relatives, pleasant-looking, lives in a beautiful house.’