Page 45 of The Sunrise Sisterhood

When Skye returned from the garden a few minutes later, Liz was buzzing. That little drop of booze had done the trick. Whoever said that alcohol was a depressant was totally wrong. The stress was gone, the nerves had subsided, and she’d managed to put all thoughts of Mike out of her head.

‘What do you want me to do next?’ Skye slid the empty drinks tray onto the work surface.

‘The guests will mingle for another twenty minutes,’ said Liz, checking the rice in the steamer. ‘We’ll put the food on the table outside where they can serve themselves. Clean down while they’re eating. Load dishwasher. Serve dessert. Pack up as much as we can. Put the birthday cake on the platter and leave them to it. Bob’s your uncle, Fanny’s your aunt.’

Skye laughed. ‘I don’t know why you said you couldn’t manage by yourself. Look at you, you’re killing it.’

‘The party mood must be infectious!’ Liz threw her arms out, narrowly missing a bouquet of flowers which had arrived for Angel.

‘They do seem a nice bunch,’ said Skye, wistfully. ‘And mostly my age.’

‘Go and hand these round.’ Liz gave her some bowls of nibbles, taking pity on her. ‘It’ll give you a chance to chat while you work.’

Her eyes lit up. ‘If you’re sure?’

‘Go!’ Liz flapped her away. ‘Enjoy yourself. I’ll be fine for a few minutes.’

Once Skye had gone, Liz added another slug of vodka to her glass and congratulated herself for having the foresight to add Skye onto the van’s insurance policy. Not that she was planning on getting tiddly. Warm and fuzzy was fine, but she didn’t want to risk overdoing it, not while she was working.

‘Happy birthday, Angel,’ Liz murmured under her breath and knocked the vodka back in one.

Chapter Twelve

Skye

Now that the hot food had been served, Skye’s pulse was returning to normal speed. She hadn’t said anything to Liz or Clare, but she’d had a sleepless night worrying about this, her first big event. She had so wanted it to be a success, and so far, it was.

She paused for a moment in the doorway, watching people laughing and chatting. She envied those who could relax at parties, simply wander up to a group and join in. She’d always been one to hang back on the periphery.

It hadn’t helped that her parents could never understand her reticence. ‘Go on, don’t be shy,’ had been her mother’s refrain at social gatherings, as she’d try to push a young and nervous Skye into the fray. It had been a ridiculous approach; telling someone not to be shy was as futile as telling them not to be five feet four inches tall. Skye couldn’t help it; it was who she was.

But today Skye had pushed herself out of her comfort zone for the benefit of Liz’s business. Because if the party went well, then maybe they’d get more local jobs like this, instead of relying on tourists. Clare had tweaked the website and she had started to post her photos of Salcombe on Instagram, tagging the business. All good profile-building stuff, but they were going to need solid bookings to generate the profit to pay her dad back.

‘Excuse me, may I get by?’ said a voice from behind.

‘Sure, sorry!’

It was Noah, the guy Liz had introduced her to. He passed her, carrying a speaker, which he set up at the bottom of the garden. Soon, music filled the air and people got up to dance.

The rain had held off until now, but the clouds were getting heavier and darker. If they could just finish eating before the heavens opened, it would make their job a whole lot easier, Skye thought. The only access to the house was via the kitchen and trying to clear away in the tight space with tipsy party guests charging in to get out of the rain was an extra obstacle they didn’t need.

Skye left Liz decanting the passion-fruit fool she’d made for dessert into individual portions and went outside to clear the main course.

‘Are these finished with?’ She crouched down between Ele and Angel to collect their plates

‘Technically, I should be finished,’ Angel groaned, rubbing her stomach. ‘But I might have to have seconds. It was all so delicious.’

‘You’re enjoying your birthday party, then?’ Skye asked, thinking that Liz would be thrilled when she told her.

‘I really am.’ Angel held her glass out while the man next to her topped it up. ‘I feel really spoiled. Especially as my big brother Adam has come down from Bath to spend time with me. We’ve got the summer together because he’ll be working from Salcombe right through until September, so I’m really honoured.’

‘Wouldn’t have missed your birthday for the world,’ Adam replied, grinning at Skye. ‘Absolutely nothing to do with the thirty text messages you sent to remind me.’

‘Sounds like your sister really wanted you here,’ Skye replied, envious of their strong bond. She couldn’t imagine Clare ever saying anything like that about her.

‘We all do,’ said Ele, with an exaggerated sigh, batting her eyelashes at Adam. ‘But sadly to no avail.’

‘My brother is famously picky when it comes to women,’ said Angel to Skye, lowering her voice. ‘He had his heart broken once and refuses to risk it a second time.’