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‘Count me in,’ said Hanna. ‘I can’t wait to see what cracker Griff’s pulled this year. Does he ever bring the same girl twice? I’ve heard, from Barbra Brimble that all his women have three things in common. They're always gorgeous. They always seem to be madly in love with him. They never get invited back. Is that true? You’ve known the brothers all their lives, haven’t you?’
Grace didn’t feel comfortable talking about Griff like this, although only a matter of days ago she would’ve happily done so. But now, somehow, it didn’t seem right. As for Barbra Brimble, as nice as the woman was, she was a dreadful gossip. She and her husband, Bernard owned Brimble’s B&B on the other side of the tiny village.
‘He hasn’t said he’s bringing anyone to the dance this year. And as he’s home already, I’m not sure he will.’
Grace hadn’t actually asked him. And now she wondered if he would.
‘Well, he could take me. And probably most of the women in the village,’ Hanna said.
‘Not me,’ Grace said. ‘I prefer Russell.’ Even as she said it, she wasn’t so sure now that it was true. ‘I’d better go. Mum expecting me for lunch. I’ll see you up at Betancourt tomorrow. I’ll be there from around nine-thirty onwards. Erm. One word of advice. Try to stay out of Bianca’s way. She’s feeling a little frazzled by the fact that this is all so last minute.’
‘What happened to the firm that does it every year?’
‘Scheduling conflict, I believe. Or they forgot to book it in. I’m not entirely sure.’
‘Oh well. It’s worked out well for you, hasn’t it?’
‘I think so. Ask me again on Christmas Eve.’
Grace laughed and said goodbye and made her way back to The White House for lunch.
‘Why are we going to see the doctor?’ Granny Joy was asking when Grace opened the front door. She and Pat were in the sitting room and the TV was blaring so Granny Joy was shouting above the noise.
‘Because you flooded your house and singed your eyebrow, remember?’ said Pat.
‘Of course I remember. I’m not senile yet you know.’
‘That’s a matter for debate,’ Hope whispered, as she came down the stairs and met Grace in the hall. ‘Are you eavesdropping too?’
‘As the whole of Betancourt Bay can probably hear Granny, it’s hardly eavesdropping, is it?’
‘I heard that, Grace,’ yelled Granny Joy. ‘I’m not deaf either.’
‘You should’ve whispered,’ said Hope, grinning.
‘I’m not blind either, Hope. I can see you loitering on the stairs.’
‘Have we just covered the three brass monkeys?’ Hope said. ‘Deaf, dumb, and blind? Or not, in Granny’s case.’
‘That’s the wrong context, I think,’ Grace giggled. ‘And isn’t it the three wise monkeys?’
‘Not in this house.’
‘What are you two laughing about? You wait until you’re in your eighties and see if you’re still laughing then. Why are we going to see the doctor?’ Granny Joy asked again, but this time added, ‘Are you ill, Pat? You don’t look well, I agree.’
‘It’s time for lunch, Mum,’ said Pat, and both she and Granny Joy appeared in the doorway, Granny Joy grinning, and Pat looking as if she bore the burdens of the world on her shoulders.
‘I’ll make lunch,’ Grace offered. ‘You go and sit back down on the sofa. I’ll call you when it’s ready.’
‘That’s kind, darling, but I made a casserole. It’s in the oven and it should be ready about now. But you can dish it up if you don’t mind.’
‘Is Dad coming home for lunch?’
‘No. He’ll be out all day. But he is meeting me at the doctor’s later.’
‘Why are we going to the doctor?’ Granny Joy repeated.
‘We’re not, Mum,’ Pat said. ‘We’re going to the kitchen for lunch.’
