‘This is great,’ said Romany, who somehow managed to look stylish in her yellow cracker crown. ‘Thanks so much everyone.’
No doubt someone would have to mention Angie at some point in the proceedings, but not just yet, Maggie thought. Leon also appeared to be thinking that the moment needed to be delayed as he reached for the drinks menu.
‘Shall we order some wine?’ he asked, and they all jumped at the chance to focus on something other than the absence of Angie as a discussion on what type and how much ensued. After that there was much cooing over the menu, which gave a choice of several dishes for each course but with no turkey in sight.
Conversation began, opening with Romany’s offer from Durham and the trip that she and Tiger had taken to look round, and then moving on to more random topics as the wine flowed. The meal was interspersed with various amuse-bouche and complimentary extras that they all passed judgement on, favourable or otherwise depending on taste. They were just finishing their main courses when a loud clapping started up behind them. Maggie turned to see that the chef and his team, all in glowing whites, had emerged from the kitchen to take applause. Maggie thought it a little pretentious, but perhaps it was a Christmas Day thing, which seemed fair enough when all the kitchen and waiting staff had sacrificed their own family Christmases to make their guests’ days perfect.
Maggie turned in her seat so that she was facing the team, and then joined in the clapping. It seemed to be going on for an inordinate length of time, to her mind at least, and so she let her eye run along the line. It settled on the oldest, who was standing in the middle wearing a tall chef’s hat and beaming. He was probably the main man, she thought. He looked familiar, but she couldn’t place him.
The hubbub died down and the team headed back into the kitchen to prepare dessert. What was left of Maggie’s meal had gone cold and so she put her knife and fork down, ready to wait for whatever was coming next. She was hardly going to go hungry, given the amount of food they had been served.
Then she felt a tap on her shoulder and turned round to see Hope standing there. Guilt flooded Maggie at once and she could feel heat roaring into her face. How had Hope found out? Was she, just like the bad fairy in Sleeping Beauty, going to make an embarrassing fuss about not having been invited to the party? It was, of course, unlikely, but Maggie couldn’t help but feel terrible that they were so obviously all there without her.
But Hope was smiling broadly. She looked stunning in an elegantly cut black cocktail dress with sparkles cascading down the front like a diamanté waterfall.
‘Hi everyone,’ she said, quickly bestowing a dazzling smile on each of them that left Tiger barely able to close his mouth. Maggie’s irritation began to fizz. Could he not show a bit more self-control? It was pathetic, it really was. She didn’t look to see what effect Hope was having on Leon.
‘Hi Romany,’ Hope continued, ‘and merry Christmas. Are you having a lovely time?’
‘Hi,’ said Romany. ‘Merry Christmas to you too. Yes, we are, thanks. What are you doing here? Are you eating?’ Romany looked around the room, trying to identify which group Hope was with.
‘No such luck. I’m working,’ replied Hope with a little shrug that made Maggie want to roll her eyes. ‘This is my boyfriend Daniel’s place. It’s all hands to the pump today, so rather than sitting at home eating chocolate on my own, I thought I’d come in and help out.’
Maggie thought that it was highly unlikely that Hope ate chocolate, alone or otherwise. She probably did a full gym workout on Christmas Day. But that was why Maggie recognised the chef, she realised – from Hope’s thirtieth party.
‘And you’re all here. How lovely. I suppose it must be hard, your first Christmas without your mum.’
Maggie’s irritation rose still further. Did the woman have no sense? That was clearly going to be a difficult question, and one that didn’t need asking.
But Romany seemed prepared. ‘Yeah, it is hard, but Tiger suggested we did something totally different this year, and so here we are.’
‘Good idea,’ Hope replied, gracing Tiger with another of her beautiful smiles. Maggie smouldered, lips drawn in a tight line.
‘And thanks for your card and present,’ continued Romany. ‘A spa day is a really lovely idea. I’d love to come. Maybe we could fix it for after my mocks are over. I’ll need some serious me time then.’
‘Whenever suits you is good for me,’ said Hope. ‘Just give me a ring and I’ll arrange it.’