to a man with a seafood allergy?’ I feel a flicker of triumph when I see Sal’s head bow. ‘You know what, Sal? You’re lucky to have me – because I can tell you this now; there’s no one else out there who would want someone as stupid as you. And if you carry on the way you are doing, even I won’t want you any more and nor will Maggie.’
Chapter Nineteen
SAL
I can hear the telephone ringing as I fumble to get my key in the front door. Maggie is tugging on the hem of my T-shirt, whinging and whining due to being hot and tired after the bus journey back from my mum’s. I know it can only be you calling me on the landline, which makes me fumble even more in my haste to get to the phone before you ring off and I have to call you back and explain myself.
‘Hello?’ I puff into the phone, trying my hardest to make it sound like I’m not out of breath. Maggie lets me go and stomps off into the living room, muttering under her breath.
‘Sal? Why are you out of breath? Where have you been?’ I can hear the sharp edge of irritation in your voice in that one sentence.
Please, Maggie, don’t shout out anything about Nonna or Aunty Anna.
I take a deep breath and try to calm my breathing.
‘Just in the garden. Why? What’s wrong?’ My heart sinks as you begin to whisper into the phone something about Mr and Mrs Hunter coming for a dinner party. Funnily enough, my first thought is that Anita must be in your office or there’s no way you would be keeping it together this much. Then realisation dawns as I take in what you’re actually telling me. Your boss, and his wife, are coming
tonight
at eight o’clock and will be expecting me to serve up a full-on, three-course dinner. In a spotless house. And your chances of making partner rest not only on completing this deal with Pav-whatever and Otex, but also on the outcome of this dinner party. Which I am sure I have never heard of before this conversation.
Shit.
Looking around while you hiss menacingly into my ear, I take in the toys Maggie has strewn around the living room, the shoes jumbled at the bottom of the stairs, and I know that I haven’t finished tidying the kitchen from breakfast this morning. I thought at the time I’d have a good few hours when I got home from visiting my parents to deal with it all.
I try to tell you that I didn’t know about the dinner party, that I am sure, one hundred per cent sure, that you never told me about it, but as you launch into another tirade about how useless I am, how you told me about it weeks ago, etcetera, I feel myself getting riled.
I know you never told me about it. I’m sure you didn’t. Did you?
Beginning to doubt myself, I hold my tongue and you bark into the phone that you’ll be home at six. That gives me just four hours to get the bus back into town, pick up the groceries, clean the house and make myself look presentable.
‘Mags, get your shoes back on,’ I call through to Maggie, who starts to grumble at the thought of going back out again.
As we walk down the front path, Laura pokes her head out from next door.
‘All right, Sal? I thought I just saw you get back – are you off out again?’ She smiles and flicks her red hair away from her face. As usual baby Fred is winding his way around her legs.
‘Hi, Laura. We’re just popping up to town – Charlie’s boss is coming for dinner tonight and I … kind of forgot. I have to go and pick up the dinner.’ I smile at her, sheepishly.
‘So … are you not taking the car?’ Eagle-eyed, Laura has noticed that Maggie and I have reached the gate and are leaving without wheels. Smile fading, I pause for a minute, unsure of what to tell her. I don’t want to have to explain why I’m going all the way into town, but not bothering to take the car. Thinking fast I say, ‘It needs a service. Charlie doesn’t want to use it until it’s sorted, in case it’s dangerous, you know? So we’re going on a bus adventure.’
‘Right.’ Laura nods
Chapter Nineteen
SAL
I can hear the telephone ringing as I fumble to get my key in the front door. Maggie is tugging on the hem of my T-shirt, whinging and whining due to being hot and tired after the bus journey back from my mum’s. I know it can only be you calling me on the landline, which makes me fumble even more in my haste to get to the phone before you ring off and I have to call you back and explain myself.
‘Hello?’ I puff into the phone, trying my hardest to make it sound like I’m not out of breath. Maggie lets me go and stomps off into the living room, muttering under her breath.
‘Sal? Why are you out of breath? Where have you been?’ I can hear the sharp edge of irritation in your voice in that one sentence.
Please, Maggie, don’t shout out anything about Nonna or Aunty Anna.
I take a deep breath and try to calm my breathing.
‘Just in the garden. Why? What’s wrong?’ My heart sinks as you begin to whisper into the phone something about Mr and Mrs Hunter coming for a dinner party. Funnily enough, my first thought is that Anita must be in your office or there’s no way you would be keeping it together this much. Then realisation dawns as I take in what you’re actually telling me. Your boss, and his wife, are coming
tonight
at eight o’clock and will be expecting me to serve up a full-on, three-course dinner. In a spotless house. And your chances of making partner rest not only on completing this deal with Pav-whatever and Otex, but also on the outcome of this dinner party. Which I am sure I have never heard of before this conversation.
Shit.
Looking around while you hiss menacingly into my ear, I take in the toys Maggie has strewn around the living room, the shoes jumbled at the bottom of the stairs, and I know that I haven’t finished tidying the kitchen from breakfast this morning. I thought at the time I’d have a good few hours when I got home from visiting my parents to deal with it all.
I try to tell you that I didn’t know about the dinner party, that I am sure, one hundred per cent sure, that you never told me about it, but as you launch into another tirade about how useless I am, how you told me about it weeks ago, etcetera, I feel myself getting riled.
I know you never told me about it. I’m sure you didn’t. Did you?
Beginning to doubt myself, I hold my tongue and you bark into the phone that you’ll be home at six. That gives me just four hours to get the bus back into town, pick up the groceries, clean the house and make myself look presentable.
‘Mags, get your shoes back on,’ I call through to Maggie, who starts to grumble at the thought of going back out again.
As we walk down the front path, Laura pokes her head out from next door.
‘All right, Sal? I thought I just saw you get back – are you off out again?’ She smiles and flicks her red hair away from her face. As usual baby Fred is winding his way around her legs.
‘Hi, Laura. We’re just popping up to town – Charlie’s boss is coming for dinner tonight and I … kind of forgot. I have to go and pick up the dinner.’ I smile at her, sheepishly.
‘So … are you not taking the car?’ Eagle-eyed, Laura has noticed that Maggie and I have reached the gate and are leaving without wheels. Smile fading, I pause for a minute, unsure of what to tell her. I don’t want to have to explain why I’m going all the way into town, but not bothering to take the car. Thinking fast I say, ‘It needs a service. Charlie doesn’t want to use it until it’s sorted, in case it’s dangerous, you know? So we’re going on a bus adventure.’
‘Right.’ Laura nods
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