Drip Dry by Ilsa Evans Page B

few inches on Keith), and follows his sister’s lead.
    â€˜Alex.’
    â€˜Keith.’
    That must be the most reluctant handshake I have ever witnessed. And, I must say, also the most unlikely handshake I ever expected. There was a lot of eye contact there, but very little of anything else except what could only be described as civilised male posturing. After barely a split second, they relinquish each other’s hand and return to their previous positions. And I bet that was also the firmest handshake that each could deliver. I smile wryly at Maggie, who is watching me carefully, and then I turn my attention back to Jaime, mainly because her perpetual wailing gives me little choice. I swear that the main reason for throwing birthday parties is to be convinced that children worse than your own do exist.
    â€˜So how long are you in town, Alan?’ Keith asks Alex. ‘Permanently, or just back for a flying visit?’
    â€˜Permanently,’ says Alex shortly. ‘And the name’s Alex.’
    â€˜Alec, did you say?’
    â€˜No, Alex .’
    â€˜Oh! Sorry, mate.’ Keith shakes his head ruefully. ‘I lose track of names.’
    â€˜So, Eustace, you’re helping out with the party, are you?’ Maggie looks at Keith sweetly. ‘That’s very sporting of you. Very sporting indeed.’
    â€˜Huh?’ Keith looks confused. ‘What did you call me?’
    â€˜Don’t tell me I got your name wrong! How embarrassing!’ Maggie has the grace to even look embarrassed. ‘And it’s not that I can’t keep track – it’s just this old brain of mine will only take in the important stuff. So what was your name again?’
    â€˜Keith,’ says Keith stiffly.
    â€˜Ah, Keith, Keith – Keith,’ Maggie repeats slowly. ‘No, sorry – it’s gone again. Straight in one ear and out the other. Terribly sorry.’
    At this point Sam, who has been watching this exchange with considerable interest, snorts loudly and puts her hand over her mouth. Alex takes a sip of wine and leans back with a grin on his face, and Maggie smiles apologetically at Keith. The body language of the latter, I know from bitter experience, is not looking promising for an amicable relationship to develop here. When will this nightmare end? As if in answer to my prayers, the doorbell rings.
    â€˜Keith, could you take care of that, please,’ I say with relief. ‘I’m afraid I’ve got my hands a bit full here.’
    â€˜Not a problem, love.’ He shoots Alex a rather triumphant look and pats me on the arm as he leaves the room with the air of someone who is right at home. I realise that I may have made a tactical error. Certainly the three at the table are looking at me suspiciously, as if there is something that I’m not telling them. But I only wanted to get rid of him!
    â€˜Maybe this is a bad time.’ Alex drains his glass of wine and stands up.
    â€˜Yes.’ Maggie takes his glass and places it, with hers, onto the counter.
    â€˜I’ll go grab a jacket.’ My faithless daughter flits off in the direction of her bedroom without sparing me even a backward glance.
    â€˜Well, it was nice to see you again,’ I say lamely as I clap my hand over Jaime’s mouth to shut her up. As her noise ceases abruptly, the unremitting drone coming from the lounge-room mutates into intelligible sentences.
    â€˜This is a boring video.’
    â€˜CJ, is that your mother?’
    â€˜Hey! She’s got no clothes on!’
    â€˜My dad’s got videos like this and I’m not allowed to watch them, you know.’
    â€˜CJ – press rewind and let’s see her go backwards!’
    â€˜Holy Mary, mother of God!’
    This last comment was quite obviously not from a child, but from an adult female – probably the mother who Keith went to meet at the front door. I stare at Maggie and Alex in consternation as I