you in a sec.’
As Luke closes the door behind him, I exhale like a deflating balloon. The others seem a bit shell-shocked too.
‘Well, that was a bit sudden,’ says Tom.
‘So we don’t need to hold 7 April any more?’ says Danny.
‘Probably for the best,’ says Jess. ‘Becky, I hate to say it, but you would never have pulled that party off.’
‘Yes I would.’ I glower at her.
‘Well anyway!’ says Suze hastily. ‘It doesn’t matter now, because it’s not going to happen. It’s irrelevant.’
I feel a pang of resentment. Everyone’s just assuming I’ll give up on the idea, aren’t they? Everyone’s assuming I can’t do it. These are supposed to be my friends. They’re supposed to believe in me.
Well, I’ll show them.
‘It’s not irrelevant. And it is going to happen.’ I look around the room, feeling my resolve grow. ‘I’m not going to let that stupid vicar ruin my plans. I’m still going to throw Luke a surprise birthday party. And I’ll do it on a budget, and I’ll keep it totally secret from Luke and I’ll blow his socks off.’
I just about manage to stop myself adding, So there .
‘Bex …’ Suze glances around at the others. ‘It’s not that we think you can’t do it—’
‘Yes it is!’ I say indignantly. ‘That’s exactly what you said! Well, you’ll all be eating your words.’
‘So what’s going on?’ Danny looks up from his BlackBerry, which he’s been tapping at yet again. ‘Is the party on or off?’
‘On,’ I say resolutely. ‘Definitely on.’
People Who Know About Party
Me
Suze
Tarquin
Danny
Jess
Tom
Total = 6
SIX
I’m already making good progress with this party – in fact I’m quite proud of myself, bearing in mind I’m not a professional party planner or anything. I’ve bought a special notebook which I’ve disguised by writing ‘High-heeled boots – possible options’ on the front. And already I have an extensive to-do list, which goes as follows:
Party – To-Do List
Marquee – where get? Where put? How big?
Fire-eaters – where get??
Jugglers – where get???
Theme – what?
Food – what? how? (Chocolate fountain?)
Drink – NOT peach wine
Dancing – need dance-floor. Shiny? Black and white, lights up like in Saturday Night Fever?
G ue sts – who? Track down old friends? (NOT Venetia Carter or Sacha de Bonneville)
Outfit – Ba lm ain black sequinned dress with Zanotti crystal sandals and Philippe Audibert cuff? Rol and Mouret turquoise dress with strappy Prada shoes? Azzaro red minidress and black Louboutins?
OK, so a few issues are a bit unresolved as yet. But the most urgent thing is to make sure Luke stays free on 7 April and doesn’t book a business trip or anything. Which means I’m going to have to rope in an accomplice.
I wait until I have a moment alone in the kitchen, then dial his office number.
‘Luke Brandon’s office, how may I help?’ come the perfectly modulated tones down the phone.
Luke’s personal assistant is called Bonnie, and she’s been with him for a year. She’s in her forties and has mid-blonde hair which she always arranges in the same classic chignon. And she always wears understated tweed dresses and court shoes and speaks in the same soft voice. At Brandon Communications parties she’s always the one on the fringes, cradling a glass of water, looking happy just to watch. I’ve tried to chat to her a couple of times, but she seems quite reserved.
Anyway, apparently she’s a total star. Luke had had a couple of disasters before he hired Bonnie and I’ve never known anyone enthuse as much as he did when Bonnie first started. Apparently she’s incredibly efficient and discreet, and almost telepathic at knowing what he’s going to need. I’d almost be worried, if it weren’t for the fact that I can’t actually imagine Bonnie having sex.
‘Hi, Bonnie?’ I say. ‘It’s Becky here. Luke’s wife.’
‘Becky! How are you?’
That’s the other thing. She always sounds
Anne Williams, Vivian Head
Shelby Rebecca
Susan Mallery
L. A. Banks
James Roy Daley
Shannon Delany
Richard L. Sanders
Evie Rhodes
Sean Michael
Sarah Miller