Having a Ball (17 page)

Of course he realised he fancied her. She was acting like a total idiot
around him.

Taking up her mug, she frowned. On the other hand, she had thought he
fancied her, too. It had certainly looked like it that night in the library. Perhaps he
just couldn't help playing games. He obviously wasn't after a girlfriend. He couldn't
have made that any clearer. And if he was after an easy lay, he had another think
coming.

She took a thoughtful sip of tea. Even if she were tempted to have a short
fling with him, which, she quickly reassured herself, she wasn't. She certainly
wouldn't want to be second fiddle to that Vienna woman.

Ugh. Vienna. Stevie shuddered. The idea of being someone's booty call
was just a little...seedy. Or needy, if you thought of it that way.

The worst thing about all this was that Marsh had been right. Again. It
was infuriating how he always managed to be right. She pulled her phone out and
looked at it thoughtfully. She was tempted to phone him, like she always did when
anything went wrong. He had always been able to swoop in and help. Or at least
give her a brotherly shoulder to cry on. But this was supposed to be her chance to
show that she was a grown up. She couldn't very well go crying to her big brother
because she'd fallen into the very trap he'd warned her about in the first place. She
sighed and put her phone away.

She looked down at her tatty cut-off jeans and made a mental note to
schedule some pamper time in before the ball. If Vienna was going to come round
and be glamorous, the least she could do was try and look fresh and youthful.
Besides, it was important for her to be cool and professional as the party planner.
The ball was just as much an advertisement for her services as it was a
fundraiser.

The thought reminded her that she needed to check if anyone else had
emailed for tickets. Since Alice's announcement on her forum that Pete was going
to be there, the tickets were flying out. At the rate they were selling, they would be
sold out in time for the ball. Which meant that the ball would more than break even.
Given the fact that they'd budgeted for a shortfall and done as much as they could
on a shoestring, the charity could make a small profit.

Opening her email, she found a few more requests for tickets. She sent
them payment details and added the standard disclaimer about alcohol, just in
case.

* * * *

From: Tom Blackwood

To: Olivia Gornall

She's sitting outside looking
really sad. I think I might have upset her.

##

From: Olivia Gornall

To: Tom Blackwood

D'you think? You're playing
stupid games with her. She's not one of your highflying city girls that
you normally dally with. If she's as young and naive as you say, she's
going to be totally bewildered.

##

From: Tom Blackwood

To: Olivia Gornall

I didn't mean to hurt her. The
realisation that she's attracted to me as I am to her was so exhilarating.
I shall have to be really careful with her in future.
I'm going to have
to think of a way to make it up to her. Without coming onto her. Or
touching her, preferably. I'm not sure I have THAT much
self-restraint.

* * * *

Listing on eBay.co.uk posted by penguin82
You are bidding for the
exclusive opportunity to meet Pete Gosling from Triphoppers in an informal
setting. Pete will be attending a charity ball held in Oxford to raise money for
Project Peds, which is trying to buy equipment for a ward in a children's hospital in
Tsunami struck Sri Lanka. There are only a limited number of tickets being issued
to the public for this ball.
All proceeds will go to this charity.
Happy
Bidding!

* * * *

Getting the upper boards hung in place took them several hours, with
Stevie standing on the stepladder and Tom on a chair. Once they were done, Tom
and Alice waited while Stevie turned the lights out. The room became instantly
dark. Only the few rays of light that forced their way through small chinks round
the edges of the boards showed how bright the day was.

"Oh wow!" Alice spun round. "That's amazing! There's, like, no light
coming through."

"Not surprising since they're blackout boards," Tom said.

Alice ignored him.

Stevie turned the lights back on. "That is pretty effective." She was so
pleased with her discovery.

"Those boards are quite thick." Tom rapped the wood. "They'll probably
give very good sound insulation too, which should keep the neighbours
happy."

"If we close the serving hatch, we can put a table there for Priya's nephew
to do the DJ bit," said Stevie. "We can always put a table across the other door to the
make a makeshift bar."

"Good idea. That'll limit the number of people crowding round at any one
time," said Tom.

"We'll need some sort of lighting system though." Stevie glanced
dubiously at the old iron light fitting. "Something a bit more...disco."

"Like a mirror ball?" Tom said.

"A mirror ball! That is
so
lame, Uncle Tom."

"Actually," said Stevie. "A mirror ball would work. We'd still have to have
something that shone some lights onto it. Preferably coloured lights."

"Gran's got a couple of strong lights that she got when the kitchen was
being redone." said Alice. "They've got pretty powerful beams."

"I wonder if she's still got that bubble machine thing that you used to love
so much when you were younger, Alice."

"That was years ago." Alice gave him a withering look.

"Only a few years."

"I don't think bubbles would be appropriate..." Stevie began.

"I wasn't thinking of bubbles. This gizmo had a rotating bit in front. If we
could attach some coloured acetate, you could have different coloured lights
coming through--"

"And they'd reflect off the mirror ball." Stevie finished the sentence.
"That's brilliant! We should try that."

Alice looked from one to the other. "You Seventies people are
so
weird."

"I wasn't alive in the Seventies."

"Neither was I."

"Whatever," said Alice. "Do you want me to go to the party shop to see if I
can find a mirror ball then?"

"I'll come with you." Stevie looked down at her grime-spattered clothes.
"Although, it might be an idea if we changed first."

They returned a few hours later carrying, not just a mirror ball, but a
whole disco lighting set.

"Stevie talked to the guy." Alice ushered in Priya and Evelyn in while
Stevie plugged in the lighting and Tom hung the mirror ball from the middle of the
old light fitting. "She gave him all this chat about how it was for a good cause and
everything and he said he'd loan the whole kit out to us for free! It was incredible."
Alice's eyes glittered as she gazed at Stevie with open admiration.

"Not quite." Stevie slotted the coloured filters into place. She still felt
uncomfortable when Alice looked on her as some sort of role model. It just didn't
seem right.

"We paid a deposit. And we have to have a notice somewhere saying
'lighting supplied by...' and mention his shop to people who ask. But he said if we
brought the kit back in one piece, he'd give us all of our deposit back, seeing as it
was for a good cause." She stood up. "Okay. I think we're ready."

She glanced at Tom, who gave her the thumbs up.

Alice turned the lights off and Stevie flicked a switch. The room filled with
dancing spots of multicoloured light.

Alice gave a little shriek. "That's
awesome
!"

Evelyn started to laugh. After a second Priya joined her.

Alice leapt into the middle of what would be the dance floor and struck a
pose.

"All we need now, is some music," said Priya.

"Hang on." Alice dashed out. A minute later the serving hatch from the
bar opened and Alice pushed the CD player to it and connected up her phone.
Suddenly the room was full of Triphoppers music.

Alice ran back in and started jumping around to the music. Tom dragged
the coffee table into a corner to give her more room. Priya and Evelyn applauded,
still laughing.

"Come on." Alice grabbed Stevie's hand and dragged her onto the
makeshift dance floor.

She looked self-consciously at Tom, who was now busy pulling a comfy
chair back. He wasn't paying attention to her.

Oh, what the heck.
She laughed and threw herself into
dancing.

* * * *

From: Tom Blackwood

To: Olivia Gornall

Just had a call from Terry to
say that the shortlist for the Doha job has been finalised. It's between
me, Dierdre and some guy from the French office.
I was a little
surprised to hear that. To be honest, I'd forgotten that today was a
weekday.

##

From: Olivia Gornall

To: Tom Blackwood

Shut up you, man of
leisure.
Sounds like you're having fun. How are the headaches and
things?

##

From: Tom Blackwood

To: Olivia Gornall

I haven't had a headache in
two days! And I've been sleeping quite well. Mind you, I tend to be
totally knackered from digging/pruning/hanging up 10 ton oak panels
for blackout blinds by the time I go to bed. That might have something
to do with it. I guess you were right, doing something different is as
good as a holiday.
Did I tell you that I dusted down Dad's wine
collection yesterday afternoon? I don't think Mum's touched it since
Dad died. I think she's been drinking supermarket
plonk.

##

From: Olivia Gornall

To: Tom Blackwood

Poor Evelyn. She and your
Dad were very much in love weren't they? I remember noticing even
when I was a kid. I'll never forget the way they looked at each other
when Dan did their toast at their ruby wedding anniversary. So
sweet.
Not like my parents! They've been divorced for years, but
they can still rip strips off each other if they meet.
You know,
perhaps you and your Mum are more alike than you think. Have you
tried talking to her about your little breakdown
yet?

##

From: Tom Blackwood

To: Olivia Gornall

You know what Mum's like.
She doesn't talk about stuff like that.

##

From: Olivia Gornall

To: Tom Blackwood

You can still
try.

##

From: Tom Blackwood

To: Olivia Gornall

That's what Stevie said. She
implied that I should try and talk to her while I still had her. I guess
Stevie never got the chance.

##

From: Olivia Gornall

To: Tom Blackwood

I wondered how long it
would take you to turn the conversation round to Wondergirl. What's
she up to today? Still running around barefoot?

##

From: Tom Blackwood

To: Olivia Gornall

Oh, shut
up.

##

From: Olivia Gornall

To: Tom Blackwood

Oooooh!
Touchy!

* * * *

From: < EBay seller Penguin82>
To:

Congratulations! You are the
winning bidder for this item:
Two tickets to exclusive event with
Pete from TripHoppers
Winning bid £480.

From: Tom Blackwood

To: Olivia Gornall

I had a brainwave overnight
of something to do in the garden. I'm going to have to rope Alice in to
help. I might surprise Stevie with it.
I just hope I can find enough
lights at such short notice.
Tom

* * * *

It was still relatively early when Stevie walked around the garden and
everything was damp with dew. Tom had done a great job, but there was still quite
a lot to do. It was mostly small but irritating jobs like weeding and making sure
there were no stray bits of rose to snag passing skirts or shawls. As she walked
round, she jotted down notes.

The gazebo was now covered in pink rosebuds and cleared of stray
branches. Its benches were clean, but the paint was peeling. There was still time to
paint them before the ball, provided it didn't rain.

Sitting on the bench, she closed her eyes and breathed in. A faint scent of
roses enveloped her. Birdsong filled the perfectly still morning air. It was almost
possible to believe she was in a country house and there wasn't a city just five
minutes away.

On the other side of the house, a car drove past, shattering the illusion,
but the garden was still quieter than London ever was. She would miss this place
when she had to go back to her own little flat. She would miss the house, the work
and most of all, the people. In the past week she'd got to know Evelyn, Alice and
Priya well. She felt like she belonged in their little group. It was a feeling she hadn't
had in a long time.

The sound of someone clattering down the metal steps made her open
her eyes. She stepped out of the gazebo to see Tom sauntering along wearing his
work jeans and a t-shirt, with a pair of gardening gloves in his hand.

"Hello," he said. "Checking up on my work again?"

"It's my job."