I can hear Abby’s arrival as she heads back downstairs chattering with each step. “That’s better - I’d been busting since I set off. Did you ring the order in?”
“All done and will be with us in 20 minutes. Come – let’s go veg out on the sofa and I want to hear all about Nathan and you.”
“Do you want me to carry anything, love? Trays, glasses, pillow to assist with the weight of your humongous nosey nose?”
My giggles are instinctive and we both chuckle at her silliness. “No, no and no! I haven’t got a humongous nose! I’ve everything upstairs already… including nosiness in abundance.” I add with a grin over my shoulder and head off up the short flight of stairs to the cosy entry-level lounge, throw out with a dramatic toss of my hair, “I’ve also got news.”
“Ooh sounds juicy. Me too.” She heads immediately over the mirrored console table that houses the vase with the roses I’ve received to date. I can see her mentally counting. “You got another one - when?”
I nod. “The sixth. Came yesterday with some message about us ‘needing to communicate and meet up’.”
“Well, I’ll agree with that. They’re beautiful though aren’t they - even when dried?”
“I know, I can’t bring myself to throw them away. Too bloody sentimental for my own good.”
“Something vintage about dried roses isn’t there and I love the diamante - bit of bling; very stylish! No matter what we say about these Silver men, they have taste in bucket-loads - spose we have Bitzi to thanks for that?”
Abs refers to Nathan and Sebastian’s twinkly-eyed mother, Elizabeth Silver, known to her friends as Bitzi. She was a force to be reckoned with when crossed and a blessing when you were in her favour - the latter was something I had truly received firsthand experience at Seb’s house-warming party when Toni had showed her talons. “Bitzi is one of a kind and her sons adore her.”
“She scares me shitless!”
“Don’t be daft, once you get to know her she’s wonderful. I promise.”
“I’m meeting them properly next weekend for Sunday lunch - Nathan insists her gravy is better than the gravy at The Babes in Arms.”
“No! Really? Wow, you must go then.”
“Are you teasing me, you mare?”
“Of course not, I’m deadly serious. The Babes in Arms pub gravy is to-die-for.” I wink back at her sulky face, still pretty despite the downturn to her mouth. “Honestly, Abs, this is brilliant news. You and Nathan are taking the next step forward and meeting the parents.”
“Well, we’ll see. Let’s hope there’s no surprises in store.”
“What like they’re Fred and Rose West in disguise, desperate to bury you in the back garden? I can assure you they are lovely and not serial killers.”
Her laugh fills the room, and she takes a gulp of her drink before continuing. “No, I was thinking more along the lines of praying that he doesn’t turn out to be called Gaylord Focker!”
I grin at the character from one of our favourite films. “Well, I bloody hope not or that would mean Sebastian would be a Focker too - actually he’s been a Royal Focker for the past week, so that’s pretty apt. What could his first name be though?”
“Hmmm - what about Mutha?”
Our belly laughs continue and after several minutes I need to stop and take a breath. “I can’t breath. You are so daft. Honestly, you’ll love them and they will adore you - who couldn’t?”
“Dave’s parents.”
“Hunny, Dave’s parents were Fred and Rose West so you never stood a chance and Dave was seriously screwed up. You weren’t the problem - they were.”
“Thanks, babe. You always have my back.”
“I do but it works both ways.”
We settle cosily into the cushions, wine glasses in our hands and gossip at the ready. “I’ve missed this - I feel like I haven’t had a proper Abby fix in forever.”
“I’ve been here, babe - you were just in a fog for most of it - you’d checked into The Lovesick Hotel.”
“I’m sorry I’ve been so pathetic, Abs.”
“Not at all - that’s what friends are for. To tell you to your face how pathetic you are and help you do something about it!”
We laugh in unison and I take a large gulp of my wine, the cool crisp flavour coating my throat and warming my belly nicely. “Well things are better. I mean he’s definitely not off the hook yet but he’s explained who Ray was and why she was there.”
“I should fucking hope so, I mean you need to sort it but he’s got some major grovelling to do.”