we can’t stay really,’ Simon said.
Hannah glanced at him. ‘Really?’
He nodded. ‘Yeah, food, drink and a band – it’d be great.’
Hannah tried to work out whether he was being serious or not. ‘We could maybe come back later if you like,’ she said, testing the waters.
‘Okay, sounds good,’ he said. ‘But not with Sadie. I mean – well, you know . . .’ Simon hesitated, as if waiting to see if Hannah was going to protest and then, when she didn’t, he smiled and added, ‘It’s not exactly her kind of thing, is it?’
‘No – I suppose not. Not enough thrash metal and swearing.’
Simon laughed and then shifted his weight. ‘You know my mum won’t let her and Tucker come round ours any more. Did I tell you that?’
Hannah shook her head and was about to ask why when she saw Megan hurrying across the marquee towards them.
‘Where on earth have you been? Mum’s looking all over for you,’ Megan said indignantly, casting a cool appraising eye over Simon. ‘Dad’s going leery because you said you were going to be here to help him with the lights and the photos and stuff. It’s not fair, I’m not going to cover for you – you’re in big trouble, they’re really annoyed that you cleared off.’
‘All right, all right, I know, I know,’ said Hannah, not wanting to be shown up by Megan in front of Simon. ‘Did you tell them where I was?’
‘No, of course I didn’t,’ snapped Megan. ‘But what if they ask me again?’
Hannah shot a sharp look at Simon who took the hint and wandered off.
‘It’s all cool, okay? I’ve just been hanging out with Sadie for a bit and now I’ve come back to pick up a couple of things,’ she hissed angrily.
Megan eyed her suspiciously before taking another look at Simon. ‘What do you mean, like running an errand or something?’
Hannah nodded. ‘Yeah, like running an errand or something.’
Megan didn’t look convinced. ‘Who for? I thought you just said that you were hanging out with Sadie—’
‘I was,’ said Hannah ignoring the question. ‘But I’ve come back to get this stuff sorted out. All right? So where did you say Mum and Dad are?’
‘They’ve gone home to get changed. They shouldn’t be very long. Dad said if we want anything before they come back then we’ve got to go in and ask Liz.’
‘And where’s Liz now?’ asked Hannah, glancing around the marquee.
‘Still upstairs getting ready as far as I know. So are you going to stay and help now?’
Hannah looked over towards the bar, where a woman with big earrings was busy fitting bottles up into the optics. ‘No, not at the minute. I just told you, I’ve got to get stuff.’ Hannah was hoping that if she said it forcefully enough that Megan would assume it was one of the grown-ups who had sent her.
Megan looked as if she was about to argue and then said, ‘Well, all right, but you’d better hurry up and get back. Mum said they were only going to be gone for half an hour and they’re expecting you to be here to help.’
‘I know, I know, now just get off my case, will you?’ snapped Hannah. ‘I just need to do this first, all right ?’
‘Can I come?’
Hannah stared at her in amazement. ‘What? What do you mean, can you come?’
‘With you. It’s going to be so boring here.’
‘I don’t think so,’ said Hannah.
‘You’re going to do something, aren’t you? You’re up to something.’
Hannah sighed. ‘What’s it got to do with you what I get up to?’
‘Why don’t you just let me tag along? I won’t be any trouble, I promise. Please.’
Hannah rolled her eyes. ‘Why would I want to drag you along?’
Megan flinched. ‘I’ll tell them you were here.’
‘Tell them what you like.’
‘You know Mum’s really worried about you going around with Sadie, she thinks you’re going to get into drugs or get pregnant or—’
Hannah swung round. Stepping in close to her little sister, she loomed over her. ‘Why don’t you just shut up? What I do is my business, all right ?’
‘You used to like it when we did stuff together.’
‘Uh-huh, and I used to think there was a tooth fairy too,’ snapped Hannah.
‘I miss you,’ said Megan miserably as Hannah turned away. The words caught hold of her heart and made her wince but Hannah didn’t turn back.
Instead Megan sniffed and went back to her job while Hannah made her way to the bar with a certain determination in her step.
‘You okay?’ asked Simon, hurrying across to catch up with her.
Hannah nodded. ‘I’m fine.’
The barmaid had just put up a bottle of gin on the bar.
Hannah hesitated for a second or two and then, putting on her most helpful-child-on-an-errand face, said politely, ‘Excuse me?’
The woman turned round and smiled. ‘Hi there, honey. You all right? What do you want?’
Hannah took a deep breath and, pretending that she was reciting a list, said, ‘I’ve got to come and get a bottle of vodka and a bottle of champagne, please.’
The woman laughed. ‘Really? What sort of cocktail is that for then? Do you need any mixers? Orange juice or something?’ She indicated the rest of the bottles stacked up in crates.
Hannah glanced up at Simon who pulled a face. ‘I don’t know,’ she said, looking back at the barmaid. ‘I don’t think so. I just had to come and get vodka and champagne.’
‘Righty-oh, well, if you want anything else you’ll have to come back and I’ll sort you out. Hang on.’ The barmaid reached in under the bar. ‘There we go, me dear,’ she said, sliding a bottle of vodka across the counter. ‘You’re not planning a little party of your own somewhere, are you?’ she added, although it didn’t sound as if she was expecting an answer. ‘I just need to book it out. It’s not a problem. I can get the boss to bring me down another bottle when he comes. I’m not in charge of champagne though, you’ll have to go and ask one of the catering staff for that.’ As she spoke the woman took a pad of paper off the bar and began to write. Hannah could feel her colour and her heart rate rising and waited anxiously for the hammer to fall. Instead the woman looked up at her. ‘Was there anything else you wanted, pet?’ she said. ‘Orange juice? Maybe a lemonade or a Coke
