happened?’
‘Mum is really unhappy working for Suki at Klassy Kutz.’
Amy shuddered. ‘I know I sound a grammar snob but I’ve always hated that name, the spelling especially.’
Emma sighed. ‘The spelling of the salon name is the last of Mum’s problems. Suki keeps making Mum do longer and longer hours and with my darling little bro always in trouble at school, it’s wearing her out.’
‘It’s where my mother gets her hair cut.’ Amy thought back to her mother’s early morning visit on the way to the hairdresser’s. ‘In fact, she popped into the shop on the way to a hair appointment this morning at some unearthly hour. I did wonder why she had one so early.’
‘Suki claims it’s what her clients want. She’s got Mum starting at seven now and she does two late nights on top.’
Amy sipped her wine thoughtfully. ‘I suppose people want appointments to fit around their busy lives,’ she said, diplomatically, wondering just what her mother had to fill her life so much that she needed a hair appointment at eight in the morning. ‘Why does that affect you moving out? I thought you and Ollie were desperate to get a place of your own?’
Emma nodded. ‘We are. And I mean desperate. You should see the state Stevie leaves the bathroom in. And the stink!’ She rolled her eyes.
‘I’m an only child and went to a girls’ school so wouldn’t know.’ Amy hazarded a guess; ‘I suppose boys of thirteen smell a bit sweaty?’
‘Oh, it’s not the body odour,’ Emma said robustly. ‘It’s the deodorant. Stevie has the hots for a girl in his French class. Every morning he sprays himself from top to toe and probably in other unmentionable places with this lethal-smelling stuff and doesn’t bother to even think about opening a window. I go in and nearly pass out from the noxious fumes. Dad used to have an old gas mask from world war two knocking about. I’m seriously thinking of putting it to use.’
‘Oh Emma,’ Amy said, trying not to laugh. ‘Sounds like grounds to leave to me. So why are you hesitating?’
‘As well as Mum having a lot on her plate and threatening to leave the salon, Dad’s job isn’t looking good. There are rumours of redundancies at the vacuum cleaner factory. If that happens, they’ll need my wage to help out. And, if Mum leaves Suki’s, I’ll be the only wage-earner. Plus I’m really trying to do more of the housework to give Mum a break. Trouble is,’ Emma added, gloomily, ‘my ironing isn’t up to Mum’s standards and she just tuts and does it all again.’
Amy wanted to put an arm around Emma. She looked so forlorn. Struggling to find something comforting to say, she settled with the inadequate, ‘I’m sorry to hear that. I hope something works out.’
‘Me too, Amy. Me too.’ Emma brightened a little. ‘Sorry for going on. Thanks for listening though, you’re a really good listener.’
It had been said before. Amy sometimes wondered if the reason she listened rather than revealed something of herself was because she felt she hadn’t anything of interest to say. ‘Shall we get another drink? Then I suppose we ought to get down to the next bit of the meeting. We’ve got to decide on the next book.’
‘In that case, I’ll need fuel. Did I spot cupcakes?’
‘Yes.’ Amy laughed. ‘Millie has been practising for our Hallowe’en party. She’s done some iced with a spider web pattern. They’re really sweet. In both senses of the word.’
‘Lush,’ Emma said. ‘Gotta get me some of those bad boys.’ She went off to find a sugar fix, her troubles temporarily forgotten.
‘Can I make a suggestion, Amy?’ Millie said. ‘People are so busy during December, do you think we could miss that meeting out?’
‘Actually,’ Marti raised a bejewelled hand. ‘Could I add to that suggestion and say November’s not good for me, either. I’m off to Mauritius for quite some time over November and December.’ She waggled her head in mock humility and Amy heard Tash, in the seat next to her, grind her teeth. ‘I simply must have some sunshine in November or I wither away.’
Millie looked stricken. ‘I’m so sorry Amy, I didn’t mean to cause a problem.’ She gave a Marti a piercing look. ‘I only suggested missing out December.’
‘Yes and we can’t cancel a whole meeting just because one member can’t make it,’ Tash put in. ‘Or we’d never meet up at all.’
Amy could feel the familiar feeling of panic take over her. She was in danger of losing control of the group. Again. She thought rapidly. She really wanted to keep the group going. It was about her only social life, for one thing. But, if Marti didn’t come, neither would her group of friends. They followed the woman devotedly although she’d never fathomed out why. She’d never heard them utter a word in opposition to Marti and they all nodded vehemently whenever she uttered anything vaguely interesting. But they did constitute a large section of the group. And besides, they’d had two meetings a month since August. She really couldn’t see the group being in danger of losing momentum if they had a break.
‘I don’t see missing out November and December being a problem,’ she began slowly, still thinking it through as she spoke. ‘Why don’t we meet again in mid-January? It’ll give us all a breather and we can return refreshed in the new year. The days will be lengthening by then too.’ She glanced outside as a gobbet of rain spat at the huge windows. ‘It’s never much fun having to turf yourself out on these cold dark nights. I hope everyone will feel able to come to the Hallowe’en party at the end of the month, though?’
There was a murmur of agreement then Emma piped up. ‘Tell you what, if some of us can’t go a few weeks without some booky talk, why don’t we meet in the pub? Have a less formal chat over a drink?’
‘Well, I’m not sure that’s a good idea, Emma,’ Marti said, looking put out.
‘But if you’re not in the country, you can’t really object to us meeting up?’ Tash said sweetly. ‘And if you or any of your friends are around when we do meet up, you’re more than welcome to come along.’
‘I simply don’t want the group to split into…’ Marti paused, searching for the right word. ‘Factions.’
‘It’s not,’ Tash countered. ‘It’s just a way of keeping the social aspect of the group going.’ She appealed to the others. ‘And that’s one of the things we really like about the group, don’t we?’
Amy saw Kit nudge his girlfriend to stop talking before she dug the hole any deeper. She needed to take control before the group really did disintegrate. The animosity between Tash and Marti bubbled underneath every meeting and had done so since the first one. ‘I think that’s a good compromise,’ she said quickly. ‘We next meet properly in January. As you’ve said, Marti, it’s unlikely you can make November and Millie, you’re quite right, we all have so much on in December. And, if anyone is free and fancies meeting up on a less formal basis, we can go to the Old Harbour, as Emma has suggested. It’s quieter out of season than the Lion on the High Street.’ Before anyone could object, or put forward another idea
