Frankie said.
‘So why are you getting changed? It’s only teatime.’
‘I felt stuffy in what I was wearing – after the long car journey and everything. Anyway, I’m going out to dinner – and I don’t often wear a frock these days.’
‘A dress – it’s called a dress,’ said Annabel. ‘What time will you be back?’
How many times today had her daughter already asked her this? ‘I don’t know. But lateish.’ Frankie wished Annabel would just rummage around her make-up bag or try on her shoes and stop asking her these questions.
‘The boys are so rude!’ Annabel whispered. ‘Did you hear them? Did you hear what Josh said about Auntie Peta’s food?’
‘I did. Ghastly – but it’s just a phase.’
‘Well, if Sam goes through a phase, we will have to kill him.’
‘He might, you know – but we’ll find a way to deal with it that doesn’t involve death.’
‘They’re so rude!’ Annabel shook her head. ‘When can I have a phone?’
‘A phone?’
‘So you can phone me.’
‘When you’re at secondary school – like Sam.’
‘But you can’t phone me tonight to tell me if you’re going to be later than lateish.’
‘I’ll keep in touch with Peta.’
‘You look – lovely,’ Peta told Frankie sweetly, glancing over at Annabel who was seemingly engrossed in Frozen. ‘Smile?’
Frankie raised her eyebrow at herself. ‘I’m so nervous. It’s crazy.’ She scanned her sister’s face for reassurance. ‘Am I mad?’
Peta sighed. ‘It is nuts – all of it. But if you were me, you wouldn’t be doing it and if I was you – then hell yes, I would!’ She paused. ‘Go. Stop thinking. Don’t worry about Annabel. Go and have fun – or there’s absolutely no point.’
Gazing at her daughter, Frankie suddenly thought perhaps I shouldn’t be doing this, perhaps my place is on a sofa, watching Frozen. She thought of Sam and the unknown Massey family. Did they win the cricket? Was he OK? Did he feel palmed off? It all felt a bit self-centred, slightly dishonest.
‘Go!’ said Peta with a friendly shove.
Frankie looked down at her shoes. Were her feet going to be sore in an hour? Did Scott really want to see her?
‘Will you make it really lovely for Annabel?’
‘I have the best night planned,’ Peta said. ‘Pink fake cocktails in sugar-crusted martini glasses, popcorn, mini-marshmallows and chocs and we’re going to watch Pitch Perfect. I’ve only ever watched it once, secretly on the laptop with headphones on in the top room. My boys would smash the DVD otherwise.’
‘Where will they be? Josh and Stan?’
‘On their phones in their rooms with music on and stinky socks.’
‘So Annabel will be fine?’
‘Yes, Frankie – and so will you. Now – go.’
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