The Gift. Cecelia Ahern

envelope. The paper fluttered to the floor.

      ‘The usual madness. And then I tidied the house just before you got back, for the millionth time,’ she said, making a point as she bent down to pick up another crumpled ball of paper. ‘Marcia called a few times today, looking for you. When I could finally find the phone. Pud hid the handset again, it took me ages to find it. Anyway, she needs help with deciding a venue for your dad’s party. She liked the idea of the marquee here, and Quentin, of course, didn’t. He wants it in the yacht club. I think your dad would like either of them – no, that’s a lie, I think your father would prefer none of them, but seeing as it’s going ahead without his say-so, he’d be happy with either. Your mum is staying out of it. So what did you tell her?’

      Silence. She patiently watched him reading the last page of the document and waited for an answer. When he had folded it and dropped it on the hall table, he reached for another.

      ‘Honey?’

      ‘Hmmm?’

      ‘I asked you about Marcia,’ she said, through gritted teeth, and proceeded to pick up the scraps of new paper that had fallen to the ground.

      ‘Oh yeah.’ He unfolded another document. ‘She was just, eh …’ He became distracted by the contents.

      ‘Yes?’ she said loudly.

      He looked up and gazed at her, as though noticing for the first time that she was there. ‘She was calling about the party.’ He made a face.

      ‘I know.’

      ‘How do you know?’ He started reading again.

      ‘Because she – never mind.’ Start again. ‘She’s so excited about this party, isn’t she? It’s great seeing her really getting her teeth into something after the year she’s had. She’s been talking a mile a minute about food and the music …’ She trailed off.

      Silence.

      ‘Hmm?’

      ‘Marcia,’ she said, rubbing her tired eyes. ‘We’re talking about Marcia, but you’re busy so …’ She began making her way to the kitchen.

      ‘Oh, that. I’m taking the party off her hands. Alison’s going to organise it.’

      Ruth stopped. ‘Alison?’

      ‘Yes, my secretary. She’s new. Have you met her?’

      ‘Not yet.’ She slowly made her way towards him. ‘Honey, Marcia was really excited about organising the party.’