Mini Shopaholic

‘We’ve had requests for vegetarian food, kosher food, wheat-free food … I assume your caterers can take care of that? In addition, one guest needs a waiting area for his driver, another needs a baby-feeding area, one government minister would like to send in his security people first to sweep the area …’

‘Right! No problem!’

I’m trying to sound confident and can-do, but inside, I feel a bit daunted. Since when did birthday parties get so complicated?

‘Becky?’

‘Sorry.’ I wrench my mind back. ‘Bonnie, there’s something else. I need to ask you something.’ I take a deep breath. ‘Is Luke hiding something from me?’

There’s silence and my heart plunges. I knew it.

‘Is it about Minnie? Be honest.’

‘No, dear!’ She sounds taken aback. ‘I haven’t heard Luke talking about Minnie at all!’

‘Oh.’ I rub my nose. ‘Well, something to do with work, then?’

There’s another silence. The answer is obviously ‘yes’. Suddenly I have an ominous feeling about this.

‘Bonnie, I thought you were my friend,’ I say at last. ‘Why can’t you tell me what’s going on? Is it bad? Is it another court case?’ My mind is racing with awful possibilities. ‘Is Luke in trouble? Is he bankrupt?’

‘No!’ Bonnie cuts in hastily. ‘Please, Becky, don’t think anything like that!’

‘Well, what am I supposed to think?’ My voice rises in agitation. ‘I know Luke wants to shield me from all the bad things, but how can I help him if I don’t know what’s going on?’

‘Becky, please don’t get upset! It’s not bad! It’s simply … a new client.’

‘Oh.’

The wind is slightly taken out of my sails. That’s not what I was expecting. Although now I remember it, Luke did mention another new client, didn’t he? But why is it a huge secret?

‘Who is it?’

‘I can’t tell you,’ Bonnie says reluctantly. ‘Luke specifically asked me not to mention it. He thought you might get … overexcited. He wanted to be sure it would work out first.’

‘Over-excited?’ I stare indignantly at the phone. ‘Bonnie, you have to tell me.’

‘I can’t.’

‘Yes you can! We’re a team, remember?’

‘I can’t.’ Bonnie sounds pained. ‘Becky, you must realize that Luke is my boss—’

‘And I’m your friend. Friends are more important than bosses! Everyone knows that.’

There’s silence, then Bonnie whispers, ‘Becky, I should go. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.’

She rings off and I watch the light in my phone die away. I walk over to the willow tree in the middle of the front lawn and sit on the old wooden bench. To be honest, I feel a bit unsettled. What’s going on with Luke? And how am I going to manage this party? I thought I was doing so well; I was so pleased with myself. But now I’m feeling panicky.

Security guards. Valet parking. Kosher food. Loos. Foot masseurs. Oh God, oh God. How am I going to afford all this? Why have I spent so long making stupid pom-poms? What else do I need to think about?

Suze would know. Suze goes to posh parties all the time. But I can’t ask her. Not now.

On impulse I open my BlackBerry and scroll down the acceptance list. The more names I read, the worse I feel. Why can’t Luke have normal friends? Why do they all have to be so posh and important? These people will be used to grand receptions in smart venues. They’re used to marble pillars and string quartets and waiters in white coats …

‘Becky?’ Mum is looking out of the front door with a concerned look. ‘Are you OK, love?’

‘I’m fine,’ I say brightly. ‘Just … thinking.’

There’s no way in a million years I’m admitting I’m worried about the party.

Mum disappears again and I nibble my thumbnail. Well, I don’t have any choice, do I? I’ll have to book the bouncers and the loos and the masseurs and everything else. And just pay for it … somehow.

I wince as I think over my finances. I can’t take the money out of the joint account because Luke will see. And I can’t take it out of my own account because there’s nothing to take out. There’s no way the bank will extend my overdraft. Not at the moment. And I’ve already maxed out half my cards. All the credit companies are so stingy these days.

Could I contact my old bank manager, Derek Smeath, and plead for a special emergency party overdraft? He’d understand, surely. And he always liked Luke, and I could invite him to the party …