Page 117 of Sunrise By the Sea

Marisa raised her eyebrows. Then she thought.

‘It has beenso longsince I’ve been to a party.’

‘I bet. Well, you can join it when we’ve finished serving the little brats. They’re here two to four but the party will carry on rather longer than that if my experience of these things is correct.’

‘I won’t know anyone.’

‘Alexei’s coming,’ said Polly, smiling to herself.

‘Is he?’

‘Yes. Didn’t I say?’

‘When I was spilling my guts in the van?’

‘Sorry,’ said Polly. ‘I didn’t think it would help.’

‘No!Oh my God.’

Marisa looked down at the simple black and white outfit she was wearing.

‘Why is he even invited?’

‘He’s playing “Happy birthday”. Only a proper concert pianist will count to play his boy in.’

Marisa bit her lip.

‘This is money, huh.’

‘I know,’ said Polly. ‘Exhausting, isn’t it?’

Kerensa didn’t look in the least bit exhausted, however, as she came down from the house, dressed in beautiful beige draped trousers and a top, and hugged Polly. ‘Hooray! How’s it going?’

‘Don’t you know?’ said Polly. Kerensa waved her hands. ‘Oh, I’m sure Reuben’s got it sorted.’

They all stopped talking and turned around as a platoon of people dressed as stormtroopers marched in formation across the sand.

‘Wow. Do you think they’re hot?’ said Polly.

‘Christ yes,’ said Kerensa, grinning. ‘Please come and drink Champagne with me, otherwise it’ll be the school mums and if the WhatsApp is anything to go by they are all completely deranged.’

‘You read the school WhatsApp?’ said Polly.

‘Ha, not any more,’ said Kerensa. ‘I told them I was coming off it for the sake of “self-care for my own screentime wellness” and none of those beyatches could do a thing about it. HA!’

Polly laughed too.

‘Well, a small one. Huckle can drive home. I’m so tired these days I’d be unsafe whether I have a drink or not.’

‘I heard,’ said Kerensa. ‘You’re quite the talk of the region. Reuben wants to talk to you about buying you out for a franchise.’

Polly rolled her eyes.

‘Unfortunately that only works if you can duplicate the secret ingredient, and there’s only one Marisa here.’

Marisa smiled and looked embarrassed.

‘It’s lovely to have you here,’ said Kerensa. ‘Welcome.’

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