Page 76 of The In-Laws

‘Yes, but you’re different. Toby will learn to read at his own pace. Do not criticize him, it’s really nasty.’

‘No need to be so narky about it.’ Lucy flounced out of the room.

‘Am I stupid, Mummy?’ Toby’s big brown eyes looked up at her.

She leant down and hugged him tightly. ‘No, you are the cleverest, sweetest boy in the world.’

Katie’s phone buzzed. The taxi was outside.

‘Sorry, I have to go. Theo, the instructions are all written out for you. Any problems, call me. Bedtime is seven thirty for Toby and eight for Lucy.’

‘Come on, Toby, let’s quickly make the cakes and then we’ll build a fort,’ Theo suggested.

‘Cooool!’ Toby’s eyes lit up.

Leaving her kids with their cousin, Katie rushed out of the door.

Jamie waved her over. Katie could tell by his flushed face that he’d had a few glasses of wine already. ‘Everyone, this is my wife, Katie,’ he announced to the group of two men and one woman.

Introductions were made. Katie smiled and shook hands.

‘Hello.’ The older guy, Nico, lifted her hand and kissed it.

Bit over the top, but okay.

‘We’d like to see some Irish good times tonight,’ Lucia said, as she threw back her drink.

It looked like neat whiskey. This Italian woman was hard-core.

‘Very nice to meet you,’ the younger guy, Enzo, said inperfect English. ‘We are happy to be talking with the Fitzroy Agency on working together. You have read Sloane’s beautiful book, no?’

‘Uhm, not yet, but Jamie said it’s incredible,’ Katie said. He must be the big cheese, Katie thought. I need to charm him for Jamie. God, she hoped he wasn’t going to ask her about books all night.

Jamie filled her wine glass and Katie knocked it back. She needed to settle her nerves. Hopefully she could have dinner, chat about things apart from books, then let them go off and find their own ‘good times’. She really didn’t want a late night given it was Theo’s first time babysitting.

As the night went on, they all got merrier and the conversation moved away from books. Katie felt herself relax and she stopped looking at her watch and texting Theo to make sure everything was okay – which he assured her repeatedly it was. He’d even sent photos of Toby and Lucy tucked up in bed asleep.

Katie smiled and joined in the chat, not minding when Nico spat droplets of alcohol into her face as he told a very long and boring story about his gifted football-playing son. She kept drinking her wine, followed by some sambuca shots and a few espresso martinis. The night got a lot better.

Katie told the Italians one of her hairdressing stories and they all roared laughing – well, the two fun ones did. Enzo only kind of laughed.

‘I like you, Katie, you are so funny. We want to go to a club, which one is the most fun?’ Nico asked.

Jamie put his hand on Katie’s arm. ‘Actually, I’m so sorry but we really have to get home to our kids. But we can tell you where to go.’

‘I am tired. I will go to the hotel now,’ Enzo, the boring big cheese, said.

‘No! Come with us, we will drink and dance,’ Lucia begged Katie and Jamie.

‘Hell, yes!’ Katie high-fived Lucia and knocked back her martini. She was feeling very buzzed and up for dancing.

‘Babe, it’s time to go,’ Jamie said.

‘Don’t be so boring, Jamie. Let’s go out and show these guys a good time.’

‘Katie, it’s one in the morning,’ he said quietly.

Katie waved a hand in his face. ‘Who cares? I’m going dancing with Lucia and Nico.’

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