Page 17 of The Last Saturday In July
‘By the way, let’s keep the press pack very simple. We want to generate speculation. Not to mention that we have to keep their theme a secret.’
And there he was, back to his condescending self. If there was anything worse than Simon implying that her job was just something to do until they had children, it was Adam telling her how to do it.
She gave a tight smile. ‘Don’t worry about a thing.’
‘I won’t. Catch you later.’
He left and Jess muttered a couple of swear words. She couldn’t afford to look insecure in front of Adam. Frank prided himself on a small, strong team of people at the top.
No matter why Adam was here, she couldn’t afford to hangaround waiting for his approval. She answered directly to Frank and there was nothing to prevent her putting together a proposal for him.
Chapter 9
‘JESS, are you ready?’ Kate knocked once and stuck her head around the door of Jess’s office that lunchtime.
Jess looked up.
‘We’re going out? Brilliant, hang on.’
Hastily, she shoved the chicken sandwich with low-fatmayonnaise on wholemeal bread into her desk drawer. She’d made it that morning in an effort to eat healthier lunches and lose a few pounds before the wedding. Healthy eating could wait – right now she’d kill for a panini.
They took the stairs and emerged into the foyer.
‘So, where are we going for lunch?’ Jess placed a hand over her rumbling tummy.
‘The Modern across town. We’re meeting Úna and your mam, remember?’ Kate’s phone buzzed and she replied quickly to a text.
How had she nearly forgotten about that? ‘Of course I remember.’ She ignored Kate’s sceptical look. ‘What? How could I forget a lunch?’
‘There you are, love.’ Carmel waved almost maniacally at Jess, from a table in the middle of the room, as she and Kate arrived. The restaurant was early 1930s Art Deco style, and the two mothers were sitting at a linen-covered table with a Tiffany lamp centrepiece.
Jess noticed her mother’s relief as they reached them.
‘Úna and I have been having a lovely catch-up, haven’t we, Úna?’ Which was code for ‘Where the hell have you been, I’ve been stuck trying to make small talk’.
Jess and Úna air-kissed before she turned and hugged her mother tightly, feeling her relax as she embraced her.
Úna turned to Kate and took both her hands in hers. ‘Lovely to see you again, Kate. How’s your little boy?’
Kate’s face lit up. ‘Great form, thanks, Úna. Beating his granddad at chess.’
‘Isn’t that wonderful? Does he ever play with Simon? I have an idea – why don’t you bring him over sometime to play against Edward? I’ll have lemonade and cake.’
Kate’s face turned pink. ‘Honestly? I think he’d love that.’
‘That’s settled, so. Edward and I will really look forward to that.’
Behind Úna, Carmel raised her eyebrows at Jess. She knew exactly what her mother was thinking. No sooner would she and Simon say, ‘I do’, but Úna would be dropping hints about them starting a family. It also struck her that it was probably the first time she’d heard Úna refer to her husband as Edward.
‘Well, isn’t this nice?’ Carmel beamed as Jess and Kate sat down. ‘Just the four of us. Now, let’s catch that young fellah’s eye, and get some drinks. Should we order a bottle of white?’
‘Oh, I never drink in the middle of the day.’ Úna clasped her hands together on the table. ‘I’ll have sparkling water.’
‘I don’t make a habit of it either, but it’s a special lunch and I made sure to leave the car at home,’ Carmel said.
‘I’d better not drink when I’m going back to work.’ Kate shrugged apologetically.
Carmel’s smile faded as she turned to Jess.
