He padded about, dragging the rug over his shoulders. The smoke was getting thicker. He tried to cover his mouth with his shirt but the thin cotton was useless. The heat was becoming stronger and Leon heard the flames and he tried to edge towards the door, but found he was in the fireplace. Perfect, thought Leon wryly as he sat inside the space. And then he passed out.
38
Grace called her sisters from Vegas. ‘I got married,’ she screamed down the phone to Violetta on the Sunday night.
‘What?’ said Violetta, not hearing her properly.
‘I got married. To Frank,’ cried Grace again excitedly.
‘Are you serious?’ said Violetta, sitting down on Jeff’s bed.
‘I am and I’m happy, so don’t spoil it,’ said Grace, with a warning in her voice.
‘Hey baby, I ain't gonna spoil it. It’s just so fast and so incredibly unlike you,’ laughed Violetta. ‘It’s like something I would have done.’
‘I know!’ said Grace. ‘You are the first person I’ve told. I’m about to ring Lotty.’
‘OK then. Bye bye, crazy, and give my love to my new brother-in-law.’
She hung up and looked at Jeff who was looking at her waiting for her to divulge her news.
‘My sister Grace got married. In Vegas.’
‘Good for her,’ said Jeff, as he read the papers.
‘I’m sad I wasn’t there,’ she said, thinking.
‘Sure, but it’s her wedding.’
‘I know… but Vegas. It sounds like something I would have done a long time ago.’
‘Do you think you want to get married one day?’ asked Jeff casually.
Violetta turned and smiled at him. ‘I don’t know, depends if I find the right guy.’
Jeff smiled and looked at his paper again. ‘Well, let me know if you do and I will give you a thorough physical before your wedding night.’
‘Fuck you!’ she cried.
‘Yes please.’ He pulled her to him again.
*
Carlotta was shocked but not displeased. ‘He seems like a good egg and a very golden egg, me thinks,’ she said over the phone.
‘Christ, Lotty, that’s a bit Jane Austen isn’t it?’ laughed Grace.
‘Not really. He’s nice, he actually has some money and he puts up with your family. What else do you need?’ said Carlotta pragmatically, as she sat at dinner with Chris and Alexia.
After she hung up, she looked at Chris. ‘She married him, in Vegas.’
‘He’s a great guy,’ said Chris. ‘I know a few people who have worked with him. Very private but good, you know.’
Carlotta looked at Chris and smiled. ‘I know.’
Alexia watched them and smiled.
Chris’s phone rang and he looked at it. ‘I have to take this, it’s London.’ He excused himself from the table.
