Whoever it was knocked again.
“I’m supposed to be on my way to the airport by now,” I said, “Everyone knows that.” Feeling panicked, I heard someone try the handle, before the front door opened completely. My heart raced at the prospect of it being Mum and Dad. “They’re letting themselves in. What shall I do?”
“Yoo-hoo!” a female voice called out.
“Roberta!” I said. “What’s she doing here?” Speaking in hushed tones, I couldn’t believe she’d entered my house uninvited. Not only that, if she saw me, she was bound to tell the world I hadn’t gone to the Caribbean. I scanned the room looking for a hiding place, but apart from under the table which I’d never get away with, I couldn’t see anywhere. I danced about, desperate, as my eyes searched, but my mind refused to focus.
“It’s only me,” Roberta said. The sound of her stilettos got closer as she made her way down the hall.
“Quick!” Fin said, in a frantic whisper. “In here.” He leapt towards the tallest cupboard in the kitchen, opening the door to the only space just about big enough to house an ironing board and vacuum in my small cottage. He grabbed them and pulled them out to make room for me. “In here.”
I squealed at the suggestion, struggling to accept I was having to conceal myself into such a tight space. “Please tell me you’re joking?” I said. However, with no time to argue, I scowled and did as I was told. Squeezing in, I lowered into a sitting position as Fin closed the door again and shut me away.Not so big-boned now, are you?I silently asked. Trying to think positive, I was surprised I could fit into any cupboard at all.
“Fin, are you there?” I heard Roberta ask as she clearly entered the room. “I saw the lights on and thought I’d come say hello.”
I glowered, realising what the woman was up to. Thinking I was on my way to the Caribbean, she was seizing the opportunity to get closer to Fin. I looked down at my attire as I pictured her, all dressed up with perfect hair and make-up. Ready to reel the man in and desperate for attention, she probably had the local papers on speed dial.
“Oh,” she said, sounding surprised. “Holly’s got you doing a spring clean while she’s away, has she?”
Hearing Roberta’s not so subtle dig, I narrowed my eyes, silently cursing her in the knowledge that I couldn’t respond. When it came to me, Roberta had never been able to resist making some sort of personal attack and undermining me in front of Fin was, no doubt, part of her game plan. I imagined her casting a critical eye over the rest of the room for more ammunition to throw at me. Having never been in my house before, I knew she’d be stood there, with her poker-straight hair and bright red lipstick, eagerly taking everything in.
“As well as making Christmas decorations, I see,” Roberta said, proving my point. “She is keeping you busy.”
“You know Holly,” Fin replied, his voice upbeat. “She does like to let everyone know who’s boss.”
Listening to the humour in his voice, my eyes widened, as I wondered if his comment was for my benefit. But while Fin might have thought he was being funny, the last person he should’ve been saying things like that to was Roberta. Whether Fin joked or not, Roberta would choose to take his comment literally, giving her yet another reason to dislike me.
“Yes, I’ve heard that about her,” she replied.
I clamped down on my jaw and pursed my lips, resisting the need to respond as she again proved my point.
Sitting there, my bum began to ache as I questioned why the woman seemed to disapprove of my existence. I knew it had nothing to do with me as an individual. After all, how could it? The two of us were relative strangers. Other than strained politeness, we barely spoke to each other let alone mingled. I scowled, failing to care what Roberta thought of me one way or the other.
“Not how I like to treatmyguests,” Roberta said, her tone inviting.
I silently scoffed.I’ll bet.
“I can imagine,” Fin replied, his tone flat.
Good response.
“How can I help you?”
I smiled to myself. It was heart-warming to think women like Roberta had no impact on Fin. Although being a rather handsome chapanda TV star, both in the UK and the US, he was probably used to women throwing themselves at him. After a while, I supposed behaviour like that got boring. Under those circumstances, I thought it no wonder he’d kept his career quiet.
“You’re not going to believe this…” Roberta said, her voice sickly sweet.
I rolled my eyes. Whatever she was about to say I knew I certainly wouldn’t.
“But I’ve run out of sugar.”
“Sugar?” Fin asked.
I stifled a giggle, pleased to hear he wasn’t having a word of it either.
“I’m afraid so.” She paused, no doubt, to flutter her eyelashes. “I wondered if I could borrow some.”
No, you damn well can’t.
