Sandra and Keith had disappeared into the kitchen to make cocktails, so Mary, Leo and Patti sat chatting on the terrace.
‘Now let us tell you the secret we’ve been planning for Keith,’ Mary said. ‘You know how he loves the old Cadillacs and has always wanted one.’
‘How could I forget? He was always going on about it when we were younger. He used to watch those Humphrey Bogart films over and over again. He even had a trench coat, didn’t he? And a fedora.’
‘We still have them in a box in the spare bedroom.’ Mary leaned forward and lowered her voice. ‘Well Leo has a friend who owns a Caddy. He’s been away but he’s back tomorrow and Leo is going to ask him if he can take us all for a spin in it on Friday.’
‘Really? Oh, Keith will love that! That’s amazing,’ Patti exclaimed. She glanced at Leo. ‘It’s a big ask though. These cars don’t come cheap. You must be VERY good friends.’
‘We are.’ Leo smiled at her. ‘It might be the push Keith needs to get out and about. We are keeping it a surprise until we know for sure but we hope that you ladies will join in too.’
‘Oh, I’d love to. It sounds amazing!’ Patti said. ‘And more Insta pics too!’
‘And we’re all going to dress up in forties style,’ Mary added. ‘I’m thinking of channelling Audrey Hepburn. Scarf, sunglasses, red lipstick. Sandra would make a good Marilyn Monroe with her hair and full lips.’
‘And you would be a perfect Shirley MacLaine, Patti, with those amazing cheekbones,’ Leo said.
Patti felt her cheeks flush at the compliment. ‘It sounds exciting. And Keith’s got his Humphrey Bogart trench coat and hat. But what will you wear, Leo?’
‘I can be Cary Grant. I have a trilby and a trench coat too.’
‘Mary!’ Keith shouted from the kitchen.
‘I’d better go and see what he wants.’ Mary got up and went into the kitchen, leaving just Patti and Leo outside. She felt awkward, after what Keith and Mary had told her. It couldn’t true. Leo barely knew her.
‘It’s very kind of you to organise this for Keith,’ she told him.
‘Keith and Mary, they are good friends. I would like to help.’ He smiled at her, his eyes meeting hers. ‘It will be a nice day out for yousenorastoo, yes?’
‘It definitely will!’
‘Panic over, they couldn’t find the cocktail glasses,’ Mary came back out, followed by Sandra holding a tray containing five fancy cocktails. She indicated the glasses with a flourish as Sandra putthem down on the table. ‘Let me introduce you to a Sandra Surprise!’
Patti looked at the glasses filled with a strawberry-coloured drink, garnished with a strawberry and a slice of lemon. ‘They look great. Let me take a photo for Instagram – it’s another thing off your bucket list.’ She snapped the tray of cocktails. ‘I’ll upload it later.’
‘Can we ask what’s in them?’
Sandra tapped the side of her nose. ‘Top secret!’
‘See if you can guess,’ Keith suggested.
They all took a sip of the drinks and Patti took a swig and almost choked. ‘This is strong!’
Sandra grinned. ‘That’s the surprise!’
‘I can taste Cointreau,’ Mary said.
‘And vodka, I think, a double shot by the taste of it,’ Patti added.
‘I think I detect a taste of honey.’ This was from Leo.
Sandra giggled and chinked glasses with Keith. ‘There’s a secret ingredient that only we know.’
‘I’ve made a Keith Special too. So drink those up and I’ll bring out round two!’
‘We should play some games,’ Patti suggested. ‘How about charades? Do you know how to play that, Leo?’
‘Charades?’ He frowned then his eyes lit up. ‘Ah, cha-ra-das!Si, I know it.’
