delighted laughter.
'Mummy, I don't need to spend a penny,' mutters Artemis, as she walks by dressed as a
mermaid, in the company of a commanding woman in a huge hat.
'Artemis, there's no need to be so touchy!' booms the woman.
This is so weird. People with their families are completely different. Thank God mine aren't
here.
I wonder where Jack is. Maybe he's in the house. Maybe I should-
'Emma!' I look up, and see Katie heading towards me. She's dressed in a totally bizarre carrot
costume, holding the arm of an elderly man with grey hair.
Who must be her father, I suppose.
Which is a bit weird, because I thought she said she was coming with-
'Emma, this is Phillip!' she says radiantly. 'Phillip, meet my friend Emma. She's the one who
brought us together!'
Wh what?
No. I don't believe it.
This is her new man? This is Phillip? But he has to be at least seventy!
In a total blur, I shake his hand, which is dry and papery, just like Grandpa's, and manage to
make a bit of small talk about the weather. But all the time, I'm in total shock.
Don't get me wrong. I am not ageist. I am not anything-ist. I think people are all the same,
whether they're black or white, male or female, young or-
But he's an old man! He's old !
'Isn't he lovely?' says Katie fondly, as he goes off to get some drinks. 'He's so thoughtful.
Nothing's too much trouble. I've never been out with a man like him before!'
'I can believe that,' I say, my voice a little strangled. 'What exactly is the age gap between you
two?'
'I'm not sure,' says Katie in surprise. 'I've never asked. Why?'
Her face is shiny and happy and totally oblivious. Has she not noticed how old he is?
'No reason!' I clear my throat. 'So er remind me. Where exactly did you meet Phillip
again?'
'You know, silly!' says Katie, mock-chidingly. 'You suggested I should try somewhere
different for lunch, remember? Well, I found this really unusual place, tucked away in a little
street. In fact, I really recommend it.'
'Is it a restaurant? A cafe?'
'Not exactly,' she says thoughtfully. 'I've never been anywhere like it before. You go in and
someone gives you a tray, and you collect your lunch and then eat it, sitting at all these tables.
And it only costs two pounds! And afterwards they have free entertainment! Like sometimes
it's bingo or whist sometimes it's a singsong round the piano. One time they had this
brilliant tea dance! I've made loads of new friends.'
I stare at her for a few silent seconds.
'Katie,' I say at last. 'This place. It couldn't possibly be a day care centre for the elderly?'
'Oh!' she says, looking taken aback. 'Erm'
'Try and think. Is everyone who goes there on the old side?'
'Gosh,' she says slowly, and screws up her brow. 'Now you mention it, I suppose everyone is
kind of quite mature. But honestly Emma, you should come along.' Her face brightens. 'We
have a real laugh!'
'You're still going there?' I stare at her.
'I go every day,' she says in surprise. I'm on the social committee.'
'Hello again!' says Phillip cheerily, reappearing with three glasses. He beams at Katie and
gives her a kiss on the cheek, and she beams back. And suddenly I feel quite heart-warmed.
OK, it's weird. But they do seem to make a really sweet couple.
'The man behind the stall seemed rather stressed out, poor chap,' says Phillip, as I take my
first delicious sip of Pimm's, closing my eyes to savour it.
Mmm. There is absolutely nothing nicer on a summer's day than a nice cold glass of-
Hang on a minute. My eyes open. Pimm's.
Shit. I promised to do the Pimm's stall with Connor, didn't I? I glance at my watch and realize
I'm already ten minutes late. Oh, bloody hell. No wonder he's stressed out.
I hastily apologize to Phillip and Katie, then hurry as fast as I can to the stall, which is in the
corner of the garden. There I find Connor manfully coping with a huge queue all on his own.
He's dressed as Henry VIII, with puffy sleeves and breeches, and has a huge red beard stuck
to his face. He must be absolutely boiling.
'Sorry,' I mutter, sliding in beside him. 'I had to get into my costume. What do I have to do?'
'Pour out glasses of Pimm's,' says Connor curtly. 'One pound fifty each. Do you think you can
manage?'
'Yes!' I say, a bit nettled. 'Of course I can manage!'
For the next few minutes we're too busy serving Pimm's to talk. Then the queue melts away,
and we're left on our own again.
Connor isn't even looking at me, and he's clanking glasses around so ferociously I'm afraid he
might break one. Why is he in such a bad mood?
'Connor, look, I'm sorry I'm late.'
'That's all right,' he says stiffly, and starts chopping a bundle of mint as though he wants to
kill it. 'So, did you have a nice time the other evening?'
That's what this is all about.
'Yes, I did, thanks,' I say after a pause.
'With your new mystery man.'
'Yes,' I say, and surreptitiously scan the crowded lawn, searching for
Jack.
'It's someone at work, isn't it?' Connor suddenly says, and my stomach gives a small plunge.