Strange Sally Diamond

‘I honestly don’t know. If anything strange happens, I want you to blow hard on this whistle.’ I gave her a whistle alarm that Aunt Christine had given me all those months ago after Toby had arrived in the post. I slept with it beside my bed. It couldn’t be heard more than a hundred yards from the house, but it might scare an intruder.

First to arrive were Rodriguo and Fernanda.

‘Wow,’ said Fernanda, ‘you look great!’ Rodriguo nodded in agreement.

‘Thank you! I feel beautiful today. Fernanda, you look –’ I stopped myself.

Rodriguo grinned. ‘You’re lucky that Fernanda is pregnant,’ he said, and they laughed. I congratulated them and accepted a large tray of fluffy cheese bread rolls.

I brought them through the house, pointing at all the items they might like to take home with them.

Next was Valerie, who came around the side of the house with a giant bag of confectionary specially baked in the cafe that morning. ‘I didn’t even know there was a house down here, and I’ve lived in this village my whole life.’

‘Well, it won’t be here much longer.’

‘So I hear! How exciting. You look smoking hot, by the way. Great dress! Do you mind if I grab a beer, then? It’s a thirsty walk from the village.’

‘That’s why it’s there. There are glasses in the tent if you need one?’

I popped open the bottle for her and she swigged straight from the neck. Dad didn’t approve of people who didn’t drink from glasses, but I knew now that he was old-fashioned. I tried to imagine what he would think of me now, in a short dress, hosting a party.

Ger McCarthy arrived with a sack of apples and potatoes. ‘You can give them away as going-home presents,’ he said.

People arrived one on top of the other then, and soon the garden was humming with chatter. The children ran towards the bouncy castle. Maybe later, I would change into my jeans and have another go.

Mark and Anubha arrived separately. I watched them but they didn’t seem to gravitate towards each other, or indeed show any interest in each other at all. Abebi hugged me and sat on my knee while she placed a paper crown that she had made on my head. Everyone said I looked lovely and Stella made me do a twirl in the dress and everyone clapped. There was way more food than we could possibly eat and I knew I’d be asking people to take some home.

Martha had a small speaker gadget which she attached to her phone and soon the air was filled with music, not all of it to my taste, but some people started dancing. People pestered Fernanda and Rodriguo to dance the samba, but they admitted that, despite being Brazilian, they didn’t know how to do it. Stella and Kieran stepped up and offered to show them. Sue and Kenneth and their children joined in, swinging each other around, shouting and giggling. Their noise didn’t bother me today.

Aunt Christine was surprised to see me surrounded by so many people. ‘But where did they all come from?’ she asked.

‘They’re my friends,’ I announced.

‘Oh darling, that’s wonderful. I’m so proud of you.’ Her eyes filled with tears and I knew she was thinking of Donald. I handed her a napkin. ‘Thank you, it’s … I wasn’t going to come. It feels wrong to celebrate … it’s so soon after, and I’m much older than everyone else.’

Mark appeared at our sides. ‘Christine, how lovely to see you. Come and take a seat in the shade here. May I prepare you a plate of food or would you like to come and see?’

‘Thank you, Mark,’ I said as Aunt Christine allowed herself to be led away to the catering end of the tent. I thought it was kind of him to make a fuss of her. She seemed a little suspicious of him after the funeral, but then I heard them laughing together in the tent. He arranged a chair and table for her and sat with her, filling her glass. The sun was high in the sky. I was drinking slowly, diluting my wine with water as much as possible. It seemed like it was the perfect day.

Later, a calm descended, which suited my mood. Rodriguo lit the outdoor citronella candles. It was still mild, but dusk was the time when the biting insects came out to play.

Mark sought me out and helped me ferry glasses into the kitchen.

‘Before you ask,’ I said, ‘there are no further developments in New Zealand. I think Conor Geary is no longer there, or he never was, and maybe he had the parcel sent from there to confuse me.’

‘Bastard. And he was free to kidnap another child, wherever he went.’

‘I try hard not to think about it. I want you to stop talking about him.’

‘Right. Sorry.’

‘By the way, if you like Anubha, you’ll have to try a little harder with her.’

‘What?’

‘Didn’t you tell me you liked her?’

His face flushed. ‘I suppose I did. But … it’s hard when you work together.’

I don’t understand romantic relationships. I let it go.

I heard loud laughter outside and when I went out Angela and Nadine were having a go on the bouncy castle. Sue winked at me. ‘Sal! I knew this would happen!’