Minding Frankie - Maeve Binchy [38]
She hesitated. “You’re right. I’m just tired and intense because I’m doing too much. I think I would like a margarita. Will you put salt around the rim of the glass?”
He brightened up at once.
Maybe that priest who lived over Katie and Garry was right: men were simple. And to please them, you had to be equally simple in return. She beat down her feeling of panic and was rewarded with one of Anton’s great smiles.
The evening classes were going well. Lisa was actually much more interested than she had expected to be. She was quick, she realized.
Noel told her that she was the first in the group to understand any concept. He felt slow and was tempted to give up, but life in his job was so dreary and dull and he had no qualifications; this would give him the confidence and clout he needed.
She learned about him during their coffee breaks. He said the classes and his AA meetings were his only social outings of the week.
He was a placid person and didn’t ask many questions about Lisa’s life. Because of this, she told him that her parents had always seemed to dislike each other greatly and that she couldn’t understand why they stayed together.
“Probably for fear of finding a worse life,” Noel said glumly, and Lisa agreed that this might well be true.
He asked her once did she have a fellow and she had replied truthfully that she loved someone but it was a bit problematical. He didn’t want to be tied down so she didn’t really know where she was.
“I expect it will sort itself out,” Noel said, and somehow that was fairly comforting.
And Noel was right, in a way. It sort of sorted itself out.
Lisa never called around to Anton without letting him know she was on her way. She took an interest in all he was doing and made no more remarks about April’s involvement in anything. Instead, she concentrated on making the cleverest and most eye-catching invitations to the pre-launch party.
There was no question of her getting anything new to wear. There wasn’t any money to pay for an outfit. She confided this to Noel.
“Does it matter all that much?” he asked.
“It does a bit because if I thought I looked well I’d behave well, and I know this sounds silly, but a lot of the people who will be there sort of judge you by what you wear.”
“They must be mad,” Noel said. “How could they not take notice of you? You look amazing, with your height and your looks—that hair …”
Lisa looked at him sharply, but he was clearly speaking sincerely, not just trying to flatter her. “Some of them are mad, I’m sure, but I’m being very honest with you. It’s a real pain that I can’t get anything new.”
“I don’t like to suggest this but what about a thrift shop? My cousin sometimes works in one. She says she often gets designer clothes in there.”
“Lead me to it,” Lisa said with a faint feeling of hope.
Molly Carroll had the perfect dress for her. It was scarlet with a blue ribbon threaded around the hem. The colors of Anton’s restaurant and the logo she had designed.
Molly said the dress could have been designed just for her. “I’m not very up-to-date in fashion,” she said, “but you’ll certainly stop them in their tracks in this one.”
Lisa smiled with pleasure. It did look good.
Katie treated her to a wash and blow-dry and she set out for the party in high good spirits. April was there in a very official capacity, welcoming people in.
“Great dress,” April said to Lisa.
“Thanks,” Lisa said. “It’s vintage,” and went to find Anton.
“You look absolutely beautiful,” he said when he caught sight of her.
“It’s your night. How’s it going?” Lisa asked.
“Well, I’ve been working for two days on all these canapés but you wouldn’t think it was my night. April believes it’s hers. She’s insisting on being in every picture.” Just then a photographer approached them.
“And who’s this?” he asked, nodding at Lisa.
“My brilliant designer and stylist, Lisa Kelly,