The Seven Month Itch by Allison Rushby Read Free Book Online Page B

check my watch. It’s 10.35 am. I’m hardly starving. But because I didn’t chow down for Vera this morning, I actually am getting a bit peckish.
    Nico gives me a once-over, assessing my dietary needs. ‘Lemon spaghetti, I think.’
    I don’t argue. Lemon spaghetti. Yum, my fave. And no-one makes it like Nico – heaps of garlic, lemon juice, lemon zest and a big mound of shaved parmesan on top. Double yum.
    Nico ducks out the back to put my order in, then comes back with a mock-up of the menu for the wedding. He sits down next to me and we work through it together.By the time we’re done, I’m more than ready for that lemon spaghetti. All this talk of Nico’s cooking means there’s already a large wet pool of drool forming in the space between my knife and fork. Dad and Holly are going to be in heaven, and so is Nico – he’s going to be allowed to stuff us all like he’s never stuffed us before. Including Vera, who will, of course, be there with bells on.
    It’s going to be the best wedding ever.

 
    My stomach and I go home happy, our troubles almost forgotten. Everything wedding is ready for lift-off and, this time next week, Holly and Marc will be back home, the guests will be in town and we’ll be all set to begin the countdown for launch.
    I can’t wait.
    It’s an easy walk home (maybe that’s because the lunchtime crowds part for me with my Nico’s garlic breath) and I trip down our block and back upstairs to the apartment hardly noticing the heat. Just before the elevator doors ping open, I wonder what I’m going to do with the rest of my day. Maybe I’ll just hang around at home, or maybe I’ll call Toby to see how ‘busy’ he is, or …
    Or maybe not, I think to myself as I walk down thehallway and spot Susannah and Dad sitting at the dining table eating City Bakery cupcakes.
    ‘Hello, pumpkin,’ my dad sings out as he turns around. He has frosting on his beard. ‘Did you order cupcakes today?’
    I shake my head, standing stock still in the hallway.
    ‘That’s what I thought, but the delivery boy wouldn’t take no for an answer. He said he had his orders and he wasn’t going to take them back. You can’t argue with that. I can’t think why City Bakery sent them.’
    I frown. I can. It’s because they’re going to comprise your WEDDING CAKE, Dad. Your wedding – remember that?
    ‘They’re lovely, Nessa. Really good,’ Susannah pipes up now. ‘Did you want to come and have one with us? We’re having a little cupcake break,’ she giggles.
    Now I really frown. In fact, smoke might be coming from my ears. Or lemon spaghetti. Or something. I can’t believe Susannah is inviting me over for one of my cupcakes. My special-surprise City Bakery wedding cupcakes. I keep frowning, but neither Susannah nor my dad notices, because they’ve returned to the call of the creamy cupcakes themselves. And I’m really starting to fume asI watch Susannah, until, for some reason, Vera’s words from this morning ring in my ears:
    The devil – he is not so frightful as he is painted.
    I twist my mouth again as I stand there and keep right on watching her . Susannah. Okay, to be fair, I don’t have any real basis for my dislike of Susannah. I know that. But there’s no doubt about it: it just feels so wrong her being here. Living with us. Eating Holly’s favourite cupcakes. Dad and Holly’s wedding cupcakes.
    ‘Are you sure you wouldn’t like one, sweetheart?’ My dad looks up from his cupcake and papers once more.
    ‘No,’ I say sulkily.
    ‘How’s the planning coming along?’ He must’ve noticed my tone, because he starts to study me a bit harder now.
    ‘Fine.’
    I get an assessing look. ‘Are you sure?’ he asks.
    ‘Yes.’
    ‘Nessa?’
    I laugh slightly. ‘I just don’t want you to get any of the details out of me. Don’t ask any questions.’ I have to force the few jolly words out.
    My dad nods, happy at my answer. ‘I see,’ he saysbefore turning back to his papers.