Page 31 of Two’s A Charm

‘Speaking of chasing, I hear Effie’s been running after Theo.’

She eyed Tessa, curious to see whether she’d offer up any intel regarding Theo and Effie, who seemed to have a, well, not a Thing going, but at the very least a thing (with a small ‘t’).

‘I think it might be the other way around, actually,’ volunteered Tessa, after a beat. ‘Although he seems nice enough. ‘He’s a voracious reader of poetry. He’s gunning for Bowow’s borrowing record, I think.’

Tessa considered her prosecco, then spun her glass slowly on the agate coaster, leaving a condensation ring over Uncle Oswald’s logo. ‘Since we’re on the topic of the library, did Alana say anything about the craft night the other night?’

‘Alana?’ If Bonnie’s ears were capable of such a thing, they would definitely have pricked up.

Were Tessa and Alana suddenly friends? Craft buddies?

Something else? The years-long tension between them had not gone unnoticed by Bonnie.

‘I didn’t know she was a crafter. Were you weaving yoga mats or something? ’

‘Just crochet,’ said Tessa. ‘Little turtles, mostly for the teens, but the group is open to everyone. I’m thinking of opening a studio,’ she blurted suddenly.

Bonnie topped up Tessa’s glass. ‘That one’s on me. Very cool. What kind of studio are we talking here? Do you have a space?’

Tessa’s eyes widened with excitement, and she pushed her glasses up her pert nose. ‘Mostly for kids, but with some sessions for adults. We’d make upcycled crafts from string, cardboard, stuff that local businesses are always getting rid of. I’ve been thinking about it for a while.’

Bonnie was impressed. Tessa wasn’t actually so bad, after all. She was interesting . And definitely not as judgemental as Effie.

‘That’s actually a really cool idea,’ said Bonnie. ‘I could see people getting behind that. And the recycling angle is cool. You could probably get some grant money for it. Talk to Willamina at the bank. She’s been in a good mood recently. She’s switched from tarot to romcoms.’

‘I can see how that would be life-changing.’

Bonnie pointed the prosecco bottle at the plant wall opposite them. ‘I got some funding for that, actually.’

‘Wow, really?’ Tessa snapped a picture with her phone for future reference. ‘Yes, I can send it to you,’ she assured the birthday girl and her friends, who were delighted at being caught on film comparing how well their cleavage could hold a glass of wine.

‘So, is that why you want to talk to Alana?’ said Bonnie, who was inspired to try the cleavage trick herself. She’d definitely win, after all. ‘About recycling and stuff? I can see how that would be her thing.’

Tessa nodded, her cheeks slightly red. She was one of those people who flushed when drinking. ‘Something like that.’

The bar phone rang. Bonnie picked it up, wedging it between her ear and her shoulder as she mixed up another pitcher of Memory Lane for Terrance the barista, who was working on his card memorization trick out on the patio.

From the mild swearing that kept spilling inside, he wasn’t having much luck with the cards this time.

‘Gina?’ she called. ‘It’s your babysitter.’

A thoroughly sloshed redhead from the rowdy group of women stepped forward. ‘My name’s Gina,’ she said, somewhat dazedly.

‘And do you have a babysitter?’ This was sort of an important part of the conversation, after all.

‘Do I look like I have a babysitter?’

Bonnie garnished Terrance’s drink. ‘I couldn’t tell you that. But she’s saying that her employer, whose name is Gina, said she’d be back by eight. The babysitter has a family function she needs to get to.’

‘Oh shit!’ said Gina. A horrified look of realization dawned on her face, and she pulled the base of her glass out from her bra. Bonnie made a note to double-sanitize the glassware tonight. ‘I have kids ! I’m old !’

Throwing a few twenties at Bonnie’s tip jar, she raced out of the bar and out to the square.

‘She’s on her way,’ Bonnie assured the babysitter, holding up a finger as the birthday girl pressed forward, her eyes bleary.

Birthday or not, Bonnie was going to have to cut her off soon, before she started ugly-crying in the corner.

Or before poor Winston made a formal complaint.

There was, of course, a third possible outcome, which would require Bonnie to break out the cleaning chemicals, and which she didn’t particularly want to think about.

‘Can we have another pitcher of the purple stuff?’ begged the birthday blonde, batting eyes dark with smeared makeup.

‘And one for this one here. She looks like she needs it. Wow, has anyone ever told you you’re so pretty?

’ The woman leaned against the bar, holding up one of the coasters to the light.

‘I’m going to take this. As a birthday gift.

And a glass. And maybe one of those long spoons. ’

‘Let’s compromise and say just the coaster,’ said Bonnie sweetly. ‘Did you want one?’ she asked Tessa, hefting the forget-me-not-hued pitcher of Memory Lane.

Tessa shook her head. ‘Not for me. I’m already two bubblies deep. And I’m skating home. I’m not a danger. It’s the kids on scooters I don’t trust!’

‘Scooters are the worst ,’ agreed the birthday girl. ‘We’ve gone backwards as a society. Except for this cocktail. This cocktail is amazing. Hang on, what was I doing here again?’

With a sigh, Bonnie closed out the woman’s tab. She’d had quite enough.

‘Drinking,’ she said. ‘For your birthday.’

‘Drinking!’ shrieked the woman, spilling half the pitcher on the hardwoods. ‘For my birthday !’