“You saw for yourself how talented Claudia is, and she wasn’t a bit fazed by the size of the order I’ve just put her way. This means she must have been in business before, and yet she doesn’t have an Internet presence or history, and nor does her mother.”

Leanne took a moment to process this. “So, who are they?” she asked, trying to get her head around it all.

Though Andee had a theory she decided to keep it to herself for now, and said, “I’m still working on it, but rest assured I don’t think it’s anything to worry about.”

“Well, that’s good, because Abby’s pretty tight with Jasmine, and I found myself warming to Claudia tonight. And her mother’s a delight.”

“Isn’t she?”

“Actually,” Leanne said as they started to walk on, “I’m thinking of inviting them to the little engagement party we’re throwing the Saturday after next. I take it you and Graeme are free?”

“We’ll make sure of it, and yes, do invite them. I think it would mean a lot to them, especially Claudia. Who else is on the list?”

“Family mostly, but I was wondering about asking Dan. Do you think he’ll come? He gets on very well with Tom.”

“I’m sure he will. I’m seeing him tomorrow for one of our RJ meetings. Would you like me to ask him?”

“No, I’ll do it myself, but perhaps you could assure him that we’re not trying to pair him off with Claudia, because that’s exactly what he’ll think when we introduce them.”

Andee frowned. “Aren’t we?” she countered dryly.

Leanne laughed. “I could say yes, but do we really want him to get involved with someone who might not be who she says she is, and who, for all we know, could take off again at any minute?”

“No,” Andee replied seriously, “we definitely don’t want to do that. And please, please don’t let her take off before the show home is done.”

Chapter Twelve

So, here’s a conversation I had today with Dan:

“How are you doing, Archie?”

“How do you think?”

“Tell me.”

“I’m crap. How else would you expect me to be?”

“I was hoping you might feel ready for more honesty about your mother.”

“I haven’t told any lies about her.”

“You haven’t told the entire truth either.”

It frigging gets me, the way he manages to know stuff he shouldn’t. “Why do you want to know more about her? She’s got nothing to do with any of this.”

“She thinks she has.”

“You’ve talked to her?”

“Of course.”

“I could get really mad about that, Dan.”

“Why?”