Free The Vintage Teacup Club by Vanessa Greene Page A

if I’m going to do it,’ Owen continued, ‘it has to be my way. Leave the garden stuff to me,’ Owen said to Jack. ‘That’s what we agreed, and that’s what I’m trained to do. And she,’ Owen waved his hand dismissively in Maggie’s direction, ‘can do the flower-arranging.’
    ‘OK,’ Jack said, hurriedly trying to make amends and placate his friend. ‘Maggie, we really want your input on the flowers, though, like wesaid.’
    When Maggie looked up to argue her case, Owen was staring at her, at the top of her head his brown eyes glinting.
    ‘Nice scrunchie,’ he said.
    ‘Mini pork pie?’ Maggie asked, passing the plate.
    ‘That would go perfectly with my bowl of Quavers,’ Jenny said, with a giggle, putting a tub of ice cream into Maggie’s freezer and picking up a pie.
    Alison picked up the three full glasses of lemonade, and the women took their plates and a large pizza box over into Maggie’s pristine living room.
    ‘Thanks for coming over,’ Maggie said, getting comfy on the armchair, tucking her legs up under her. ‘And for bringing the junk food extravaganza.’ In front of them was an array of comforting carbs, including an enormous pizza. Maggie hadn’t really expected Alison and Jenny to be free on a Friday night, but after the day she’d had at Darlington Hall she was longing for some friendlier company and so had invited them round on the off-chance. When she’d answered the door to find them laden down with snacks and smiling with slumber-party glee, Maggie’s blues were all but forgotten.
    ‘Pah!’ Alison said. ‘Don’t worry, Maggie, we’ve all had one of
those days
.’ Jenny nodded and took a mini sausage roll from the pile on her plate, her blondeponytail bouncing.
    ‘It’s been a while since I had a good junk food feast anyway,’ Jenny said, with a wink. ‘They’re wasted on hangovers, don’t you think?’
    ‘Definitely,’ Maggie said, ‘and it’s the lesser of two evils. It’s a good job you came around really, or I’d probably be a bottle of wine down by now. Honestly, Lucy Mackintosh’s wedding was sent to test me.’
    ‘Is she really that bad?’ Alison asked, brushing a crumb off her checked shirt.
    ‘Yes,’ Maggie replied in an instant. ‘Only now it’s not just her.’ She paused, recalling the disaster that had been that day’s meeting. ‘She’s got this really arrogant upstart on board to do the landscaping and … No,’ Maggie shook her head with determination, ‘I’m not wasting valuable snacking time even
thinking
about them.’ A wide smile took the place of her scowl as she took a slice of pizza from the box.
    ‘Anyway, Alison,’ Maggie said, through a mouthful of mozzarella, ‘your friend Jamie from the charity shop popped into the shop the other day for some freesias. Said he might be starting up a café over the street. Did you know about that?’
    Alison beamed. ‘Yes, and to be honest I’ve been desperate to blab about it – I’m thinking of going in with him as a partner,’ she took in her friends’ intrigued expressions. ‘But there’s a lot to think about before then. I’ve got to talk to Pete first really, butI’ll keep you posted.’ She stroked Mork’s arched back as he sniffed at the pork pies. Looking around the room, Alison changed the subject, ‘Anyway, this place is stunning, Maggie,’ she said. ‘White carpets, blimey, the stuff of dreams when you have kids.’
    Maggie smiled warmly, ‘Well, I guess there are advantages to living alone.’
    ‘You can say that again,’ Alison said, laughing. ‘I think every piece of our furniture is practically wipe-clean.’ She hopped to her feet to inspect the framed photos on Maggie’s mantelpiece. ‘So are you sure there’s no one on the scene, man-wise?’
    ‘Nope, no one. I’m absolutely certain,’ Maggie said, focusing on taking another bite of pizza without cheese dripping on her chin.
    ‘Nosy,’ Jenny said, directing the comment at