Free It Started With a Kiss by Miranda Dickinson Page B

D’Wayne interjected, clearly pleased with himself. ‘So do you mind if we return to next year’s programme?’
    Tom shrugged and took a handful of nuts. ‘Don’t let us stop you, Duh-Wayne .’
    ‘Thank you. In January we have a fiftieth birthday gig on the 14th and on the 21st there’s a winter wedding at Elstone Farm Estate down in Somerset – smaller crowd but they’re all booked into the accommodation onsite so should be in the mood for a party. In February I’ve managed to get you playing at an exclusive Valentine’s Night bash at a venue to be confirmed – two forty-five-minute sets before the DJ comes on and they’re happy to pay a premium to secure us, so that should be around £250 each.’
    A murmur of surprised approval rippled through the room. February is traditionally a dead month as far as gigs are concerned and, after the usual shock of post-Christmas bills in January, any money coming in during that month is a definite bonus.
    ‘March-wise, bit quiet at the moment but I’ve almost secured a medieval banquet wedding gig in Northumberland. Bride and groom both work for a big City law firm in London, so it should be more than worthwhile. I’ll have more on that next month, hopefully.’
    ‘Ah, the madrigal set then, guys,’ Jack quipped.
    Tom laughed. ‘Must dust off my mandolin.’
    ‘Usual set, actually ,’ D’Wayne countered. ‘And the type  of younger crowd you’re looking for, Tom.’ He finished his  wine and flicked through the list on his phone. ‘Two weddings in April, then May is more or less booked for weddings – three Saturdays and a Sunday, including a very nice one at a Scottish castle near Fort William. There’s a Regency wedding in June, a summer ball for a major accountancy firm in London in July and possibly a late July beachside wedding in Devon, so we might blag a free weekend break out of it. Obviously there are more I’m working on but it’s all good stuff, I think you’ll agree.’
    ‘It’s a start,’ Charlie said. ‘But ideally I think we need to be trying to gig most weeks from May to end of September.’
    D’Wayne raised his eyebrows. ‘Hey, feel free to do better if you think you can.’
    ‘Actually, I already have,’ Charlie replied, his coolness disguising the irritation I knew he was experiencing. We all turned to look at him, including our manager, who looked slightly winded by this. ‘My sister’s getting married at Combermere Abbey in Shropshire, on the second weekend of September, and she’s booked us for the whole day. She’s hired a string quartet for the ceremony and wants some smooth jazz for the afternoon reception, so I suggest that Rom, Jack and I do the American Songbook set we put together for Soph’s mum’s fiftieth last year, and then we’ll have the whole band set in the evening. We get £250 each plus travel, two nights’ accommodation and expenses. Added to that, the event planner at the venue is an old school friend of hers and is interested in taking us on to her recommended entertainment list, so there’s definite potential for repeat gigs. That OK with you, Mr McDougall?’
    D’Wayne’s voice was small and resigned when it came out. ‘Fine. Well done.’
    ‘You kept that quiet, Charlie,’ Sophie said. ‘Did you know about this, Rom?’
    I shook my head, my heart sinking at the fact. Usually, I would be the first to know. After what happened on Saturday, was this how things were going to be between us from now on?
    ‘They’re not really talking at the moment,’ Wren interjected.
    Horrified, I stared at her. ‘ Wren! ’
    ‘I’m just saying.’
    All eyes swung to me, then Charlie, who was looking as uncomfortable as I felt.
    ‘Why? What’s up?’ Tom demanded.
    Charlie’s gaze dropped to the carpet. ‘Nothing. We’re fine.’
    Jack pulled a face. ‘Awkward!’
    I considered throwing out a lame excuse to leave the room, but it would only further fuel my friends’ interest. So I remained rooted