Free Wellies and Westies by Cressida McLaughlin

Jessica must have had the house completely remodelled when it was extended, because it looked nothing like where Cat lived.
    ‘I won’t be two ticks,’ Jessica said. ‘If you could truss these ones up while I find Dior’s?’ She gave Cat the leads, red and blue velvet to match the jewelled collars, and Cat crouched to attach them to Valentino and Coco, giving them each a cuddle. The dogs barked and nuzzled her, and Coco, with his floppy ear, licked her cheek. Cat knew she would never tire of this, would never get over the warmth and friendship a dog could give, and the desire to have one of her own was stronger than ever.
    ‘It was in the fruit bowl, can you imagine?’ Jessica returned, holding the lead up, elegant as always in a navy skirt suit and dangling silver earrings, her blonde hair swept high off her forehead. Cat could never find a single dog hair on Jessica, and wondered if she walked through some kind of vacuum closet before she went anywhere.
    When the three dogs were ready, Cat hovered in the hallway while Jessica applied coral lipstick in the mirror. ‘Is it in a library then, your event?’

    ‘Oh, no, not at all.’ Jessica laughed, then cursed, blotted her lipstick and started again. ‘It’s in the Silver wine bar, do you know it?’
    Cat had walked past it, but had never gone in. She nodded. ‘I didn’t realize author events happened in wine bars, but then I suppose it makes a difference if you write about food.’
    ‘Oh, they happen anywhere. But I do prefer these ones, a select few fans and journalists, a bit more sophistication. Lunch – one of my favourite recipes from the latest book, goat’s-cheese-and-tangerine salad – then questions. I should say it gets tiresome, but it never does. I lap it up, don’t I?’ She bent and gave each of her dogs a kiss on the forehead. When she stood, Cat looked for a white hair on her navy suit. Nothing.
    ‘Now, Cat –’ She turned and smiled, and Cat felt the full force of her glamour. ‘Three weeks from now, at the end of April, I’m having a small gathering here. Nibbles, obligatory fizz, music. It’s nice to do something as the evenings get lighter, I think, and it can get a bit…quiet in here sometimes. You’ll come?’ She thrust a shiny card into Cat’s hand. It had silver writing on a white background, a spray of blossom in the corner, inviting her to Jessica Heybourne’s spring party. A Friday night. Smart dress code.
    ‘Really?’ Cat’s mind was racing, thinking of all the potential clients, the introductions Jessica could give her. Would Mark be there? What would she wear?
    ‘Of course. And bring friends – it’s Poppy, isn’t it?’
    ‘Polly. And…and I also live with her brother.’ Would a party be Joe’s kind of thing, or would he hate it? She wasn’t sure, but she didn’t want him sitting at home while she and Polly swanned off to drink and dance with celebrities.
    ‘Bring them both! The more the merrier. Now, I think my car’s outside, I heard it tooting. This way, poppets.’ Jessica made go on movements with her hands, and Cat knew she was being included with the Westies, but she didn’t mind being shooed outside. Jessica’s party was an evening of endless possibilities. And if Jessica was with Mark, then surely she’d want to show him off. Cat knew that, in her position, she wouldn’t hide him away from the world for any longer than was strictly necessary.

    Fairview Park was bursting into life, but Cat could hardly see it against the grit and hair being blown into her eyes. The wind was picking up, the sun disguising how cold and blustery it still was, and after half an hour even Dior, Valentino and Coco were looking as if they’d had enough. There were only so many leaves you could chase.
    Cat headed towards the Pavilion café. It was a circular building with floor-to-ceiling windows so that, if you sat in the right seat, you could see most of the way round the park. It was perfect for people