The Affectionate Player - Part2

Chapter 6

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"Gracie! You look poker hot. Come in!" Soph grins, winking at her brother in the doorway of her opulent Edwardian home. Josh, taking Holly from Max's arms, leans over to kiss my cheek offering birthday wishes, while his wife steals Monty from my hand and leads us along the hallway.

Entering the spacious kitchen, which tonight appears to have been transformed into a bespoke garden party room with doors wide open and décor to die for, I am greeted simultaneously by almost everyone I know and love.

"Happy Birthday!"

I stand, shaking nervously, totally taken aback by the sheer volume of people in Sophie's home, as an array of my closest friends and family cheer and sing.

Instantly I am greeted by my parents and Max's, both offering their congratulations, followed by Henri and then Ailsa, who is a complete shock. We haven't spoken for months but given her chatter and brief update, Max's invitation had been too hard to resist. As Ailsa sweeps across to Max, Henri takes her place, throwing his arms around me and bursting into tears.

"God, Gracie! I've been so worried about you! What the hell happened, honey? We need to do lunch!" I assure him I've recovered from Jonny's attack, leaning in to enlighten him that Max and I have separated. Bewildered, he glares from me to my ex, not quite believing what he's heard, while Max who's only half listening to Ailsa, looks on apologetically as if sensing our dialogue.

Rudi and Caitlin, and Sophie with the twins all follow suit taking turns with hugs and kisses. It's only then I see Granny Mac in her wheelchair, the sight of which upsets me more than I'd imagined.

"Let me through to see my Gracie," she orders, and like Moses parting the waves, everyone disperses.

"Hi Granny," I whisper, kissing her soft, warm cheek like I always do and tilting downward for a cuddle. I haven't felt the comfort of her arms since she came to visit us after Holly's birth and it's almost more than I can bear.

"How are you bairn? I've been worried sick thinking of that...that bastard hurting you and the babbies." Squeezing my hand, she prompts me for an answer.

"We're okay, Granny. My eye has healed." I reach up instinctively touching my brow feeling my voice break as I do. I'm going to cry if she keeps this up.

"The sooner he's caught, the safer we'll all feel. If I still had the use of my legs, I'd go after the frigger myself." Poor Granny, she's fuming just like me. Pulling Max's hand she prompts him to kiss her cheek.

"Just as well you have my grandson here to look after you." Awkwardly, Max smiles but takes the compliment. She doesn't know what he's done and I can no longer keep up the pretence.

"Sorry, Granny, would you excuse me?"

"Of course. We'll talk later. Go and have fun!" Slipping away, I make a brief visit to the bathroom to gather my wits and while drying my hands I realise that tonight will be so much harder than I'd anticipated.

I need a drink. Several of them.

"Moet?" I hear Max's voice behind me as I re-join my party, though why he asks that question, I'll never know. Grinning from ear to ear, he leads me gently by the elbow to the bar which has been set up especially for the occasion. Attended by two barmen, they have promptly taken up their duties, given the trays of cocktails and Champagne flutes that have already been filled.

Handing me a flute and collecting a cocktail for himself he pauses, and I sense his need to speak. In silent salute I clink his glass sipping my first of the delicious, crisp bubbles though the crystal barely touches my lips a second time as I wholly absorb my surroundings.