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ine gossipy little Pagford relishing the story of Gavin and Mary。
So what？ he thought； staggered by his own bravery。 Is she supposed to be alone for ever？ It happens。 I was looking after her。
And in spite of his reluctance to attend a party that was sure to be dull and exhausting； he was buoyed inside by a little bubble of excitement and happiness。
Up in Hilltop House； Andrew Price was styling his hair with his mother’s blow…drier。 He had never looked forward to a disco or a party as much as he had longed for tonight。 He； Gaia and Sukhvinder were being paid by Howard to serve food and drinks at the party。 Howard had hired him a uniform for the occasion： a white shirt； black trousers and a bow tie。 He would be working alongside Gaia； not as potboy but as a waiter。
But there was more to his anticipation than this。 Gaia had split up with the legendary Marco de Luca。 He had found her crying about it in the back yard of the Copper Kettle that afternoon； when he had gone outside for a smoke。
‘His loss；’ Andrew had said； trying to keep the delight out of his voice。
And she had sniffed and said； ‘Cheers； Andy。’
‘You little poofter；’ said Simon； when Andrew finally turned off the drier。 He had been waiting to say it for several minutes； standing on the dark landing； staring through the gap in the door； which was ajar； watching Andrew preen himself in the mirror。 Andrew jumped； then laughed。 His good humour disposed Simon。
‘Look at you；’ he jeered； as Andrew passed him on the landing in his shirt and bow tie。 ‘With your dicky…bow。 You look a twat。’
And you’re unemployed； and I did it to you； dickhead。
Andrew’s feelings about what he had done to his father changed almost hourly。 Sometimes the guilt would bear down on him； tainting everything； but then it would melt away； leaving him glorying in his secret triumph。 Tonight； the thought of it gave extra heat to the excitement burning beneath Andrew’s thin white shirt； an additional tingle to the goose…flesh caused by the rush of evening air as he sped； on Simon’s racing bike； down the hill into town。 He was excited； full of hope。 Gaia was available and vulnerable。 Her father lived in Reading。
Shirley Mollison was standing in a party dress outside the church hall when he cycled up； tying giant gold helium balloons in the shapes of fives and sixes to the railings。
‘Hello； Andrew；’ she trilled。 ‘Bike away from the entrance； please。’
He wheeled it along to the corner； passing a brand…new； racing green BMW convertible parked feet away。 He walked around the car on his way inside； taking in the luxurious inner fittings。
‘And here’s Andy！’
Andrew saw at once that his boss’s good humour and excitement were equal to his own。 Howard was striding down the hall； wearing an immense velvet dinner jacket； he resembled a conjuror。 There were only five or six other people dotted around： the party would not start for twenty minutes。 Blue； white and gold balloons had been fastened up everywhere。 There was a massive trestle table largely covered in plates draped with tea…towels； and at the top of the hall a middle…aged DJ setting up his equipment。
。电子书
‘Go help Maureen； Andy； will you？’
She was laying out glasses at one end of the long table； caught gaudily in a stream of light from an overhead lamp。
‘Don’t you look handsome！’ she croaked as he approached。
She was wearing a scant； stretchy shiny dress that revealed every contour of the bony body to which unexpected little rolls and pads of flesh still clung； exposed by the unforgiving fabric。 From somewhere out of sight came a small ‘hi’； Gaia was crouching over a box of plates on the floor。
‘Glasses out of boxes； please； Andy；’ said Maureen； ‘and set them up here； where we’re having the bar。’
He did as he was told。 As he unpacked the box； a woman he had never seen before approached； carrying several bottles of champagne。
‘These should go in the fridge； if there is one。’
She had Howard’s straight nose； Howard’s big blue eyes and Howard’s curly fair hair； but whereas his features were womanish； softened by fat； his daughter – she had to be his daughter – was unpretty yet striking； with low brows； big eyes and a cleft chin。 She was wearing trousers and an open…necked silk shirt。 After dumping the bottles onto the table she turned away。 Her demeanour； and something about the quality of her clothing； made Andrew sure that she was the owner of the BMW outside。
‘That’s Patricia；’ whispered Gaia in his ear； and his skin tingled again as though she carried an electric charge。 ‘Howard’s daughter。’
‘Yeah； I thought so；’ he said； but he was much more interested to see that Gaia was unscrewing the cap of a bottle of vodka and pouring out a measure。 As he watched； she drank it straight off with a little shudder。 She had barely replaced the top when Maureen reappeared beside them with an ice bucket。
‘Bloody old slapper；’ said Gaia； as Maureen walked away； and Andrew smelt the spirits on her breath。 ‘Look at the state of her。’
He laughed； turned and stopped abruptly； because Shirley was right beside them； smiling her pussycat smile。
‘Has Miss Jawanda not arrived yet？’ she asked。
‘She’s on her way； she just texted me；’ said Gaia。
But Shirley did not really care where Sukhvinder was。 She had overheard Andrew and Gaia’s little exchange about Maureen； and it had pletely restored the good mood that had been dented by Maureen’s evident delight in her own toilette。 It was difficult to satisfactorily puncture self…esteem so obtuse； so deluded； but as Shirley walked away from the teenagers towards the DJ； she planned what she would say to Howard the next time she saw him alone。
I’m afraid the young ones were； well； laughing at Maureen … it’s such a pity she wore that dress … I hate seeing her make a fool of herself。
There was plenty to be pleased about； Shirley reminded herself； for she needed a little bolstering tonight。 She and Howard and Miles were all going to be on the council together； it would be marvellous； simply marvellous。
She checked that the DJ knew that Howard’s favourite song was ‘The Green； Green Grass