The Reunion

Chapter 8

THE PARTY

The train got into the station at 18:20. I lived about a twenty-minute drive from there. By the time I got home, got changed and drove to Graham's for the party I would get there for about eight o'clock. I just hoped I wouldn't be too late.

I got home. Jude could tell immediately that something was wrong. The first thing I did was put my phone on charge. These new mobiles meant it would be fully charged within a quarter of an hour. I explained my visit to Jude and begged her not to come with me to the party. However, my darling wife can be very adamant or stubborn – aren't they the same thing? – and insisted that she went. There was no way I was going to talk her out of it. I went up to change.

It was to be a casual affair but, at my age, I still like to appear smart. I did cave in, on Jude's say-so, and didn't wear a tie. My phone was fully charged when I had finished dressing. I tried calling Graham but it went straight to voicemail. I had the same problem with Samantha, Gillian and Tony. It could have been that they were in the recording studio which had no signal.

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When Jude was ready, we got in the car and started the journey which would turn out to be one of the worst nights of our lives.

Jude tried calling Parveen but there is always bad reception on the route between our house and Graham's. Even modern technology has been unable to find an answer for this. I could sense Judith looking at me.

'I'm sure everything is fine,' I said. Jude didn't reply but I knew she was hoping that everyone was.

We arrived just after eight. I rang the doorbell. Sue answered. I hoped my reaction didn't give anything away.

'Graham. Judith,' she said. 'Come on in and have some food before I eat it all.'

We passed by Sue as we walked towards the kitchen which was to the right. We heard Sue close the door behind us. I didn't know, yet, how I was going to confront Sue with the truth. I turned to look at her but her phone started ringing. She took it out and looked at it. 'I'd better get this,' she said and set off to another room in the house where she wouldn't be overheard.

We watched her go before turning around and continuing into the kitchen. Parveen greeted us with a peck on both cheeks. Luigi was there, as was Tracey. The group weren't there.

'They're in the recording studio just laying down the final touches to another track,' Parveen said as if she could read my mind.

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'Did you not bring the family?' Tracey asked.

'Unfortunately they're not in the area at present, with work commitments,' Jude explained. 'Are yours here?'

'No,' Tracey replied and I thought I heard my wife sigh with relief. 'Tony thought it best that they didn't come. Instead he wants to fly them out to America so that we can all spend time together out there.'

'So the business can spare you and Samantha then, Luigi,' I joked.

'It's only for one evening,' he laughed back. 'What can happen in one night?'

It was then that I saw the spread that Parveen had prepared laid out on the table and work surface. 'Wow! Parveen,' I said. 'How many were you expecting? It looks fantastic.'

'Some of the crew will be arriving in a bit,' Parveen said. 'But I enjoy cooking. What are you going to have to drink?'

'I'm driving,' I said. 'So just a lemonade for me.'