Right Number, Wrong Girl

“You.” She wiggled her finger at me. “You know you’re supposed to call before you knock on the door.”

“Sorry.”

“Oh, hello.” Sophie giggled as Trifle jumped up at her legs, and she looked over at Kellie. “May I pet him?”

Kellie’s lips tugged to the sides. “I’d like to see you not. That’s Trifle.”

Sophie bent down with a grin, petting him. “That sounds like there’s an interesting story behind that name.”

“The day we brought him home he tripped me up and I dropped the trifle. He ate it. That was a fun trip to the vet,” Kellie replied dryly.

“I remember that.” I chuckled.

“Oh, dear,” Sophie said, straightening up.

“Biscuit! Get off my rose bush!” Kellie stalked across the front garden and scooted Biscuit away from her prized roses before he could cock his leg and do his business all over it. “Over there, you little bugger!”

Sophie smiled at him.

“Well, that’s quite the introduction,” she said, wiping her hands on her trousers. “Hugo? Care to introduce us?”

“Oh, of course. Kellie, this is S—Camilla.” I caught myself at the very last moment. “She’s planning Grandma’s party.”

“Ahh.”

“Camilla, this is Kellie. She’ll be doing Grandma’s cake. Or she will be now.”

Kellie side-eyed me. “What does that mean?”

“It’s a long story,” Sophie said.

“I like stories. Come inside, please.” Kellie stepped aside, and I motioned for Sophie to go ahead of me.

I hoped she remembered to be Camilla in this situation.

“The kitchen is right down the hall and to the right. I’ll just get these two rascals in.” Kellie disappeared outside.

Sophie took a tentative seat at the kitchen table. “Will she be okay to do this?”

I nodded. “She’s a bit like my mum. She’s not as scary as she seems.”

Sophie looked as though she doubted every word of that.

“I heard that.” Kellie walked into the kitchen and looked over at me. “Mind yourself, Hugo. I have photos of you when you were in nappies.”

I pressed my lips firmly together.

It really wasn’t fair that I had this many women in my life who took it upon themselves to happily threaten me with my baby pictures.

“I’m not scary at all,” Kellie said, looking at Sophie. “Can I make you some tea?”

“Oh, no, thank you,” Sophie replied. “I had some not long ago.”

“Perfect. Now, let’s discuss this cake business and what Hugo meant when he said that I will be now.”

Sophie swallowed. “We’re not sure what happened, but you weren’t on my list of approved bakers. In fact, I didn’t know about you being the one to do the cake until fifteen minutes ago.”

Nice.