Their guests arrived – first their dad, clutching his bottle of port, then Hannah and Chloe, and Nick and Ros.
Ros, the blind date, had turned out to be batty in a good way. Personally, Edie thought playing roller derby and having a pet ferret was ace. She could take or leave the Reiki healing.
Chloe turned out to be one of the loveliest, most serene people that Edie had ever encountered, and had an effect on Hannah she’d never seen before.
Meg found everyone a seat, and a hat – ‘Oh God, what, hats?’ Nick said. ‘Hats,’ Meg affirmed, who was already in hers – and pushed a drink into their hands.
Edie ran round panicking and chanting ROAST! ROAST? at the parsnips.
‘Right, this is a first time for Christmas lunch, so if there’s any bodges, forgive,’ Edie said, when they were finally ready to roll out. She thought the mash could’ve done with more mashing, but other than that, she had to say it looked pretty good.
As they got sat down, the doorbell went.
‘I told Winnie and Kez they could bring their new dog in to see us.’ Meg jumped up, licking her fingers.
‘As long as they know the dress code is “dressed”. Oh bugger, I forgot the pigs in blankets,’ Edie said, getting up too, and dashing into the kitchen.
They came back to the table at the same time, Edie holding a roasting tray full of cocktail sausages, Meg looking more excitable than the year she unwrapped a Sylvanian Families Furbank Squirrel Family collection, which was saying something.
‘Edie?’
Edie pushed the dish on to the table and wiped her sweating forehead awkwardly, with one oven-gloved hand.
‘Yeah?’
Meg looked at her with an expression of intense anticipation.
‘It’s someone for you.’
Acknowledgements
Gah, sorry for boring on here but the thank you list just gets longer each time. Every book is a group effort and I’m so grateful for the top level team I have around me. First of all, thanks to my editors Martha Ashby and Helen Huthwaite. Your hard work, humour, thoughtful notes and constant genuine care for the thing itself is hugely appreciated by your author. Further thanks to Kimberley Young and the whole HarperCollins family for their enthusiasm, creativity and excellent parties. Keshini Naidoo, Copy Editor Extraordinaire: gets laughs AND results, who can argue with that?
My agent Doug Kean, as ever, has gone beyond the call of duty and not only been a superb and supportive agent but consented to have the odd drink with me. Cheers to you, sir.
My first draft readers are indispensable and I’m more thankful to you all than you ever realise: my brother Ewan, Sean Hewitt, Tara de Cozar, Katie and Fraser (ta for the name, Fraz), Kristy Berry, Jenny Howe, James Donaghy, Jennifer Whitehead and Mark Casarotto.
Also practical thanks to Jane Sturrock, who helped me on the logistics of ghost writing, and David Nolan, for pointers on penning autobiographies (you’re NOT Jan, OK? Heh heh).
I wouldn’t have been able to name the hero if my friend Elliot Elam hadn’t generously lent me his, and equally I wouldn’t have had one for the heroine without Julian Simpson and Jana Carpenter agreeing I could take their lovely daughter’s name in vain. Speaking of Julian, thanks also for the odd hint, tip and a TV-world tale about a garden gnome. I never thought I’d meet someone who swore more than me. And thank you to the delightful beauty, Elizabeth Hampson, for letting me model artwork-Edie on you. It wasn’t at all creepy when I asked to use your photos, right? Cool.
This is the first story I’ve set in my home city and it seems only right to thank everyone here for being so brilliant, sorry I can’t name you all without this turning into a shopping list but you know who you are. This time I will just offer a special shout to my lovely in-laws Ray, Andrea and Sally, and their unwavering positivity. From the beginning of writing books, I’ve been bowled over by how much all my family has cheered me on, from Notts to Milton Keynes and up to Scotland: thank you all so much.
And thank you to Alex. None of it would be possible without you. Or it would, but not as good.
About the Author
Mhairi was born in Scotland in 1976 and her unnecessarily confusing name is pronounced Vah-Ree.
After some efforts at journalism, she started writing novels and is a Sunday Times bestselling author. Who’s That Girl? is her fourth book. She lives in Nottingham, with a man and a cat.
Also by Mhairi McFarlane
You Had Me At Hello
Here’s Looking At You
It’s Not Me, It’s You
Keep Reading
Enjoyed this book? Look out for Mhairi’s other titles!
Click here to buy You Had Me At Hello now 978-0-00-756045-5
Click here to buy Here’s Looking at You now 978-0-00-755074-6
Click here to buy It’s Not Me, It’s You now 978-0-00-813021-3
About the Publisher
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