They Called Me the Spare Aunt, I Brought a Date novel · Chapter 2 of 24

Chapter 2: Plus One

The bride asks Gwyneth to bring somebody she actually wants; Miles asks her to dinner before Celia can offer more chores. Gwyneth accepts a date in front of her sister.

Miles held the badge by its sharp little pin.

"Is this paid?" he asked Celia.

"We're family," my sister said.

"That's usually when I ask," he told her.

Celia pinned his ASSISTANT badge to the linen box beside mine.

"The favors need taking to the dining room," she said.

I looked at the ribboned parcels behind her.

"I haven't agreed to do that," I said.

"You always take care of the little things," Celia replied.

She offered that explanation to Miles rather than to me.

He put my bag on the bottom stair.

"I can move the parcels," he said.

"If somebody tells me which door is the dining room."

Celia pointed through the corridor and reached for my sleeve.

"Go with him," she told me.

"You know how I want them laid out."

I could feel myself preparing to apologize.

Then my niece came downstairs in a blue sundress.

"Aunt Gwyneth," Pippa said.

"Why is your suitcase still down here?"

"I'm taking it upstairs," I said.

I unpinned my FAMILY COORDINATOR badge from the linen box on the hall table.

Pippa picked up the small case before Celia could answer.

"Your room has the best bath," she told me.

"I checked it for you."

I wanted to hug her and suddenly couldn't manage my hands.

Miles picked up the large bag again.

This time he lifted it from the knees.

"I'm taking the orange cone," he told Pippa.

"Your aunt's taking everything else the coast guard might need."

Pippa looked inside the unfastened pocket.

"Are those spare tights?" she asked me.

"Two sizes," I said.

"Why do you have my size?" Celia asked.

I looked at my sister's legs.

She was wearing trousers.

"Habit," I said.

Pippa took my arm with her free hand.

"Come and see the view," she told me.

Celia stepped aside because the bride was watching her.

Miles followed us upstairs, keeping his bag clear of the walls.

In the blue room, Pippa put my suitcase on the bench.

A broad window faced the sea.

There was a little tray with two wrapped biscuits.

I opened one before anybody could ask me anything.

The biscuit was buttery and left crumbs on my dress.

I ate the second one too.

"You're allowed to enjoy this," Pippa said.

She was watching me with an expression I found difficult.

"I was enjoying the biscuits," I told her.

Pippa took the FAMILY COORDINATOR badge out of my hand.

"I mean the wedding," she said.

She put the badge in the drawer beside my bed.

Miles set the bag on the floor without comment.

I liked him for giving us that small privacy.

Pippa took her phone out and showed me the supper list.

"Are you bringing anybody?" she asked.

"Your mother said it was too late to change things."

Pippa looked at the screen again.

"We've changed the fish twice," she said.

"I can survive a person."

I brushed the crumbs into my palm.

"I don't have anybody to bring," I said.

Pippa leaned against the windowsill.

"Then come with somebody you want to spend time with."

She looked at Miles, who was testing the bag's bent handle.

"I've only met your aunt," he said.

"I'm not giving her away," Pippa told him.

"I'm suggesting she eat a meal."

Miles left the handle alone and looked at me.

"I'd like that," he said.

I was annoyed that my face was getting hot.

I'd been divorced for six years, not raised underground.

"You haven't seen my table manners," I told him.

He glanced at the empty biscuit wrappers.

"I've seen you make a decision," he said.

"I'm encouraged."

Someone knocked on the open door.

Celia stood there holding a ribboned parcel in each hand.

"I need a volunteer downstairs," she said.

Pippa raised her hand.

Celia immediately shook her head.

"You can't," she told her daughter.

"You're the bride."

"Then perhaps Finlay can," Pippa said.

"He's with Gregory," Celia replied.

Miles put his hand up, then glanced at me.

I expected him to change the subject to the parcels.

"Can I take you to dinner?" he asked instead.

"Tonight," he added.

Celia lowered the parcels.

"There's a family briefing," she said.

"You can brief me at breakfast," I told her.

Then I gave Miles my answer.

"I'd love to."

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