Read Online The Alphabet Sisters by Monica McInerney - Free Book Online Page B

her know she was on her way. It had been her choice to hire a car, drive up herself, arrive independently. The phone box was no cooler, the receiver hot to touch. She stared at the phone for a moment, doing the deep breathing that all the books recommended, calming herself down. Of course she could handle this. Hadn’t she been out in the world for the past three years, surviving in Melbourne, Dublin, and London? Making a career for herself? Be strong, Bett. Be brave, Bett. Ring and tell them you’re in Adelaide and you’ll be up in a few hours.
    She dialed. A cross-sounding voice answered. “Valley View Motel.”
    It was Carrie. Bett hung up immediately.
    H ello? Hello?” Carrie waited a moment, then hung up. People were so rude. At least the ringing phone had got her out of the kitchen, though, before she exploded at her grandmother in front of everyone. Did Lola have any idea how hard it had been for the florist to find all those twigs?
    She waited a moment to see if the caller rang back, but the phone stayed quiet. It had probably been another one of Lola’s mad friends ringing up to RSVP at the last minute.
    “It’s not just going to be a room full of old people reminiscing, is it, Lola?” Carrie had asked her several days before. “There seem to be a lot of croaky old voices ringing up.”
    “All human life will be represented, Carrie, my dear. And there’ll be some reminiscing, some entertainment, a little bit of this and a little bit of that.”
    “A little bit of what?”
    “It’s a surprise.”
    “Lola, please. You’re the one who is supposed to get a surprise at your party, not us. What are you planning?”
    “Carrie, how many times do I have to ask you to please treat me with adoration and respect. I’m not telling. All you have to do is set up the room exactly as I’ve outlined, follow the running order we have discussed, and then leave the rest to me.”
    “You’re not going to tell me why Frank from the electrical hire shop was here yesterday, are you? Or what was in that big box I saw him carrying in?”
    “No, I’m not.”
    “Have you finished your table settings yet, then? Are you still expecting about sixty people?”
    “More like seventy now, I think. All sorts of people have told me they’d love to come. Oh, and I also invited that quiet Englishman who’s staying in room two. He said he’d be delighted to attend. Actually, I think he said he’d be charmed to attend. Have you spoken to him yet? He has the most beautiful manners.”
    Right then Carrie didn’t care if that Englishman was the most well-mannered man in history. Honestly, her grandmother drove her crazy sometimes. “Lola, you have to tell me these things. That changes everything. All the catering arrangements, everything.”
    “Only slightly. Really, Carrie, you have to learn to relax or you’ll give yourself high blood pressure.”
    “It is you and this party and this never-ending guest list that will give me high blood pressure. What are we supposed to feed these extra people?”
    “Oh, they won’t mind if they have to share their meals.”
    “I mind, though. If I’m trying to get more business into the motel, then every occasion like this is a chance to make an impression. And I won’t make a good impression if people don’t get enough to eat at a birthday party for one of the owners.”
    “I’m not an owner anymore. I’m just the matriarch these days.”
    Carrie had given in and started to laugh. “You’re just a law unto yourself, that’s what you are.”
    It had been funny then, but it wasn’t funny now. Nothing was funny now. Carrie took her pulse, felt her heart beating. Yes, it was definitely fast. And no wonder, all the pressure she was under. She heard laughing and looked out in time to see Lola, Anna, and Ellen head over to Anna’s favorite room, number seven. She fought off a little feeling of hurt, picked up her car keys, and scribbled a quick note to her mother. She was going back