A Date with Fate by Cathy Cole Page B

members to the next level: a warm modern space hung with valuable-looking paintings. People sat quietly at tables here, hunched over laptops. Others chatted at the bar, teetering on designer heels.
    â€œOh, you must meet Hermione,” said Caitlin suddenly. “Hermione, this is my friend Eve. I’m planning a party for her.”
    Eve found herself folded into the heavily perfumed embrace of a world-famous rock star’s ex-wife.
    â€œCaitlin organized such a wonderful event for us this summer,” said Hermione, in a husky voice. “The girl is gold dust. Have some fun for me.”
    â€œNow that was a party,” reminisced Caitlin, towing the almost-speechless Eve onwards. “A rock star in every cupboard, a black and white Pierrot theme. Hermione wanted to fill the swimming pool with champagne, but I persuaded her that sparkling water would be far more chic.” She giggled. “Less sticky too. We did a champagne fountain instead. We had underwater lights that changed colour,” she added dreamily. “The effect against the bubbles was heavenly .”
    Eve had always thought her parties were the best parties in the world. But it sounded like Caitlin had taken parties to a whole new level. She was only a couple of years older than Eve, but it was clear that she was brilliant at her job. Eve felt almost faint with excitement at the thought of what she and Caitlin might create between them.
    â€œLet’s sit somewhere and start planning,” she begged, catching Caitlin’s arm.
    â€œIn the party mood, are we?” Caitlin teased.
    â€œTotally!” Eve fumbled in her bag for the special jotter she’d brought to write down ideas. “Where can we sit?”
    Caitlin pushed her gently onwards, towards the next flight of stairs. “I’ve booked us a room,” she said, her eyes twinkling. “Right at the top.”
    Eve’s brain was awash with ideas, each one more outrageous than the last. She and Caitlin together, Daddy’s usual limitless budget. This was going to be legendary .
    The view from the top of the lighthouse was breathtaking. Eve’s legs ached from the long climb up the dizzying stairs, but it was worth every twinge. She could see for miles through the plate-glass windows that provided an unrivalled 360-degree view of Heartside, the ocean and the hills inland. Eve pressed her hands to the glass and watched the clouds scudding in from the sea, changing shape as they moved. Sea mist started rippling up the coast, washing back and forth like smoke. The roofs and spires of Heartside sat below them like a toy town.
    A table had been laid with a white cloth and a large vase of scented white roses. Caitlin poured fresh lemonade into a glass and pressed it into Eve’s hand, smiling into her eyes.
    â€œDo you like the view?”
    Eve nodded wordlessly.
    â€œLet’s order some food,” Caitlin suggested. “I’m starving. We can plan as we eat.”
    They sat at the little white table, enjoying the view and the chilled lemonade, swapping stories about their lives. They had so many people in common, Eve was amazed they had never met before.
    The sun started setting, spreading red-gold fingers of light across the white tablecloth between them. Between mouthfuls of crispy, piping-hot calamari dipped in silky yellow mayonnaise and a wildly colourful salad, Eve couldn’t write down her party ideas fast enough. A live steel band to deliver the invitations. Coconut-shell candles on barrel-shaped tables. A thatched beach bar, fire-eaters, sand sculptures. Caitlin listened and advised, topped up their glasses and told stories about all the astonishing parties she’d helped to organize.
    â€œBut this is going to be the best one yet,” she smiled, clinking glasses with Eve. “I can feel it.”
    The whole evening had been so perfect that Eve felt a little dazed.
    She couldn’t think of anyone she would rather