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met that afternoon, but he wanted to know about the relationship between her and Giles. He really hoped they weren’t sleeping together.
    “So tell me, Alexander, how are your parents?”
    Beck jumped. Celia had snuck up behind him.
    “Er…er,” he stammered. He couldn’t remember her ever having met his parents.
    “I hope they’re both well.” Celia smiled and nodded, encouraging him to answer.
    Beck’s mother drove his father insane. She was addicted to eBay, buying and selling. The contents of the house changed so much that every time his father came home from work, he double checked he was at the right address. In addition, his dad was going deaf and wouldn’t admit it, so everyone around him had to shout. His mother had a permanently sore throat.
    Beck realized Celia was still looking at him, waiting for an answer.
    “They’re absolutely fine, thanks,” he said.
    “I expect your mother is looking forward to you trotting down the aisle,” she whispered loud enough for everyone to hear.
    “Not really.” Yes, desperately.
    “No one in mind, then?” Celia pressed on.
    “No.” Not for marriage though he had a vision of that redhead in his bed.
    “So do you think this will be like a mini Pompeii?” Celia changed the subject.
    “Well…” Beck blustered and this time he was relieved to be pounced on by the brides-trolls who wanted to discuss Indiana Jones. After Beck realized one of them thought the Temple of Doom was an actual place, he briefly lost the power of speech. He pleaded a need for the bathroom and escaped.
    He found Giles in the dining room with his tongue down Willow’s throat.
    “Still got your tonsils, Willow?” Beck asked and the two sprang apart.
    “You’re supposed to be entertaining the bridesmaids,” Giles said. “That’s what the best man does. It’s a perk of the job.”
    “Can’t I talk to you for a bit?”
    “Willow and I are busy.”
    “You’re going to have the rest of your lives to examine each other’s organs. I need rescuing now.”
    “I’ll go and get you both a drink.” Willow smiled, and planted another kiss on her fiancé’s lips, before sashaying out of the room. They both watched her go.
    “I can’t believe I’m so lucky.” Giles drooled.
    “Me neither,” Beck said, staring at his friend.
    “The W-for-Willow is as good as it gets.” Giles grinned. “It was exhausting taking a different girl to bed all the time. If it hadn’t been for the game, I’d have forgotten their names by the time I woke up.”
    “As I recall, you still didn’t always remember their names.”
    “Well, I don’t have to bother about that now. Life is great. I like coming home without having to pick up my dinner on the way. If I’d known how good it was to have a resident angel who fills the fridge with food and alcohol and is happy to iron my shirts on the front and back, I’d have settled down long ago.”
    Beck doubted that and knew Giles saw the disbelief in his face.
    “Willow is fun and she really cares about me. She’s almost tamed me. She even earns a decent salary.”
    “What do you mean, ‘almost’?”
    Giles shrugged. Beck wanted to ask him about Flick, but couldn’t push the words out of his mouth. He didn’t want to hear she was one of Giles’ alphabet shags.
    “So what is my mother spouting off about now?”
    “She’s told the entire room she has Pompeii in the back garden.”
    “You mean we don’t?” Giles flashed Beck a look of mock surprise.
    “One piece of pottery does not mean we’re going to find the whole dinner set and the shop that sold it.”
    “I know for a fact there’s a septic tank.”
    That was one thing Beck didn’t want to find. He took out his Dictaphone and made a note.

Chapter Four
    “Flick! Hurry up. We’re going to be late,” Kirsten yelled through the bathroom door.
    “Okay, okay, I’m coming.”
    Flick put the final touches to her makeup and stepped back to judge the overall effect. She grinned at her