Baby Be Mine

jealous, if I’m honest. My cat costume is looking meagre in comparison.
    ‘Did you see that witch?’ Bess asks me with amazement.
    ‘No, where?’
    ‘She’s gone into the other room. Seriously impressive warts and I swear she must’ve had a professional make-up artist construct her nose and the hairs on her chin.’
    ‘She probably did.’
    ‘I feel like a right tit in my Minnie Mouse get-up.’
    I laugh. ‘Don’t be ridiculous, it’s not a competition.’
    ‘Actually, it is,’ Eddie points out. We follow the direction of his gaze to a poster on the wall. ‘Winner and runners-up announced at nine o’clock.’
    ‘Bummer,’ I say. ‘Oh, well, hopefully no one will notice us if we hide away in a corner and snaffle the canapés as they come out of the kitchen.’
    ‘Did I just hear someone say canapés?’
    I spin around with a huge grin on my face as a sexy red devil comes over to give me a great big hug.
    ‘Bess, this is Kitty,’ I introduce them. Kitty told me earlier on in the week that she and her boss were coming to this do. It feels like the whole of Hollywood is here.
    ‘I swear I just saw Brad Pitt!’ Bess suddenly squeals.
    I shake my head. ‘Nah, he won’t be here.’
    ‘He looked just like him!’ She’s convinced.
    ‘He and Ange might bring the kids,’ Kitty muses.
    ‘I’m on serious celeb-watch in any case,’ Bess tells us.
    ‘You’ll do well to spot anyone with their costumes on,’ Kitty points out. ‘Hello, Joseph,’ she adds with a smile.
    ‘Hey,’ he replies. She turns to give Batman an inquisitive look.
    ‘Oh, sorry,’ I come to my senses. ‘Kitty, this is Eddie.’
    ‘Hi, Eddie.’
    He lifts up his face mask and shakes her hand.
    She narrows her eyes. ‘You look familiar.’
    ‘Oh,’ he shrugs modestly as he puts his mask back on. ‘You might’ve seen me on morning TV.’
    ‘You’re a chef!’ she exclaims. ‘Yes, I have seen you! So you’re working for Johnny, then?’ She puts two and two together.
    ‘That’s right,’ he nods.
    ‘Who’s Johnny?’ Joseph asks.
    ‘Johnny Jefferson,’ I reply, glancing at him to gauge his reaction.
    ‘Oh, right. Eddie works for him?’ He looks interested, but not overawed, which I’m pleased about.
    ‘Sure does.’ Tell him about Barney. ‘Shall we get a drink?’ Nope. Maybe later.
    I see Dana before I see Johnny. It’s hard not to because she’s lit up like a frigging Christmas tree.
    ‘An angel,’ Bess says wryly.
    ‘Can you believe it?’ I reply.
    She’s wearing a cascade of white silk and her wings and halo are actually glowing from within. It’s an impressive costume, I’ll give her that much.
    People turn to stare, which is exactly the reaction she was seeking, but when the room suddenly falls silent before the noise pipes back up again, I’m pretty certain it’s because Johnny has arrived. Is he really here already? It’s only seven o’clock. I crane my neck to look for him before I reel myself back in. I don’t want to look like I care. I realise everyone else in the room is probably doing the same thing.
    ‘Your boss is here,’ Joseph says to Eddie.
    ‘Yeah,’ Eddie replies, glancing at me with a strange expression on his face. He clearly thinks I should tell Joseph the truth.
    I spy Johnny behind Dana and he nods at me briefly before turning to greet someone else.
    ‘Do you know him, too?’ Joseph asks me.
    ‘He’s Barney’s father,’ I reply, turning to look at him.
    ‘No shit,’ he murmurs, dragging his eyes away from Johnny. ‘You managed to keep that well hidden from the press – and from me,’ he adds quietly.
    ‘I’m telling you now,’ I say.
    ‘I’ll keep your secret safe,’ he replies seriously.
    ‘Thank you,’ I mouth, just as Johnny interrupts us.
    ‘Eddie,’ he says, shaking Eddie’s hand. ‘Kitty.’ He leans down to give her a kiss on her cheek and then does the same to Bess. Both blush furiously. Even though Kitty works in showbiz, Johnny is on another level of fame to most, so even she feels daunted by him. He nods at me and then sweeps Barney up in his arms. For a split second the room falls silent again and my heart momentarily clenches with fear. What is he doing? Johnny Jefferson is hardly known to be kiddie-friendly – so why would he do that? He turns to look at Joseph.
    ‘Johnny, meet Joseph. Joseph, Johnny.’
    Johnny nods, but doesn’t shake his hand because he’s carrying Barney. Or perhaps that’s why he’s carrying