#Chapter 224: Fancy A Drink?

Susie arrived around lunchtime, carrying a basket full of sandwiches for us all to share. Julian, strangely, arrived ten minutes later with a bottle of wine. He seemed surprised to see so many others. “Thought you might fancy a drink,” he said, holding the bottle high. “I know I do.” I welcomed him. Charlotte went and got us some glasses, and everyone but Mark and Elva had a bit of wine. Mark insisted he was working. Susie smiled at him from behind her glass. His eyes sparkled when they caught hers. Julian groaned, drank his full glass, and then poured himself another. He usually tolerated their secret love well enough, so I wondered about the change. I lifted a brow at him when he glanced at me, and he sighed. “I don’t come with the greatest of news,” he said. “Did something happen?” I asked. What I meant was, something else. Last night was a mountain of somethings all on its own. “My parents aren’t sure what to do with Joyce right now,” Julian said. “There’s talk of removing hi