“Don’t you?”
“I guess. It’s kind of weird how, after all these years, he still feels likemyRyan, you know? Like we just picked up where we left off. Well, not exactly where we left off—things had been strained between us for a while before I left for uni—but how we were before that.”
Bella shrugged. “True friendships are like that. If the bones are good, they can weather the storms.”
“Is that how you feel about Liam?”
Something flitted across her mum’s expression like a fast-scudding cloud passing in front of the moon, but then it was gone.
“I suppose it is,” Bella replied. “I’m proud of you, you know.”
“Why?” Fred barked out a sarcastic laugh. “Because I scuttled back home when my life turned to shit?”
“Because you didn’t let the bastards grind you down.”
Across the lawn Liam called her mum over. Bella kissed Fred’s cheek and made her way back up the path to where he stood, holding out a mug of punch for her. He said something to her that made her laugh, and Fred was struck anew by how beautiful her mum was. She seemed happy. She was always happy when Liam arrived back in Pine Bluff. He and Martha were her best friends; it must be nice for her to have them both together.
Kids ran in and out of the oversized garden ornaments, screeching with delight. Ryan and his brothers shared a joke by one of the three wise snowmen, while Diggory settled the aunts into the sleigh and Martha covered them with blankets. Hallow House and gardens looked like a slice of fried Vegas, and Fred couldn’t remember when she had last felt this content.
13
Tuesday, December 3
Smoke and Soul was situatedon a lazy S-bend of the high street, sandwiched between a bank and a boutique-style shop that sold scented candles, notebooks and patterned socks. A light but relentless sleet had been falling for the last forty minutes.Pick a weather already!Fred thought testily as a layer of slippery gray slush formed on the pavement and her feet slowly froze in their boots.Be rain or be snow, but don’t multitask. It was a quarter past one, and their table was booked for one; Warren was late. Fred tried not to be irritated as she stood in the doorway of Quirky Treasures so as not to get jostled by the market shoppers. She didn’t like being late; it felt disrespectful, especially since the Campbells were old friends of her aunts. Also, she was hungry, and the big gooey calzones being sold at the stall just in front of her had begun calling her name.
“Hey,” said Ryan cheerily. “What are you doing skulking in doorways?”
“Fred, love, hello,” said Martha, leaning in to kiss her cheek.
Ryan was wearing a dark green ski jacket and jeans, and Martha was dressed as Mrs. Claus and holding an umbrella.
Fred smiled, pleased to see them. “I gave up skulking in year thirteen. I’m just waiting for Warren; we’re meeting for lunch. Meant to be.”
“Ooh, anywhere nice?” asked Martha.
“Smoke and Soul.”
“Oh, gosh, that’s one of my favorites. Diggory can’t handle the spice, but I love it.”
“Hi, all!” said Warren, looking like a male model in a cologne ad as he came up next to them, while she resembled a wet dishcloth.
Martha shifted her umbrella slightly as he moved past her to stand beside Fred.
“You’re late.” Fred tried to keep the annoyance out of her voice.
“I know, sorry, I got caught up with work. I called ahead and apologized.” He shot her a winning smile. “They didn’t seem to mind. Martha, lovely to see you again. Hey, Ryan, how’s it going?” Warren was all congeniality.
“Good, thanks,” Ryan replied.
“Nice to see you again too,” Martha said, smiling.
“Shall we go in?” Fred asked. “I know you phoned but still…”
“Sure, sure. Hey, why don’t you guys join us for lunch?”
Fred had assumed that this was a kind of work/date thing, but obviously Warren had other ideas.
“Oh, um…” Martha looked at Ryan. Clearly, she was surprised at the invite too.
