‘Bugger that,’ said Ellie, searching through the cupboards. ‘I want something stronger.’
Lucy opened the fridge and brought out a bottle of champagne. She looked at it before offering it to Ellie. ‘It seems a little too celebratory when I don’t have anything to celebrate, but it is expensive. It was in that hamper Oliver brought to Mum’s the other day.’ She sighed. ‘We may as well drink it.’
Ellie took it, studied the label, and gave it an approving nod, before she unpeeled the foil and twisted off the top with surprising ease considering there was so little to her. Jen produced glasses just in time before it sprayed all over the kitchen floor.
‘OK,’ said Lucy, ‘so what are we drinking to?’
‘That bastard never turning up in MacLeod’s Cove again, and you leaving your apartment.’ She turned to Lucy. ‘We’ll give you the rest of today and then you’d better be back at work.’
‘Or else?’ said Lucy, sitting down, suddenly feeling tired.
‘Or else… I’m going to drag you out whether you like it or not.’
‘Jeez, you are one mean sister.’
‘I’m a caring sister. I told Jen it won’t do you any good to mope. It’s not good for anyone.’
‘I quite like it,’ said Lucy, beginning to feel better. ‘I’m not sure I’ve moped before.’
‘No. That way lies insanity so I decided to come here and kick you into touch.’ With that Ellie jumped up and looked out the window. ‘Cool view.’
While Ellie was busy, Jen reached over and gripped Lucy’s hand sympathetically. ‘I thought I’d better come in case Ellie went too far.’
Lucy coughed into her drink.
‘We could be out there in the sunshine,’ Ellie said, almost accusingly.
‘Don’t let me stop you. I don’t know why you’re here anyway. Haven’t you got a job to go to?’
Ellie ignored her question. ‘We came to make sure you were alive and kicking.’
‘Oh come on, of course I am.’
‘There’s no “of course” about it, Luce,’ said Jen. ‘We were worried. I didn’t dare tell mum that you weren’t at the café again. Although, no doubt she’ll get to hear about it.’
‘Come on, let’s at least drink this in the other room. I’ll open up the doors and let some sea breeze in.’
They went onto the tiny balcony and Ellie looked around it with a critical eye. ‘Why you have to choose such a tiny place with such a tiny balcony is beyond me. In Hong Kong I have a huge balcony. I could get your whole apartment onto it.’
‘Then why are you here?’
For the first time since Ellie had arrived on the doorstep, she was silent. She took a sip of her wine and looked fixedly out to sea.
Jen and Lucy exchanged glances. It was a question they’d all been asking themselves since Ellie had turned up four months ago after Jen and her son, Liam, had returned home from England. At the time, they’d assumed she’d only returned for a holiday to catch up with family. But to their continuing astonishment Ellie had stayed. But none of them had dared ask her why.
‘So…’ said Ellie.
Jen and Lucy leaned in, wondering if this was the moment when the family’s answers about Ellie’s life were about to be answered.
Ellie took another sip and turned to Lucy. ‘So, what the hell happened between you and Oliver Perry-Warnes?’
Lucy and Jen both sat back in their chairs with a sigh. Looked like they’d have to wait for any explanation.
‘He won, I lost. Simple.’
‘Then tell me this. Why hasn’t he begun work yet? Why is that old pile of godforsaken rubbish of a building still standing?’
‘Dunno.’ She took another sip of her wine. ‘And, at this moment, I don’t care. I’ve had it with both the building and Oliver.’
