Star took a sip of her fizzy water and thought about it.
‘Too long to answer.’ Kara smiled.
‘I really like him but …’
‘He’s making you smile, and you haven’t mentioned the J word for a while so that can only be a good thing.’
At that moment Big Frank appeared with a huge burger for Kara and a buttered jacket potato for Star.
‘Enjoy, ladies! I hope that nephew of mine is behaving himself. Any problems, you just let me know, Miss Bligh, and I’ll box his nose.’
Star grinned. ‘He really is behaving perfectly, Frank. He’s a breath of fresh air, to be sure.’ She ended her sentence with the Irish accent she loved so much.
‘Ha! You’re picking up the lingo already. Grand, grand – and I hear he’s doing a good job on the ferry too. I like that I can keep my eye on him from here.’ Frank laughed his deep throaty laugh. ‘He’s the son I never had myself, that one.’
Star started picking at her potato as Kara took a huge bite into her burger, dripping sauce down her chin as she did so. Finishing her mouthful, she exclaimed, ‘Talking of the ferry reminds me: there is something else massive I needed to ask you!’
‘Go on.’
‘So, you know that now, like Billy says, I am officially a jetsetter?’
Star laughed. ‘Oh yes, how could I forget about your surprise trip. Australia, Spain and the Big Apple in three weeks wasn’t it? Not that you haven’t mentioned it before.’
‘Jealousy so doesn’t become you.’ Kara grinned. ‘So, Billy and I want to get a long weekend away in before the Christmas madness. Daz had agreed to man the tug. And Conor is obviously fully on board, excuse the pun.’ Kara took a swig of coffee. ‘Anyway, back to our holiday. We are going to rent the spare room out for Airbnb to get a bit of cash in whilst we’re not here – might as well – so could you possibly throw a bit of food down for James Bond while we are away? Once a day is fine. I’ll let the guest know – if we get one, that is. The keys will be outside in the key safe Billy put up, so that’s sorted, but if you don’t mind them having your number in case of emergencies, that would be so handy. That’s it really.’
‘Of course I don’t mind. Pleased to help. Where are you planning on going?’ Star yawned.
‘To Prague, possibly. The Christmas markets will be on, and it looks magical. Or if not there, Cologne maybe.’
‘How wonderful. I so want to go away.’
‘Well, you must. Don’t do what I did and wait too many years. Just book something. Perhaps you and Conor could go somewhere together? I can keep an eye on Skye and maybe Pearl could watch the shop for you. I bet she’d love that when she retires after Christmas Eve.’
‘Maybe, but that’s ages away and he might not even be around then.’
‘Oh yeah, I forget he said he might only be here a few months.’
‘He seems to be loving it here though.’
‘With you on his arm, how can he not, dear friend. Right, we’d better go. An hour’s gone already.’
‘My darling daughter will be having a tantrum having to run between shops, so yeah.’ Star drained her water.
‘If you want to talk more about your dad, I’m here.’
Star frowned thoughtfully. ‘I mean, I have my own reasons for not telling Skye, so I do kind of get Mum’s point of view.’
‘But that doesn’t make it right or easy, does it?’ Kara stood up and kissed Star’s cheek. ‘It’s been lovely.’
‘Yes, it has.’ Then Star fretted, ‘I willhaveto tell Skye; I can’t have her feeling like I am today.’
‘In your own time.’
‘Yes, yeah. I need to think about it.’
They waved at Frank, who was busy serving another customer.
‘Let’s arrange a drink soon too, just me and you, like the old days,’ Kara said. ‘And with your mum, let her settle down a bit and maybe when the time is right for her, shewilltell you.’
‘I hope so.’
‘And Star, for your own peace of mind, get that test.’
‘I will. I promise.’
