‘You’ve gone blonder, haven’t you?’
Sabrina put her hand to her head and cringed. ‘By accident.’
‘Looks great!’
Kara was watering some of the flowers in pots out the front. ‘Everything OK at the apartment? I trust that Conor’s behaving himself?’
‘He stole my breakfast this morning, but I have a feeling that’s par for the course with him.’ They both laughed. ‘But he’s being a good boy. Cooked me dinner last night.’
Star overheard. ‘Did he now? He only does that for people he really likes.’
Sabrina shifted, feeling embarrassed. ‘There’s nothing and will be nothing going on like that, I can assure you.’
‘You don’t have to worry on account of me,’ Star responded sincerely. ‘I’m a happily married woman. Me and Conor, well, we had our moment.’ She looked slightly wistful. ‘He’s a great guy. But when you know, you know, Jilly. And I knew the minute I saw Jack that he was my man.’
‘That’s cute.’
‘Cute, yes, but it was a long road to happy families. He lived in New York with someone else when I met him.’
‘Bloody hell. You must have known you loved him, then, to follow that through.’
‘Took him a while to realise but… here we are. Married with two kids in the space of two years. That heart of ours isn’t really that complex. If you follow it, it does usually know where it’s going. Sometimes men just need a better compass, that’s all.’
Sabrina smiled. ‘Do they ever! Coincidentally, my mum said similar about the power of the heart.’
Star walked over to Sabrina and squeezed her hand. ‘Nothing in this world is a coincidence, Jilly.’ Shutting her eyes for a minute, the petite blonde then said abruptly. ‘Swifty, you’ve got this girl!’
‘Woah.’ A startled Sabrina pulled her hand away, heart pounding. ‘How did you…?’
‘It’s all good.’ Star was undeterred. ‘She loved you so much and she’d be so proud of what you’re doing down here.’ With that, Star Murray and all her ethereal beauty walked back into her shop and shut the door.
Sabrina wasn’t sure whether to laugh or cry. How could it be possible that another human being could channel theexactwords of her dead mother? But maybe the spirited Gillian Swifthadcome back to Hartmouth, a place that she herself had loved dearly, and was flying around causing mischief here now. Sabrina looked to the sky as if it would give her some kind of answer. She then looked down the lane and saw the calming sight of the estuary. Surprisingly, knowing her mother may be circling around her didn’t scare her. It was more of a sense of peace that she was feeling.
This aura of calm was abruptly disturbed by Linda Harris greeting Sabrina with an, ‘Oh, it’s you. I know it’s not my business, but hehasbeen sacked you know. And are you taking Brian’s place? He’ll be back at the end of the year– I hope the lizard told you that.’
‘And that’s notyourbusiness either. It’s Linda, isn’t it? I’d like a large cappuccino to take away please.’
They completed the transaction in silence.
‘Ah yes,’ Sabrina said aloud as she walked back down Ferry Lane and spotted the a-frame outside The Hartmouth Gallery, where the artist Glanna Pascoe resided. The bell on the door to the white walled gallery rang as she opened it and was greeted by a trendily dressed guy with a smart buzz cut. He reminded her very much of Idris Elba.
‘Morning.’ Sabrina smiled at the friendly face looking back at her.
‘Hey. How you doing? Feel free to browse, or was it one of our courses you were interested in?’
‘I actually just wanted to say hello to Glanna and tell her how much I admired her work. I’ve been staying over at Kevrinek Cottage and one of her paintings is displayed over the fireplace there.’
‘Aw, amazing. Yes, Isaac Benson is one of her biggest fans.’
‘Is that so? He’s a master in many ways, that man.’
‘He really is. She’s not around this morning. I’m Oliver, by the way, Glanna’s partner. And I will of course be happy to pass the message on for you.’
‘Good to meet you.’ Sabrina nodded. ‘I’m Jilly, and no worries. Actually, I’ve just thought of something. I’m taking over Brian Todd’s place until December and I want to cover his sign with a vinyl. Is that something you might create for me here?’
‘Not specifically, but I tell you what, I could get one of our students to rustle something up for you. If you get me the sizes, no problem.’
‘That would be amazing, thank you.’
