“I went there for a week in October, to see a friend who’s moved back home. About three miles from where she lives is a town – it’s mainly fishing based, but it’s becoming more touristy – and there was an abandoned building that used to be a pub with six guestrooms. No one’s been in it for years and it was a bit of a state.” She glanced at Maxwell. “My father’s estate settled while I was there.”
“So you put an offer in for it.” Max’s arm looped around Victoria.
Amelie nodded. “It’s time for me to leave London. I’m not selling up – that would make no sense – but I need a change, so I’m off to Oyster Bay. The building work will be completed by Valentine’s Day, so I’ll be heading there to see what a small Welsh island’s like.”
There was a silence, one that felt almost like we’d lost something.
“That’s summer holidays sorted.” Killian sat back, pulling his phone out of his pocket. “And our daughter’s awake. Who’s turn is it?”
He looked at me so I knew full well it wasn’t his turn.
“Can you help me up?” I didn’t need any help at all in getting up, but I was hoping that he’d give in and go and check on Eliza himself. I adored my daughter, but at this point of cooking another one, I was happy to spend as much time sitting down as possible.
He shook his head. “Well played, wife.”
I relaxed back into the sofa. “Thank you.”
He raised an eyebrow and I knew exactly what it translated as:you owe me. I might’ve been seventeen dozen months pregnant but I wasn’t dead, so I gave him the dirtiest smile I could muster and hoped the rest of my family didn’t notice.
“What’s in Oyster Bay?”
I tuned back into the conversation. Ava was about to go into full on design mode. I could tell with the way she was edging forward – to be honest, the thought of six guest bedrooms that needed furnishing was probably her dream Christmas present.
“It’s a centre for water sports and fishing – commercial and commissioned. There’s a church there which is really old; apparently the bones of some saint are hidden in a wall. Then what you’d expect – a café, few shops, bakers, one restaurant. There’s a holiday village with homes on there and a spa, and the cottages where the locals live. It’s incredibly pretty, even in autumn.” Her expression had softened while she spoke and I saw the unhappiness that had plagued her start to slip away.
I knew she’d been in love with Maxwell for years. He had no idea although I suspected Victoria had an inkling. Max saw her as another sister, and although before Vic I’d half-thought he might one day wake up and notice Amelie for more than the girl he grew up living next to, he never had.
“It’ll be completely different to London.” Callum had settled in front of the wood burning stove, adding another log. “Different pace.”
She nodded. “I think that’s what I need. No pollution. No continual noise of car engines. Just the waves and the sound of boats.”
“Sounds idyllic.”
Amelie smiled softly. “It is. You’ll have to come and stay as soon as you can. The beach is gorgeous. Eliza will love it.”
“Have you thought about how you’ll decorate it?” It was Ava, of course.
“I have some ideas. Maybe we can go through them in the next few days.”
They started to talk about the island and Amelie’s friend who lived there, a teacher she knew through a charity event she’d been involved in and I half drifted off, the familiarity and warmth as good as any tonic for sleeping.
A sharp pinch on my arm brought me back to a rude reality.
Seph.
“Do you want me to murder you?” I was too comfy to make the words sound in any way menacing.
“Who do you think left the test there?”
I opened both eyes. Everyone was talking to someone else, or eating. Killian was with Nick, which told me Eliza was settled.
“Not Payton.”
“Obviously.” He scowled. “Katie? Wren? She’s just got back from Marrakesh – this might’ve been her first opportunity…”
He stopped when he saw my glare.
“When did you become such a gossip?”
