Holly slipped her hand inside Libby’s. ‘Come and sit next to me.’
‘Of course I will,’ replied Libby.
Guy introduced his mother to Libby before Holly and Libby sat down next to each other at the table. ‘Dad, you sit next to Libby,’ Holly ordered, pointing to the chair on the other side of her.
‘I will, but I’ll just get the drinks first.’
While doing so, Guy watched Holly and Libby laughing and joking. Taken by surprise, he suddenly felt emotional and swallowed a lump in his throat. Six years ago, this was how he’d imagined his family life: all of them sitting around the table, enjoying each other’s company. How things had changed in such a short time. Placing a jug of water on the table, he slipped into the chair next to Libby and watched the conversation flowing between her and Holly. They began clapping their hands with each other while singing a rhyme they both knew.
Out of the corner of her eye Libby caught sight of Guy watching and she gave him a warm smile. He smiled back.
‘Do you want to have a go?’ asked Holly, looking at her dad.
Holly was beautiful, Libby thought, the image of Guy with the same nose and lips.
‘It’s okay; I’ll leave you girls to it but thank you.’
‘Have you got any children, Libby?’ asked Cynthia. ‘You’re such a natural.’
Libby shook her head. ‘It’s just me.’
‘You’re still young, there’s plenty of time yet,’ Cynthia said.
Libby just smiled. Over time she’d learned to cope with conversations like this.
‘And while I’m here, you can have me and Pickle to keep you company,’ offered Holly.
‘Thank you, that would be lovely, but I think I’ll borrow Pickle only when she’s asleep.’
‘Good plan,’ replied Holly, holding her hands up for another clapping game.
As they ate, Cynthia asked questions about Heartcross. Libby couldn’t sing its praises enough, nor those of the community that lived here. During the conversation she glanced in Guy’s direction a couple of times and caught him watching her. Then Cynthia’s phone began ringing in the living room and, apologising for the disruption, she took herself off to answer the call.
‘I like Libby. Daddy, can she come for lunch more often?’ Holly looked between the pair of them. ‘It’s nice to have new friends.’
‘That’s okay by me, if it’s okay by Libby.’ Guy smiled at them both but held Libby’s gaze longer, making her heart beat a little faster. He’d stretched out his legs under the table and one brushed against hers as they looked at each other.
‘It is,’ replied Libby. ‘And what are your plans for this afternoon?’
‘Granny is going to attempt to sew my dress again.’
‘And where is your dress?’
Holly ran off in the direction of the bedroom and returned with a pile of material and a half-sewn sleeve.
‘And what occasion is this dress for?’ asked Libby, turning the material over in her hand.
‘Mummy’s wedding,’ replied Holly.
‘How lovely,’ Libby said. Was this the reason Guy wasn’t very keen on weddings? Was it possible that Guy still had feelings for his ex, and that’s what was causing the tension? ‘I bet you’re excited. I could get this dress finished for you this afternoon. I have a sewing machine in the studio and all the equipment I need.’ She looked over towards Guy. ‘If you have no plans, Holly could join me for the afternoon and watch her dress being made.’
Before Guy could answer, Holly was jumping up and down with excitement at the prospect. ‘Please, Daddy?’
‘I don’t want to tread on anyone’s toes, of course,’ Libby added. ‘I just thought it might take some pressure off your mum?’
‘Between you and me, I think my mum would be secretly chuffed to have this task taken off her hands. But are you sure? Haven’t you got other wedding things to coordinate? We don’t want to put you out.’
‘All I was planning on doing this afternoon was making a secret outfit,’ Libby replied.
