‘What’s a secret outfit?’ asked Holly.
‘It’s a secret,’ said Libby with a wink. ‘But I can sew your dress first.’
‘Then my dress will be finished!’
Guy looked from Libby to Holly. Holly had her eyes squeezed shut and her fingers crossed on both hands.
‘Are you sure it’s okay with you?’
‘I’d love to spend my afternoon with Holly, but first I’d just like to remind you I am actually only here for one reason.’
‘Which is?’ Guy narrowed his eyes.
‘Cake! I was promised cake!’
Guy laughed and began to clear away the plates before cutting enormous slices of cake. Cynthia was still on the phone and had moved into the bedroom to continue her call.
‘Thank you, it’s very kind of you to help out with the dress.’
‘It’s my pleasure, and it’s what I do best.’ Libby checked her watch. ‘Do you want to come and pick Holly up from the studio in a couple of hours?’
‘Perfect. That’ll give me time to go for a wander and snap some photos.’
After they’d devoured their cake, Guy helped Holly put on her boots and fasten up her coat. Libby was holding a carrier bag with the dress inside.
‘Will you thank Cynthia for lunch?’ said Libby, looking in the direction of the bedrooms.
‘I will, and you girls have a good time this afternoon.’
‘We will!’ Libby and Holly chorused.
Guy stood in the doorway and watched them walk down the path side by side. Holly looked up at Libby as she chattered away, and slipped her hand inside hers. Libby was stooping over listening to every word. She was an absolute natural with children. There was a kind of generosity and warmth to her and Holly had taken to her instantly. As they were about to disappear around the corner, Libby glanced back over her shoulder and flashed Guy a tender smile. He waved before shutting the door. After his break-up, he’d removed himself from the dating scene, putting Holly first, and hadn’t even considered the prospect of another woman in his life after all the pain he’d suffered. But Libby made him feel strangely at ease, She was intriguing, markedly intelligent and alarmingly attractive. He’d been thinking about her more and more ever since they met.
With Libby very much on his mind, he headed into the kitchen and began to load the dishwasher. Cynthia had finished her call and when she joined him, Guy could feel a slight tension in the air. He turned around. Cynthia’s face was grave.
‘Libby has taken Holly to finish her dress. I hope you don’t mind but she’ll get it done in a couple of hours and it would take—’
‘Yes, of course,’ interrupted Cynthia, her voice shaky.
‘Is everything okay?’ Guy asked, sensing that his mother needed to say something.
‘That phone call, it was your sister. Her health is—’
Guy put up his hand in an attempt to stop his mum talking about this but it didn’t deter her.
‘This feud with her—’
Guy sighed. ‘Mum, I can’t do this. It’s all too much.’
‘Something has to give. It’s not just you it’s having an effect on.’
Guy raked his hand through his hair and briefly closed his eyes. ‘When I said I can’t cope with this any longer, I meant it. I came here for a break from the whole situation.’ Feeling defensive, his heart begin to beat faster, the irate and anxious feelings rising inside him once again. He didn’t want to think about his sister. Grabbing his coat and his camera, he said, ‘I need some air, I’m going out.’ As he left, he avoided eye contact with his mother but he knew she had that familiar look of disdain on her face. But she couldn’t make him talk about Lydia. Guy stepped outside, closed the door behind him and took a deep breath.
ChapterEight
‘Look at all these dresses! It’s a princess shop.’ Holly pointed towards the beautiful wedding dresses hanging on the rail.
‘They are gorgeous, aren’t they?’ replied Libby, taking the material for Holly’s dress out of the bag and grabbing the child size dressmaker’s dummy.
