‘You’re more than welcome to come, Pippa,’ Eleni piped up.
‘We’re thinking of having the hen do sooner rather than later,’ Mim added.
‘Thankfully it’s not long to the wedding now,’ said Eleni, ‘though there’s still loads left to organise. Fingers crossed I won’t bloom too much in the next couple of months, otherwise my dress may need to be altered.’
‘What are the plans for the hens then?’ asked Elle, keeping a close eye on the food queue, which thankfully was now dwindling.
‘We thought maybe a meal up at the Starcross Manor or over at The Lakehouse.’
Elle noticed Pippa’s face fall and gave her a gentle nudge with her leg under the table to encourage her to look a little more enthusiastic.
‘I’m sure that’ll be absolutely lovely, and you can count us both in,’ Elle declared, standing up and clutching her ticket for the carvery. ‘Who’s coming for food?’
* * *
Five minutes later, their plates piled high, they began to tuck in.
‘What’s been going on in the land of books this week?’ Eleni asked. ‘Anything interesting?’
‘It’s been fairly quiet, hasn’t it?’ replied Elle, glancing at Pippa and wondering why Noah was the first thing to pop into her head again. He was beginning to make a habit of that.
‘Quiet?’ exclaimed Pippa. ‘We’ve had a new employee – not to mention your unexpected birthday present.’
The weekend had been so busy Elle had totally forgotten about that. ‘Oh my gosh, both had slipped my mind. I’m sure Jack’s mentioned Aiden, he’s transferred from Inverness—’
‘Veryeasy on the eye,’ Pippa chipped in.
‘And I’ve received a mysterious birthday present, which no one seems to be owning up to.’
‘Oooh, was it a good present?’ Mim asked, intrigued.
Pippa smiled. ‘You could say that.’
Both Eleni and Mim were staring at Elle with anticipation.
‘Here’s the thing … on Friday, my birthday—’
‘Get on with it! Eleni will have had the baby by the time you finish this story,’ Pippa demanded, laughing.
‘There slap bang in the middle of the reception desk in the library was a parcel addressed to me.’
Pippa rolled her eyes. ‘You’d think she was an author the way she’s stringing out the story. What Elle is trying to say is that inside that parcel was a copy of the new Sam Stone novel.’
Eleni and Mim looked a little disappointed by the reveal.
‘Is that it?’ Mim asked, looking between the two of them.
‘Not quite,’ Pippa continued, hitting Elle’s arm. ‘Go on!’
‘I was trying until you rudely interrupted.’
‘There’s more?’ Eleni queried.
‘It was a signed copy fromtheSam Stone, wishing me a happy birthday.’
Both Eleni and Mim gasped.
‘Get away! You’re pulling our leg.’ Eleni’s eyes narrowed. ‘It’s a well-known fact that Sam Stone barely autographs any books.’
