‘It was her hen party too – she’s getting married very soon. It had been such a fun evening up until that point.’
‘I noticed you were all very entertained by my brother.’ He raised an eyebrow at her and Elle blushed. ‘I’m just teasing! Anyway, tell me all about you. What’s happened since I saw you last? How’s work at the library?’
‘I love it there, but Irene has retired now. I miss seeing her every day, but she’s only up the road. And look how well you’re doing – another book out soon,’ she added, changing the subject.
‘Yes, that’s why I’m here – visiting Dan, catching up on the family and attending a few book signings. Is this your place then?’ he said, switching the conversation back to her again.
‘Yes, all mine.’
‘Boyfriend? Husband?’ His eyes caught hers and the question hung in the air for a split second.
‘No boyfriend, no husband – just Pippa, my housemate. She recently moved in with me after splitting from her boyfriend. She moved back with her parents for a while, but I think once you’ve made that step to move out, it’s difficult to live by their rules again. What about you?’
‘No boyfriend or husband.’ He grinned, making Elle laugh.
‘Are you originally from around these parts?’ she asked, and gave a little shiver.
‘You’re cold,’ he said. ‘Here – sit by the fire.’ He made room for her on the rug and Elle sat beside him, stretching her legs out in front of her. The heat from the fire was inviting, and she rubbed at the goosebumps on her arms.
‘Yes, I’m originally from around here,’ he said, answering her question. ‘My parents still live here, and so does Dan, obviously.’
‘Where do you live now?’
‘I moved to London a while back.’
Elle knew that, of course, from his social media but she didn’t want him to think she’d been stalking him. ‘And how long have you been there?’
‘I moved just after I saw you last.’ His eye contact was strong and she wondered if he thought about the kiss they’d shared as much as she did. ‘I thought it would be cool to say I’m a writer living in London. The aim was to spend most of my days wandering through the city and parks, finding inspiration wherever I walked. Or maybe writing in coffee shops next to the Thames while sipping cappuccinos.’
‘And is that not what you do?’
‘I mainly sit in my apartment with only myself for company.’
Elle laughed. ‘It sounds lonely.’
‘It can be,’ he replied. ‘And how is Irene? Your mother, right? Is she enjoying retirement?’
‘Irene’s my foster mum, which I know may sound a little weird at the age of thirty, but she’s good, and she is very much enjoying retirement. She’s just got herself a small bundle of fluff to keep her company.’
‘A puppy?’
‘Yes, a chocolate Labrador called Buddy.’
‘A handful, I’m sure.’
‘But a cute handful.’
‘You said Irene’s your foster mum?’
Elle hesitated for a moment. That was the first time Elle had admitted to anyone new in her life that Irene wasn’t her biological mum.
‘I don’t mean to pry,’ he said.
‘You’re not. I mentioned it,’ Elle replied, pulling her knees up to her chest and wrapping her arms around them. ‘I’m just going through a very emotional time at the minute. Irene is my rock – my whole world in fact – but recently I started the search for my biological mother.’
Noah’s eyes widened. ‘That’s big. And?’ he asked. ‘Any news?’
Elle nodded, not trusting herself to speak for a moment. Noah sat in silence and sipped his tea, waiting until she was ready.
