After sitting down behind the desk, she took a sip of the tea. It was exactly how she liked it, which made the frostiness between them feel even worse. The tension from the night before hadn’t vanished with sleep.
At 8.59 a.m., she logged on to the Zoom call on her laptop and took a deep breath. She ran a hand through her hair to tame the worst of the bedhead and waited for Tom to let her into the virtual meeting.
Soon Tom’s familiar face filled the screen, cheerful, boyish and framed by the brick wall of the office’s creative nook.
‘Fern! There she is! The soon-to-be queen of culture!’
She smiled. ‘Hi, Tom.’
‘God, you look so… windswept island chic. I love it. Is that real daylight? Do you even have electricity over there?’
‘Ha-ha. Yes. Just about.’
He leaned in closer to the screen. ‘Right, I’ll get straight to it. As you know, Jules is off on maternity leave. Rumour is she won’t be coming back, but let’s not jump the gun. So, here’s what I’m offering: acting senior editor title, twenty per cent salary increase, remote flexibility two days a week once you’re back, and a team of five journalists, including Ella.’
Fern nodded slowly. ‘Wow.’
‘It’s a huge step up, Fern. You’d be brilliant. This could open so many future doors, and if Jules doesn’t return you will have all the skills to apply for the permanent position. I’ve got the contract drafted. All you need to do is sign it.’
Before Fern could respond, there was a burst of laughter in the background. Then the sound of music– something bubbly and early-2000s pop-esque.
Tom glanced over his shoulder. ‘Sorry. Bit of a party happening in the office kitchen.’
‘It’s only nine a.m. Have I missed someone’s birthday?’
‘Ella got engaged! Jax proposed last night. Champagne and chaos this morning.’
Fern froze. ‘Jax?’ It had been barely a week since he’d tried to sleep with her.
Tom nodded, distracted by something offscreen. ‘Yup. It’s all very romantic. Rooftop bar, the works. Anyway, I’d better dash, I know you’re going to accept it, you’ll be mad not to. We just need the contract signed. I can send it by email today.’
The call ended, and Fern was left staring at the blank screen, her own stunned reflection blinking back at her.
The man who had once told her he was too complicated to get serious was now engaged to Ella, her best friend. The person who’d made every birthday special. The one who knew every weird food combo she liked, who had been there through her heartbreaks, who promised, only months ago, thattheywere the unbreakable ones… and she hadn’t even bothered to tell Fern she was engaged to her ex. Not a text, not a phone call, not a single word. This was a whole new level of disloyalty and betrayal.
Fern closed her laptop and picked up her tea again. She tried to feel anger, but all she could summon was a dense, aching emptiness. Her mind was reeling and her gut was telling her there was no way this was a new relationship, because what sane person would get engaged in what seemed like mere hours? They had to have been sleeping together while Fern was also sleeping with Jax.
Her phone pinged with a new email fromEdgar Carmichael.
Subject: Offer Expiry Reminder
Dear Fern,
As discussed, the formal offer to purchase No. 17 Curiosity Lane will remain valid until Friday at 5p.m. After that time, the buyer will pursue alternate opportunities.
Please let us know your decision by close of business.
Regards,
Edgar
Fern stared at the screen, feeling under pressure. Everything was getting on top of her: the decision about the shop, the job offer, the truth about Ella. Each thread of her life seemed to be pulling tighter around her. She tried to imagine staying on Puffin Island, turning down the job she had been working towards for the whole of her career. What would it be like to keep the shop, renovate it, breathe life back into it?
She could already picture the constant smile on Daniel’s face. Next, she pictured her London apartment. The independence and control she had carved out all on her own. She was close to tears and briefly closed her eyes. Her best friend had betrayed her. Her ex had moved on and she was stuck halfway between a life she wasn’t sure she wanted anymore and a new one she hadn’t dared to believe in until now. When she opened her eyes, she looked around the shop again and realised how much it was beginning to mean to her.
ChapterThirty-Nine
By the time Daniel returned, the tea was cold, the toast untouched, and Fern was pacing. He stepped into the shop, waving a carrier bag like it was a white flag. ‘I’ve got us a mushroom and leek tart,’ he said, offering a tentative smile. ‘And a custard twist each.’
