‘I didn’t deliberately give you three eyes, it’s cos I’d drawn one in the wrong place so had to rub it out, but I couldn’t get it to disappear completely, which is why you had a faint smudgy one. I hoped no one would notice.’
‘Well, you hoped in vain. It was like the lovechild of Mr Potato Head and some mythical sea creature! Not pretty. Oh, and remind me again how you explained away the fact that you’d given me a moustache?’
Stella was laughing so hard, she was bent double. ‘Same reason as the third eye. I’d had to rub something out; it left a bit of a shadow.’
‘Yeah, you’re not wrong – a five o’clock shadow,’ quipped Jasmine. ‘And that’s not the worst of it, Mags.’ Jasmine reached over and tapped Maggie’s hand for emphasis. ‘The teacher only went and put it up on the wall in the entrance area with all the other portraits for thewholeschool to see. Andsome of the kids even guessed it was me! Can you believe that? Scarred me for life, it did.’
‘Oh my days, Jazz, you really need to stop before I piddle my pants,’ said Maggie, wiping tears of laughter from her eyes.
‘What is it with you lot and your bladders? Don’t you ever think of popping to the loo before you leave the house?’ Jasmine shook her head.
‘My bladder still isn’t right since I had Lucy, so I’ve got an excuse,’ said Maggie. ‘What’s your excuse, Stells?’
‘On that happy note, shall we go and choose something to paint?’ Florrie pushed her chair back and stood up, her cheeks aching from laughing so hard.
‘I think that’s a very good idea,’ agreed Stella, still chuckling.
‘Me too,’ said Jasmine.
A few minutes later, Florrie returned to the table with a chunky mug, as did Jasmine, while Stella had chosen a small tea plate and was muttering something about not having a clue how she was going to decorate it. Florrie couldn’t help but laugh at the face her friend was pulling.
They’d just got settled in their seats when Pippa arrived, detailing her instructions and sharing tips in a cheerful manner, explaining that they needed to keep it in mind that the paint colour would deepen once their pots were fired. ‘I think that’s everything,’ she said. ‘Enjoy yourselves, ladies, and shout up if you have any questions.’ That done, the friends selected their paint and tools in a babble of excitable chatter, Florrie deciding to go for a simple design of a sky-blue background with large dots in contrasting shades.
Lark picked up the conversation Stella had started earlier. ‘So, Florrie, what’s been happening? I’m sure I saw Dawn head into the bookshop this morning. Looked like she was chatting to a tall woman – I got the impression they were together.’
Florrie’s happiness of moments ago scattered and her mood sank like a lead weight. She glanced around the room to make sure no one would be able to hear their conversation. Noting that thelevel of background music and chatter would make it difficult for anyone to eavesdrop, she took a fortifying breath. ‘Well, you’re right about both things. Dawn did come into the bookshop, and she was with the tall woman; it was Ed’s ex-girlfriend, Luella, and – I can hardly believe I’m saying this – Dawn had invited her to Micklewick Bay.’ Saying it out loud made the situation sound even more ridiculous.
A collective gasp ran around the table. Lark’s hand flew to her mouth as Stella tutted and shook her head.
‘Why would she do that?’ Lark asked.
‘You could ask the same of everything she and her husband have done right through Ed’s life,’ Florrie said wryly.
‘Fair point,’ agreed Stella.
Florrie swallowed as she went on to share what had happened since their Friday catch-up at the Jolly. By the time she’d finished, her stomach was in knots. She swept her gaze around the table to see four stunned faces looking back at her.
‘You’ve got to be kidding me,’ said Maggie in disbelief. ‘I mean, are they for real?’
‘I thought they’d finally accepted that Mr H had wanted you and Ed to have the bookshop. Didn’t they tell you as much well over a year ago?’ asked Stella.
Florrie nodded. ‘They did – well, Peter told Ed when he went to see him in London two Christmases back.’
‘Says exactly what sort of people they are that they decide to resurrect it just weeks before you’re due to get married. And if that’s not bad enough, they stoop even lower and drag an ex-girlfriend into it, hoping to tempt Ed away from you.’ Jasmine shook her head in disgust, her cheeks flushing angrily. ‘He’s their son, for God’s sake! Who does that?’
‘They’ve really gone too far this time, Florrie.’ Lark gave her a sympathetic look. ‘They’re beginning to sound deluded.’ These were strong words coming from Lark who rarely said anything bad about anyone. ‘But it’s reassuring to hear Ed’s standing up to them, leaving them in no doubt that you’re not going to be bullied ormanipulated into doing what they want. And that it’s you he loves. I hope that makes you feel better?’
Florrie nodded. ‘It does, actually. It seems different from before, when he used to go quiet and ignore their calls, or – worse – disappear. He faced them head-on this time which will, hopefully, make them back off.’
‘I’d love to help them back off, send the old witch packing out of town as fast as her broomstick can carry her.’ Jasmine’s eyes shone angrily. ‘Mind, there’s somewhere I’d like to shove it first.’ The look of utter distaste on Jasmine’s face made the friends laugh.
‘Oh, Jazz, I do love you,’ said Florrie, her heart filling with affection for her friend.
‘Just know we’re here for you if you need us. I’m happy to nip over to the bookshop if Dawn or this Luella turn up; I don’t want you to have to deal with them on your own,’ said Lark.
‘Same here,’ added Jasmine. ‘I’d be more than happy to down tools and come and give you some moral support.’
‘Me too,’ said Maggie.
