‘Well…’ Jasmine glanced around, a playful glint twinkling in her eyes. ‘Bear in mind that this is second-hand info so I can’t guarantee it’ll be a hundred per cent accurate. But, from what I’ve heard, the woman in question has recently moved to Micklewick Bay and by all accounts is a female version of Ando; she loves skateboarding, she dresses like him – a bit grungy – battered leather jacket, ripped jeans and all, has a fairly laid-back attitude to work… You get the picture?’
‘That’s all very well, but do we know how she feels about Gut Rot and pickled eggs?’ asked Maggie.
‘That’ll be the true test of their relationship. If she likes those two things, then their love’s sealed,’ Jasmine said with a giggle.
‘Ah, poor Ando, don’t mock, you lot,’ said Lark. ‘We all deserve a bit of love and happiness in our lives.’
‘Aye, took you bloomin’ long enough to realise that, though, didn’t it? It’s more a case of poor Nate, never mind poor Ando. You had the lad hanging on for years,’ quipped Jasmine.
Lark responded with a shake of her head and a bashful smile. ‘I had my reasons, as you know full well.’
‘Just teasing, flower.’ Jasmine gave Lark’s arm an affectionate rub.
‘Talking of how we all deserve a bit of love, have you seen who’s over there?’ said Stella, nodding towards a cosy table for two by the window where the curtains were drawn against the night.
They all turned to see Jean enjoying an animated conversation with Amery, her hands wrapped in his.
Lark clasped her hands to her heart. ‘Ahh, bless, that’s lovely. Jean so deserves having someone to love her and make her feel special.’
A feeling of warmth flooded Florrie’s chest. Seeing Jean looking so happy with Amery touched her heart. Her friend was positively glowing. ‘It is lovely.’ She was glad to see Amery looked as happy as Jean.
‘It’s just a shame he didn’t find her sooner,’ said Stella wistfully.
‘It’s better than not at all,’ added Lark.
‘Which leads very nicely on to your dad and Louisa,’ said Maggie. ‘Is their relationship still going from strength to strength?’
The question brought a huge smile to Lark’s face. ‘I’m thrilled to report they’re blissfully happy, and it looks as though they’re going to be moving into his new cottage together when all the renovations are done.’
A flurry of ‘ahhs’ followed, with Florrie saying, ‘Silas so deserved to find love a second time around – Louisa, too. They’re so well suited. Just think, if he hadn’t come to stay with you when he did last Christmas, they might never have got together.’
‘As you lasses know, I always say fate has a plan for us all.’ Lark’s eyes were shining. ‘They were always destined to be together, but the time had to be right for both of them, their stars had to align. Just as they have for Jean and Amery.’
‘Anyroad, much as I hate to change the subject from a happy one to a not-so-happy one, you were going to tell us what happenedafter the reading last night.’ Jasmine switched her attention from Lark to Florrie. ‘It’s really good news that your dad’s okay, though.’ The friends all agreed with that.
Florrie sucked in a deep breath, preparing herself to relive it all. ‘So, after Ed and I got back from hospital, we hadn’t been in long when he grabbed his coat and pretty much flew out of the door with not a word as to where he was going although I had a pretty good idea…’ She continued, telling them everything that had happened including details of the conversation Ed had had with his father that afternoon and her suspicions about his mother snooping around their house. She’d checked with him beforehand that he was okay with this and he’d said he had no problem with her sharing, especially after the performance his parents had put on in the street.
The friends listened, heads shaking in disbelief, occasionally chipping in with the odd question, murmurs of outrage on hearing the cruel words Dawn had hurled at her son.
‘It’s been a heck of a twenty-four hours for you all, flower,’ said Jasmine.
‘Just a bit,’ said Florrie, her stress levels spiking after reliving it all again.
‘How’s Ed, after his mother said what she did?’ asked Lark. She was the one in the group who had the most sensitive nature and had looked utterly horrified when Florrie repeated what Dawn had said.
‘He looked pretty devastated, which is totally understandable. I think it’s what made him take a step back and finally see clearly just how bad she and his father have been treating him.’
‘Not before time,’ Stella said grimly.
‘I can’t get my head around the woman’s dreadful behaviour, from creeping around your home and rifling through your stuff, to screaming in the street, to saying those hideous words to Ed.’ Maggie’s expression morphed from disbelief to disgust and back again. ‘She obviously has no idea what she looks like or how she comesacross.’
‘I don’t think she cares,’ said Florrie.
‘Even less so with her being desperate for cash,’ added Stella.
‘What about this deluded ex of Ed’s who thinks they’re going to run off hand in hand into the sunset? Lucifer or whatever it is she’s called.’ From the way Jasmine’s eyes glittered wickedly, it was obvious she knew exactly what Ed’s ex was called. And even Lark had to laugh at that. ‘What made her think it was okay to chuck a load of eggs at the window?’
‘It’s Luella, but I’m not gonna argue with the Lucifer tag, especially after she egged the window display.’ Florrie turned to Lark. ‘And thanks again for cleaning it all off.’
