She leant over to touch Maddie’s knee.
‘Mads, what do you think of yours?’
Her friend’s teary eyes were smiling at last.
‘It’s absolutely gorgeous. It’s just so lifelike it gave me a shock.’
‘That’s the biggest compliment you can pay an artist. I tried to paint something big enough to mean something, but small enough to fit it in your case.’
‘This certainly means something. I’d leave clothes behind to get this in.’
Sofia snorted.
‘You did, didn’t you? Leave your clothes behind?’
‘Funny.’
Charlotte tried out a cheeky smile. ‘I was thinking you could put it up somewhere in your house and maybe look at it every once in a while. No one will ever know it’s anything but a painting of an anonymous fisherman. Only we’ll know when we visit what it really signifies.’
Maddie gave the picture a last stroke before wrapping it up again.
‘You crafty mare!’
‘You’re welcome.’
Maddie clasped the picture to her body.
‘OK, my car will be here in a few minutes’ time, so the only thing left to discuss is you, Sof.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘This thing with Adonis. How can you pretend to yourself it’s not serious?’
Sofia’s hand froze on her coffee cup.
‘Because it’s not.’
‘Rubbish. He’s in love with you.’
‘Where did you get that from?’
Maddie could see Sofia’s neck going red as she spoke.
‘The way he looks at you, the fact that he’s introduced you to his family…’
‘Yes, and look how that went!’
Maddie smiled at the memory.
‘I admit his mother didn’t seem to be your biggest fan, but she doesn’t know you like we do.’
‘The woman fainted on the spot at the thought that I might defile her precious son. How can I compete with that?’
‘The very fact that you’re even talking about competing with her makes me think that you’re more than a little bit in love with him too.’
Why was her friend saying such rubbish out loud? Yes, she’d like to carry on seeing him, but love was out of the question.
‘That’s crazy.’ Sofia turned away from her friend. ‘Char, you’re the voice of reason, what’s your opinion?’
