‘Why are you giving us the best seats in the house? You haven’t gone off him already, have you? Poor sod. Surely you haven’t left the man stranded in the middle of the Aegean?’
‘No!’ Sofia sighed. ‘Of course I haven’t gone off Adonis. He’s the love of my life, something you both knew way before I did.’
They both nodded and looked a little too smug for her liking.
‘Good.’
Charlotte went to lift the covers off the food.
‘What’s this?’
‘Wait a minute, Miss Nosey. It’s a little thank you to you two for nudging me in the right direction. Are you hungry?’
‘Starving.’ Maddie rubbed her stomach.
‘Nothing changes.’
Maddie laughed.
‘I’d say a hell of a lot has changed since the holiday.’ She took Charlotte’s hand and squeezed it. ‘This one has been on a painting residence in California for three months, whatever that is, and you live on a Greek island now…’
Charlotte squeezed back her friend’s hand and smiled.
‘And you, Mads, are reunited with the family you thought you’d lost.’
Maddie grabbed her phone.
‘Elsie’s walking! She took her first steps yesterday, and I was there. Look!’
After cooing for ages over Maddie’s cute granddaughter, Sofia turned back to Charlotte.
‘The gallery looked amazing, Char. On the beach at Carmel, wasn’t it?’
‘Yes. It was lovely. But I have to be honest, not quite as lovely as Greece though.’
‘Aw, I’m pleased. The paintings you produced were absolutely stunning. You know I’ve bought one for the hotel, don’t you? It should arrive next week.’
‘I do, you naughty thing.’
Maddie snorted.
‘I don’t have the money to be “naughty”, but I did buy the set of postcards off the website.’
Charlotte smiled at her friend.
‘That means just as much, honestly.’
She reached for both her friends’ hands.
‘I’ve really missed you two, especially after our special summer holiday. As you know, the house sale’s gone through, and the divorce is nearly done and dusted. Strangely, I’m getting on better with Doug now than I have for years.’
Charlotte held up a hand.
‘And before you say it, Sof, I know there’s no going back, and I’m happy about it. I’ve got news too. I told you I’d spotteda quirky two-bed coach house by the river, a couple of miles away from my old home. Well… the owner accepted my offer yesterday, so you’re both welcome to come and stay as soon as it’s through.’
Maddie reached for the ice bucket.
‘Dying of thirst here. Aren’t we allowed to celebrate that? Char owning her own home for the first time ever?’
