‘Needing a man’s attention all the time.’
‘OK, thanks for that.’
Maddie reached over and held Sofia’s hand.
‘Sorry, I didn’t mean to be so blunt. But I just get really fed up with people trying to push their widowed, divorced or occasionally single friends on me. They assume that we’ll all have huge amounts in common, and that I’ll obviously want to bonk their brains out, as I must be desperate after all this time.’
Shewasdesperate, but for Tony’s touch, not anyone else’s.
The pain in Maddie’s face shocked Sofia anew.
‘I’m sorry too. I can see that must be incredibly annoying. But all I said was that he seemed keen on you. I’m not suggesting you wrap yourself up in his nets together on the dock right this minute.’
‘I know, but it’s just such a sore subject. Let’s drop it please.’
Sofia opened the shop door and winked back at her friend.
‘He is cute though, isn’t he?’
Maddie turned her face away, so Sofia couldn’t see her smile.
‘You’re incorrigible.’
Chapter Thirteen
Once inside, the array of swimming costumes, bags and scarves on display had Sofia darting from one to the other like a bee collecting pollen in a field of flowers.
Maddie rolled her eyes at Charlotte.
‘Here we go again…’
After they’d given their approval rating on yet more bikinis for Sofia’s ever-growing collection, Maddie noticed that Sofia had returned with a selection of stuff that looked far too big for her.
‘Girls…’
‘Oh no.’ Maddie knew what her friend was going to say before she said it.
‘Oh yes.’
Sofia thrust one armful at Charlotte and one at her.
‘You said you’d let me buy you a few treats to get over my sadness at being made redundant.’
Sofia framed her own chin with her hands to give maximum waif vibes.
‘To cheer me up, I insist you both try on the bikini and sarong I’ve picked out for you.’
Sofia put up a hand.
‘And before you start kicking up a fuss, you must have realised by now that every woman in Greece wears a bikini, whether she’s nineteen or ninety. And they don’t give a damn about what other people think.’
Maddie couldn’t disagree with her there. She’d seen women of all shapes and sizes in bikinis on the beach, relaxed and happy in their own skins. She definitely wouldn’t be the biggest, although she’d almost certainly be the palest. Dare she give it a go? The idea of going home with a lovely brown tummy really appealed. Even if she’d be the only one to see it.
She looked over at Charlotte who shrugged.
‘Why not?’
Sofia clapped her hands with joy.
