‘Yes, please.’
Kitty stood, smiling. ‘Have you enjoyed your first day in Saffron Bay?’
Emily chewed her bottom lip as she thought about the question. ‘I had a milkshake and cake, and did some colouring.’
‘That sounds like a lovely day.’
Emily glanced behind her to check Nick was a safe distance away. She leaned forward and whispered in Kitty’s ear, ‘I don’t think Nick can cook. He burned my cheese on toast at lunchtime.’
‘Oh dear.’ Kitty tried hard not to laugh. ‘Did you eat it?’
‘I had to,’ said Emily, her eyes wide. ‘I didn’t want to upset him, although it was disgusting.’
Kitty chuckled. ‘I’m sure the food tonight will be better.’
‘I hope so.’
‘Hi,’ said Nick, catching them up.
‘Hi.’ Kitty racked her brain for something to say and drew a blank. Nick seemed to have shrunk since the last time she saw him, his broad shoulders curled forwards, his eyes devoid of their cocky sparkle.
‘You’re heading to Alice’s too?’ he asked.
‘Yes.’
‘We’d better go or we’ll be late.’
His voice was monotone. Kitty wondered what could have precipitated the change in mood.
‘How’s everything going?’ asked Kitty as they walked up to the front door of Seashell Cottage.
Nick shrugged. ‘Alright.’
‘That good, hey?’ Before Kitty could say more, the door opened, Alice beaming at them.
Kitty handed over a bottle of red wine, and Nick shoved his hands in his pockets, embarrassed to have turned up empty-handed.
‘Oh, that’s so kind of you,’ said Alice, reading the wine label. ‘Wow, this isn’t the usual cheap plonk I buy. Come on through. We’ve got more guests than we originally intended. Hopefully, it won’t be too much of a squeeze.’
As they walked along the hall, a small hand slipped into Kitty’s. She looked down to see Emily with round hazel eyes asraucous laughter reached them. Kitty tilted her head towards the sound, rolled her eyes, and winked. Emily smiled, but the closer they drew to the closed door, the tighter she gripped Kitty’s hand.
Kitty could relate. With every step, the hallway seemed too narrow and the air thicker. She wasn’t sure she could do this. Behind them, out of the corner of her eye, she saw Nick slouching along the corridor. His support of Emily was non-existent, and it was hard to feel any sympathy for his hangdog expression when he wasn’t making any effort.
‘Everyone, they’re here,’ said Alice, opening the door.
The chatter and laughter stilled. Kitty was greeted by a sea of expectant faces. Emily slid behind her legs, a thumb stuck in her mouth. Kitty bent down, opened her arms and Emily climbed into them, wrapping her legs around Kitty’s waist as she straightened up, and burying her head in her neck. Kitty swallowed the lump in her throat as the memory of cuddling a different little girl surfaced.
‘Is this alright?’ Kitty mouthed to Nick, jerking her head in Emily’s direction.
He shrugged in response, and she turned to the room of spectators.
‘Right, I think you’ve met most of the people here,’ said Alice. ‘Solly and Sylvie you definitely know, and Luke, my partner, May, my sister, Steve and Sam who run the general store, and their nephew, Tom.’
‘Hi, everyone,’ said Kitty, forcing a smile on her face.
Behind her, Nick grunted. What a selfish git. It wasn’t only Emily who needed support. Kitty hadn’t been in a social gathering this big for years, or any social gathering for that matter, and it was hard to ignore the sensation that she was leading a party of unwilling followers into a lion’s den. She cast her mind back to the old Kitty, who had held her own in busyIrish pubs, and been the life and soul of the party. If there was even a trace of old Kitty left, she needed it to surface now.
‘Hi, I’m May.’ A young woman stepped towards them. ‘I’m sorry there are so many of us. It must be quite overwhelming.’ She smiled at Emily. ‘Would you like to come and see my bedroom? It’s much quieter in there, and I still have a few toys you can play with.’ May’s cheeks turned rosy, and she added, ‘I’m far too old for toys.’ She giggled. ‘I just can’t bear to part with my favourites.’
