Well, our children in class are braver. Oh, but I loved St Ives as well.
Right? That restaurant on the beach was beautiful.
So were you when you put that blanket around your mum’s shoulders. And made sure everyone’s drink was topped up, and insisted that you wanted pudding because you could see Hema’s face as she looked at the dessert menu and panicked no one else would join her.Pippa didn’t even bother typing that, just thought it. And swooned a bit. Before behaving herself and typing something innocuous instead.
One of my favourites. They say the light in St Ives is special, hence all the artists. And watching the sun go down from that terrace; that was def a high point.
My mum loved the fact she got to visit Land’s End as well.
I gathered that. She made me take about a hundred photos.
She really likes you. She told me. Quite a lot.
I really like her too.
But I like her son more. And how much does she like me, exactly?
It was the best day. Exactly how summer half term should be.
It was. And they go home soon too. I was worried about this visit and you’ve made it fab, so thank you.
Absolute pleasure. Best. Day. Ever. Now let me sleep, I’ve got my own mother to deal with tomorrow.
Good luck. Anything I can help with?
Can you hide outside the window and pass me gin at pertinent moments?
I can try.
I’ll let you off the hook. But thanks for being willing.
Okay, night night. See you soon.
Night night. Sweet dreams.
Night night. Sleep tight.
Only minutes later, Pippa exhausted by a full day as well as an evening full of exciting news fell asleep in her bed, phone clutched in her hand and a great big grin on her face.
Chapter Thirty-two
‘Thanks for helping me organise all this, mum.’
‘That’s a pleasure, love. You know I never mind helping. I’m still coming tomorrow as well, aren’t I?’
‘Yes, if you don’t mind. But I think that’s the bulk of it sorted for today. It’s never looked so organised. I’ll be a bit reluctant to take them out of the boxes to display them tomorrow.’
‘Well, it could have hardly been any messier.’
‘Mean. And I was going to put the kettle on for you whilst you put your feet up.’ Pippa stood in her mum’s living room, surveying the great big pile of plastic boxes complete with lids and now full to bursting with all of her stock. She had a huge vintage clothing and craft fair coming up tomorrow. Held in a large local hotel it drew visitors from all over Cornwall and beyond, and she had needed a little bit of a sort out, to create a semblance of order before the day itself. At one point her mother had even taken her life in her hands by delving into the back of Pippa’s car and rifling for anything that could be considered further stock. She earnt brownie points by doing it without tutting, something Pippa wouldn’t have thought possible.
Now the job was done Pippa braced herself for the real task of the day: sitting her mother down and getting her to accept that there would be no wedding, or babies, on the horizon for the foreseeable future, and certainly not with James, was not going to be easy.
Lottie’s delving on the other hand had unearthed more than they had bargained for. Way more than they had bargained for. It turned out that one of Lottie’s old uni friends was working for the Financial Conduct Authority, the role of which she had explained to Pippa the night before with a shake of her head. She had confided that Simone, her friend, had been amazing and had told her way more than she probably should have. The main point was that James’ firm was currently under investigation. Simone had a few choice words to say about James as well, none of which were much of a surprise to Pippa. She had a feeling she and Simone might get on.
And that wasn’t all. Lottie had also tracked down pictures of James on Instagram, posted by his friend, that pictured them spending their fraudulently obtained wealth in a particularly insalubrious fashion.
After a perfect day spent with Kam and his family, Pippa had returned home from dinner with them to discover all of this from her very smug-looking flatmate. There had been a lot of dancing around the kitchen table as they had celebrated Lottie’s genius.
