Whatever I was saying about not wanting to throttle him, I take it back.
Despite the thousands of five star reviews for Sophie May super-concealer foundation, there’s a small patch of red on each of Sophie’s cheeks as she hisses at him. ‘I don’t know where the hell you got your information from, but what the frig has it got to do with you anyway?’ She looks ready to floor him and I’m with her on that.
I jump in. ‘Jeez, we’re trying to do a dinner party here. Could you two please fight over Siren House when this is over?’
Charlie tilts his head to one side. ‘But the whole point is, Sophie and I shouldn’t be fighting at all. The only way we’ll stop Joe and his brothers gettingtheirhands on Siren House is ifwejoin forces.’
Sophie gives a disparaging snort. ‘And how’s that going to work? The last I heard you were in cahoots with Joe. If this is where you try to get us to back down and leave the way clear for you, you can piss off.’ She’s growling through her teeth at him.
I’m wishing I’d had time to share what Charlie told me earlier. Although I’m not sure that would have made Sophie any less venomous. When she’s set her heart on something, she’s always been the same – she’s totally blinkered to anything other than her goal.
Charlie’s holding his hands up. ‘Hang on, just hear me out. As a developer, bottom lines interest me more than individual properties. I looked at Hawthorn Farm when you bought it, but I was going to split it into more units. If you’re dropping your price to get a buyer, there could well be more for me in the farm than in Siren House. Especially with the auction price getting pushed up by Joe.’
Sophie’s screwing up her face, but there’s a hint of hungry glint in her eye. ‘So let me check I’m understanding this correctly? You’d be interested in buying Hawthorne Farm?’
His voice is low. ‘At the right price, yes. If you’ve got your decorative schemes for Siren House sorted, I’m assuming you’re in the market to do a deal?’
Sophie’s nostrils are flaring and her voice is shrill with excitement. ‘In that case we need to talk.’
His voice is level and unruffled. ‘That’s exactly what I was suggesting last week.’ As he turns to me, I catch the amusement in his eyes. ‘The best place for negotiation is out of the spotlight where the vibe is more laid back.’
I have to pick him up on this. ‘Like in the kitchen …between courses?’ From the way Sophie’s quivering, there’s nothing relaxed about this at all. ‘You two take a moment and sort out your transaction, I’ll go and check if they’re ready for their quiche yet.’
As I make a dash for the sanity of the living room, I come face to face with Nell carrying her very special cupcake. She mouths at me. ‘What’s going on in there?’
I shake my head and blow. ‘Nothing major, only Sophie selling the farm to Charlie.’
Nell’s voice is high with disbelief. ‘You’re joking?’
I take a second to reconsider. ‘No, I don’t think I am. Charlie’s the last person we’d expect Sophie to deal with, but she’s desperate. But hey, what do we know? Maybe it’s sound business for both of them.’ We were prepared for a proposal, or a bit of Operation Siren interrogation. Sophie and Charlie metaphorically jumping into bed together, not so much.
Plum’s waving at me from over by the French window. ‘Okay, stand by for the starter.’
Of all the evenings yet, this is turning out to be the craziest. But right now, I’ve got four friends and Milla all putting themselves out there for me. If I don’t make things work here, going back to being on my own without all their warmth and support is a horrible thought.
As soon as Plum has delivered the next course and Charlie has dished out the fizz and gone off along the balcony to cook the salmon, I head back to Sophie in the kitchen, and squeeze her and Nell into a hug.
Nell’s laughing as she breaks off from arranging the cupcakes. ‘Hey, don’t knock the blackberries off. What’s this for?’
I think for a moment. ‘For being my besties, and for dreaming up the Little Cornish Kitchen. With us spending time together again, it’s been the best summer, I’ve had the most amazing time.’ I know I sound like I’ve escaped fromPollyannaorAnne of Green Gablesbut for once I don’t care.
Sophie’s smiling. ‘And you’ve done the most amazing things and come such a long way. Your puddings and Laura’s recipes have made a huge impact on St Aidan.’
Nell grins. ‘You could call it the summer of love. Thanks to you and your LCK, there’s a whole lot of new couples in St Aidan.’ For a fleeting second I’m counting up how many more cosy couples evenings I might be able to wrangle from the singles’ Facebook group.
Sophie tweaks my pony tail and kisses the top of my head. ‘We’ve all had a great time helping.’ She gives me a nudge. ‘The move to Siren House is all down to you, you know.’
I pull a face. ‘I’m not sure I’m ready to take the blame for that one.’
Sophie’s Siren House folder is on the table and as she flips the pages over, she’s breathless again. ‘Did I show you the boards for the guest bedrooms?’
Nell’s right there, pouring over the samples. ‘More of that piggie stuff? Will every room be the same then?’ She can’t help that her mind always turns to pork.
‘It’s hygge, pronounced “hoo-ga”, Nellie Melon.’ Sophie sighs. ‘It’s nothing to do with pigs.’
Nell frowns. ‘Isn’t it all based on the scent of Danish bacon? That special kind of “cosy” you get when you watchBabewith a pile of BLT’s?’
Sophie glances up at the ceiling. ‘Not entirely.’ Then the shine in her eyes re-ignites. ‘I know Siren House was bit of an impossible dream until now. But if Charlie comes through for us we might just pull this off.’ It’s the first time she’s ever admitted this wasn’t a certainty.
