Sophie sighs. ‘You and Mum got on so well, I always felt a bit of an outsider after he’d gone.’
I’m shaking my head. ‘It’s hard to believe I missedthatmy whole life too.’ A few months back in St Aidan and it is literally hitting me in the face. ‘I can understand why you’d feel jealous of that closeness.’
‘It was never about material things.’ Sophie shrugs. ‘Much as I’ve always loved Milla, at times, when I saw the life you were living in London, I wished I was the one in the city.’
I laugh. ‘I wouldn’t have swapped you then, but maybe you were right all along. There’s a lot to love about St Aidan.’
Her eyebrow goes up. ‘There is?’
Sophie being so honest and upfront here is making me feel guilty for deceiving her, and I sense that she’s waiting. ‘You were right the other day too – Kit did snatch a kiss.’
Her smile widens. ‘I knew it! Well done, Flossie! Of everyone I know, you’re the one who really deserves your happy-ever-after.’
‘It can never be that.’ I choke at the long-term view. ‘We’re actually taking it minute by minute.’
‘So long as you don’t get your heart broken,’ she murmurs.
I let out a forced laugh. ‘Hearts don’t come into this. In case you’ve forgotten, I’m out of the market for anything longer than a one-night stand.’
Her smile fades. ‘When your outlook is so good you can’t seriously be thinking about putting your love life on hold in case you get ill again?’
I pull a face. ‘Dating is a nightmare for normal women. Add in being a cancer survivor who can’t have kids…’ There’s a bigger reason too. ‘Kit doesn’t want to get involved either, so the H.E.A. is off the table.’
Sophie narrows her eyes. ‘I was a single mum with a very opinionated small child, living beyond the end of nowhere, and I still found Nate. I refuse to let you give up that easily!’ She laughs. ‘As for being post-menopausal, that isn’t holding Mum back any!’
‘Poor Mum. I can’t believe what happened when she turned up at the hairdressers.’
Sophie pulls a face. ‘It was unfortunate, but illuminating – she’s never asked me to go shopping with her.’
I have to take a stand on this. ‘Mum always favouring me isn’t fair. We need to tackle her about it.’ I take in Sophie twiddling with the sleeve of her dress. ‘If you can change your leopard spots, she can change hers too. It’s never too late!’
Sophie nods. ‘The problem is, she’s changed so much lately we hardly recognise her.’
I think of the reason for that and let out a groan. ‘Mum and Mr Byron are off to another thing at Comet Cove tonight and the secret agents are on standby, so I’d better be getting off.’ I’m actually losing sight of what’s going on here. Is it Rye giving Kit and me an excuse to go out, is it Kit wanting to show support for Rye, or do we all still want to know what’s going on? ‘With so much dancing around, it might be easier to go directly to Mum and ask her straight out.’
Sophie pulls me into a hug. ‘My little sister who used to be so hesitant and tentative is suddenly so decisive. You’re changing too and it suits you!’
I shrug. ‘For the first time ever, there are things I care about – keeping The Hideaway is so important, I’m desperate to make the sea pool happen, I love baking and concocting puddings and at last I have a sister who needs my help instead of it always being the other way round.’
Sophie gives me a last squeeze. ‘Youwillget your sea pool.’
‘It’s notmysea pool.’
She laughs as she lets me go. ‘You were the one who rediscovered it. I think we all know itisyours.’
I’m laughing as I head for the landing. ‘Thank you for showing it to me. I’ll keep you updated tonight.’
A second later, Shadow and I are clattering down her stairs. And this time as I head towards the front door with my new inside knowledge and understanding, it looks a lot less swanky and in-my-face than it did on the way in.
39
On the beach at Cockle Shell Castle, Comet Cove
Cosy corners and sleepy heads
Tuesday
Kit crosses his ankles and sits back against the dune. ‘A string quartet in the castle gardens, gin cocktails and canapés on the lawn – maybe we should be there rather than watching from the sidelines?’
