‘What?’ For a moment, Pippa hadn’t a clue what Oliver was talking about. Then she remembered the white lie she’d told him about her father and aunt’s whereabouts. ‘Ohhh. No. They haven’t seen anything in their price range.’ She shrugged. ‘I suppose it’s just as well, considering they might sell up.’
Oliver nodded in agreement. The café door opened, drawing both of their attentions. A woman dressed for the artic pulling a huge suitcase behind her entered. Her mouth dropped open when she saw Oliver.
‘Oliver? I wasn’t expecting to see you in here.’
‘Ava? I-I can’t believe you are here...What-what exactly are you doing here?’
‘I came in here to ask for directions.’
Pippa looked from the beautiful blonde woman with an American twang to Oliver. He shook his head. ‘No, I mean what are you doing in England?’`
‘Oh. I came to England to meet with potential clients. I knew you lived here somewhere by Seagull Bay, so I booked in The Cheese Wedge and Pickles Hotel and thought I’d kill two birds with one stone, meet my clients and try to track you down. How luckily am I finding you in here?’ Ava looked at Pippa, as if just registering Oliver was not alone. She walked over to Pippa, offering her hand. ‘Hi, I’m Ava. Ava Garland. A very close friend of Olivers. And you are?’
‘Erm, Pippa. Pippa Pickles, erm I meanBramwell...Pippa Bramwell.’
Ava giggled. ‘For real? Are you sure about that?’
Pippa frowned. ‘Yes.’ She looked across at Oliver for support, but his face looked as if it was watching an approaching bus with no brakes. ‘I’d offer you a seat, but my dog isn’t too welcoming with strangers.’
Ava looked down at the dogs. ‘Really? Neither of these little bow wows looks vicious to me. In fact, that white one looks as if it might lick me to death.’
‘Gold,’ Pippa corrected.
Katherine appeared with a tray of drinks. ‘Oh hello, I didn’t realise I had another customer.’
Without giving Ava a chance to answer, Pippa lifted her mobile. ‘I’ll call through to The Cheese Wedge and Pickles for you and let them know you are on your way. My family owns it, so I can make sure there’s someone to meet you at the entrance.’
She stood up and handed Ginger’s lead to Oliver before heading for the door. Oliver took it open-mouthed. She looked back over her shoulder before she left and saw Oliver pointing in the direction of the hotel.
Pippa crossed her fingers and hoped Lizzy, the woman who helped out with housekeeping would answer the phone. Her chest felt tight and her body was jittery. Was Ava an old girlfriend from Oliver’s time living in America?
Thankfully, Lizzy answered immediately.
‘The Cheese Wedge and Pickles hotel. How can I help you?’
‘Oh, thank you for answering, Lizzy. There’s an American woman called Ava Garland who is booked in for a stay. I’m in the café and she came in asking for directions. Do you mind awfully opening up early, meeting her at the door, and signing her in?’
‘Not at all, Pippa. I suspect she’s going into room five, as I’ve just finished cleaning it.’
‘Yes Lizzy. Thank you. I’ll be back in an hour.’
‘No problem, Pippa.’
Pippa inhaled deeply and turned to go back into the cafe. She stepped back inside and was relieved to see Ava hadn’t taken a seat. She walked over to the table and caught the end of Oliver’s sentence. ‘—three o’clock on Tuesday then.’
‘Perfect,’ said Ava.
Pippa coughed and Ava spun around to face her, sparkling white teeth still bared from her smile at Oliver. ‘All sorted. Lizzy is waiting to show you up to your room. The hotel is just across the beachfront. You probably didn’t see it when your taxi dropped you here because the view of the sign for the hotel is obscured by a tree from here.’
‘Thank you.’ Ava turned back to Oliver. ‘See you Tuesday, Oliver.’
Oliver smiled and nodded. Ava pulled her suitcase towards the door and Oliver jumped to his feet, handing both Jess’ and Ginger’s dog leashes to Pippa so that he could run in front of Ava. ‘Here. Let me get the door for you.’
‘Thanks Ollie.’
Pippa fumed inside.Ollie. That’s my nickname for him.
She sat down at the table and Oliver sat down opposite her just as Katherine arrived with their food, helping to diffuse the air of awkwardness that had now appeared between them.
