Page 5 of Matilda’s Summer of New Beginnings

‘That’ll be nice for you. Rosie never said.’

‘Rosie probably didn’t know. They just called earlier to tell me. Rosie will no doubt find a text on her phone about it. You’re welcome to join us, Matilda. We wouldn’t leave you to fend for yourself.’

‘Thanks. That might be nice if it’s okay with them as well.’ I liked Rosie’s mum and dad, and had met them lots of times when they’d come up to London to see us. I did hope Charlotte wouldn’t be there though — perhaps that made me a meanie, but it was true.

Rosie had inherited her cheerful genes from her mum and her smile from her dad. Jay had the same infectious smile, and it always felt something of a privilege to have it directed at you — almost like you were the only person in the world at that moment.

I think he looked so cheerful because he seemed to be in his natural habitat and appeared to fill more space in Padcock. He was tall and relaxed, and not crammed into the sort of crowds I was used to — the sort that a person got lost in, usually.

I think I loved the Padcock version of Jay even more than the London version I knew better.

I shook myself out of it. ‘Okay — I’d better get inside. Before she uses all the water.’

‘Do you want a hand?’ Jay nodded at the case. ‘The stairs are pretty steep going up in there.’

‘I can manage, thank you. Unless you want to come up and see Rosie of course?’

Jay pretended to consider it. ‘I suppose I’d better stick my head in and say hello. Go on, then — give me that case, Matilda. You might as well.’

‘Oh really, it’s fine.’ I reached down to take the handle, and at the same time, Jay reached down. Our hands connected and a sensation like a huge electrical crackle zipped up my arm.

I jerked my head up at the same time as Jay, and we stared at each other. I think my surprise was pretty clear, and judging by the look on his face, I think he must have felt the same.

Which was peculiar.

I could only assume there was a strange electric field buzzing around Padcock that had somehow disrupted the airwaves.

Quickly I moved my hand away. ‘All right. You can take the case. And you can go upstairs first too — you’ll probably know the flat better than I do anyway, so you lead the way.’

‘Sure.’ He nodded and lifted the case easily, carefully not meeting my eyes. I followed him up the steep little staircase and we came out into a hallway with some doors leading off it. One of them was clearly the bathroom where warm, fragranced steam was already escaping the partially open door. Next to that was a wide-open bedroom that had Rosie’s open bag on the bed. A lounge and kitchen were also visible through open doors. The second room opposite the bathroom that was currently closed seemed likely to be the other bedroom.

‘I guess this is my room, then.’ I nodded towards it. ‘I’ll manage the case from here.’

‘It’s fine, I’ll just put it inside the door,’ replied Jay. ‘You can see the Spatchcock from that room, apparently. But you have to kind of peer around the corner. Cerys said it was possible.’

‘I’ll have a look later.’ I squeezed past him to get to the bathroom, and our arms brushed against one another. Another weird static spark crackled between us, and I jumped. I think I heard Jay inhale quickly, and I could feel my cheeks heat up. This was not the time or the place for Jay to discover that my body went into strange, oddly pleasurable spasms whenever he was close to me. To be honest, he just looked startled.

How embarrassing.

‘Rosie!’ I called, probably too loudly. ‘Rosie!’

I knocked on the bathroom door and she called back to me. ‘Matilda?’

‘Who else would it be?’ I shouted back. ‘But actually, it’s not just me. Jay’s here as well,’ I gabbled some more. ‘I met him on the street when you raced in here.’

‘Oh! Cool. Hi Jay!’

‘Hi Rosie!’ Jay moved closer to the door and I carefully moved away from it. ‘Mum and Dad are coming tomorrow for brunch. So behave tonight and don’t drink too much!’

‘Would I ever?’ she called back. ‘But thanks for the warning.’ The sound of running water stopped. A moment later she stepped out of the bathroom wrapped in a huge pink towel, her little face beetroot red with the heat.

‘So much better than our shower, Matilda!’ she said, peering around Jay and giving me the thumbs-up sign. ‘And Jay! My favourite brother.’ She flung her arms damply around him for a quick hug.

‘My favourite sister,’ he replied wryly, hugging her back. I recalled they were the only two siblings so it was the truth I guess. I have a younger brother, Michael, and an older sister, Sophia, so, I pondered, I too could say the same. Michael couldn’t though. He would have to choose between us and we could both make his life very miserable if he chose incorrectly. Sophia was engaged to one of Damien’s brothers, Conor — seemingly forcing our families to be inextricably linked — but Michael was playing the field and still lived at home with our parents in Essex. They despaired of him ever leaving.

‘Happy birthday, Bro,’ said Rosie, releasing Jay. ‘I’ve got you a gift, but you’ll have to wait for it. I’ll bring it to the party.’

‘I would expect nothing less from you, Rosie. Tell me it’s not a subscription renewal to Darling!’