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“Brooke isn’t really an expert,” Matt said. “She just thinks she’s an expert. She should come with a warning: Taking advice from Brooke could seriously damage your love life.”

“Not true.” Brooke straightened her shoulders. “I give great advice. Tell me more, Jason.”

Izzy had heard all she wanted to hear.

She sprang to her feet, knocking pens and scissors off the table. “Carry on with that star, Elsie. I’m going to get a drink.”

She headed straight to the kitchen, where she grabbed a glass and filled it with water from the jug in the fridge.

When was the last time you were interested in someone?

I guess it was back in the summer. I met someone and it was—special.

Yes, it had been special, but it made no difference. It didn’t matter that he wasn’t in a relationship. That he wasn’t involved with anyone. She didn’t want a relationship. She wasn’t capable of a relationship. She had more baggage than an airport terminal.

She knew a lot about endings, but nothing about the happy version.

23

Mabel

Mabel stared at the stack of boxes that Jason and Matt had brought down from the attic.

The box she’d expected to see wasn’t there and she wasn’t sure how she felt about that. She’d braced herself to take a step forward. To face the past. That box was part of the past.

She remembered the day Walter had packed everything into that blue box. She’d been crying so hard she could barely see as he’d packaged everything carefully, lovingly, and then secured the box with string to be sure that it was safely sealed.

Throw it away, she’d howled. Throw it away. I never want to see it again.

We’re not throwing it away, he’d said.

I can’t look at it again.

Not now, but maybe one day you’ll look at it and the memories will make you smile …

Was today the day that theory was going to be tested? She was doubtful that she’d smile but she thought, maybe, that she might be ready to look at it.

“Is everything all right, Mabel?” Brooke was by her side, as observant as ever. “It’s kind of you to let us use all this.”

“Everything is fine.” She’d never felt tempted to confide in anyone before, but she had no regrets for having confided in Brooke. “These are all the boxes you found?”

“Matt?” Brooke looked across the room to Matt and Jason, who were both examining the bookshelves. “Is this everything?”

“Everything that was in the stack Mabel asked us to bring down.” Matt smoothed his hand along the shelves. “What type of wood is this?”

“It’s cherry,” Jason said. “I used it for shelves in one of the houses I renovated a few years ago. It has a closed grain pattern, a bit like maple.”

“The quality is exceptional. Was this made by a local company, Mabel?”

“You could say so. My Walter built them.”

Matt exchanged a glance with Jason. “Your Walter was a talented man.”

“He loved working with wood. He found it calming.”

“Did he sell his work?”

“Not officially, but people in the village knew about him and he was always making something for someone. He just charged what it cost him. That was Walter.”