Page 33 of Best Summer Ever

By the time the band had set up and were ready to play in the small garden at the back of the pub, my feet were on fire and I was desperate to swap out the shoes I’d ignored Sam’s words of wisdom to wear for my comfy trainers again.

‘You were warned,’ he chuckled, when he spotted what I was doing.

‘I know,’ I said, having taken a few seconds to stand barefoot on the cool wooden floor and let my toes unclench. ‘And it’s a lesson learned. I think the trainers look better with the dress anyway.’

I wished I’d had the gumption to realise that when I’d got dressed back at home.

‘Textbook Daisy,’ I heard Penny laugh, while I was bent over tying the laces. ‘She’s always been the same. She always has to do things the hard way.’

‘How dare you!’ I pouted, pretending to be affronted, as I stood back up.

Penny had a twinkle in her green eyes and a smile on her full lips.

‘You’re going to dispute that, are you?’ she challenged me.

‘No,’ I huffed, knowing full well all of the occasions she could reel off to prove me wrong.

‘I should think not,’ she laughed.

‘What can I get you?’ I asked. ‘Are you going to have a drink or have you just come in here to tell tales about me?’

‘I’ll have a pint of Wherry, please.’ She grinned.

‘And I’ll pull it,’ said Sam, stepping in. ‘Daisy’s having mixed results at the pumps tonight.’

‘I thought I was doing all right,’ I said, deflating a little. ‘I tipped a couple away earlier, but the rest have been okay, haven’t they?’

‘You’re getting there,’ was as much as Sam was willing to say and I guessed I wasn’t quite up to the professional barkeeping standard just yet. ‘Why don’t you take a break while the band’s playing? It’ll probably be the only chance you get.’

‘Okay,’ I said keenly, filling up a glass with ice and water for myself. ‘I’m happy to take a load off for a few minutes. Do you want to listen to the band, Pen?’

‘No,’ she said, looking me up and down as I came out from behind the bar, ‘let’s grab a table while it’s quiet. I love that dress, by the way. Is it new?’

‘No,’ I told her, letting out a breath as I flopped on to a chair. ‘But those dungarees are, aren’t they?’

With her slightly fuller figure they looked perfect on her and the pattern was as bright and cheering as she was.

‘You know I can’t resist Lucy and Yak,’ she said with a grin. ‘You were saying about the dress?’

‘Oh, I’ve had it for ages,’ I vaguely elaborated, ‘but I thought I’d give it an airing tonight.’

‘Any particular reason why?’ Penny asked with emphasis, while looking at me wide-eyed over the top of her pint. ‘Anypersonin particular?’

‘What’s that supposed to mean?’ I demanded, narrowing my own eyes.

‘I can’t help wondering,’ she said, ‘if you’ve made an extra effort for the benefit of our American visitor?’

‘Who?’ I frowned.

She shook her head in disbelief.

‘From what I can make out,’ she carried on, ‘half the village is totally smitten with him and he’s all anyone can talk about at the school pick-up.’

‘You’re not ringing any bells,’ I blagged, pretending that I hadn’t even heard of any such American.

She let out a bark of laughter.

‘Liar, liar,’ she giggled. ‘I know for a fact that you’re aware of who I’m talking about because you spent the whole day on the beach with him yesterday.’

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