Page 64 of Best Summer Ever

‘No,’ I agreed. ‘You’re right, I’m not, and especially not at this time of year.’

I had often dreamt of escaping to the Wynmouth seaside and swimming in the open sea when I was stuck in the stuffy apartment in the summer, trawling through the employment agency websites looking for yet another job. Penny knew I was a country girl at heart and it was that that she had alluded to.

‘And of course, I meant passing through as in on your way to see Josh,’ Penny then said as she set about making me a latte, knowing that’s what I would be most in the mood for. ‘Or have you just come from Crow’s Nest?’

‘If you’d made it to the pub quiz,’ I said, fishing a little, ‘you’d know that I went back to Wynbrook last night.’

‘I had planned to,’ she said, turning back to me, ‘but I had the day’s receipts to sort through and a couple of orders to make and the time just ran away from me once I’d got home.’

Clearly she wasn’t going to mention that she’d been so tired after the influx of customers that she’d crashed out in her armchair as soon as she’d sat down, and I wasn’t going to bring it up. I could tell she was still trying to put a brave face on things and Nick might not have told her that he’d seen her through her cottage window, flaked out and dead to the world.

‘Well,’ I said instead, ‘we could have done with you. Sam let me join Josh and Nick, but we were all useless. We barely got anything right.’

‘The pub questions aren’t that hard,’ she teased and I almost regretted letting her off. ‘So, why did you head home? Trouble in paradise?’

‘Far from it.’ I grinned. ‘I needed a night off.’

‘Daisy,’ she said and blushed.

‘What?’ I laughed. ‘It’s true. That and I didn’t want another lecture from Mum and Dad.’

‘Trouble at Wynbrook?’ she grimaced.

‘You could say that,’ I sighed. ‘I’m grateful I’ve got a roof over my head, but I’m not enjoying staying in the cottage. It might not have been so bad if I’d never been away, but I’m used to my independence and space now. I feel like my every move is being watched, especially now Mum and Dad know I’m seeing someone.’

‘I can see how that would make things tricky,’ Penny said sympathetically. ‘And in case you were wondering, my sofa is still at your disposal.’

‘Thank you,’ I said, taking a sip of the latte, which was perfect for the chilly day. ‘I’ll definitely keep it in mind.’

Having watched Penny negotiate a surprising rush of customers, given the weather, and having refused my offer to help with any of them because she was worried I’d be worn out ahead of my shift in the pub, I felt further convinced that my plan was a good one. However, before I started to put it into place, I called in to see Josh.

‘Hey Daisy,’ he said, smiling, when he answered the door. ‘I wasn’t sure I was going to see you today.’

He quickly crossed the room to where he’d left his laptop open on the sofa and closed it with a snap, before plumping the cushions to make room for me.

‘How’s your day been so far?’ I asked him, feeling grateful to be out of the Wynmouth wind as I sat on the sofa.

‘Lonely.’ He grinned. ‘I missed you last night. How about you?’

‘If you’re asking if I missed you,’ I smiled up at him, ‘then the answer is yes.’

‘Good.’ He grinned, flopping down next to me, which caused me to tilt towards him. ‘And today?’ he asked, wrapping an arm around me as I snuggled closer.

I didn’t want to tell him about the plan I had now properly decided upon, which was all about helping Penny, in case he didn’t think it would work and tried to talk me out of it.

‘I’ve been helping Algy with his search for this little feral cat he’s taken a liking to,’ I said instead.

‘And did you find it?’ Josh asked, kissing the top of my head.

‘Sadly not,’ I told him, ‘but the camera picked it up for a few seconds, so we at least know it’s still alive and in the area…’

I had thought that would really cheer Algy up, but thinking back over our conversation, I realised it had only briefly boosted his spirits, and he was still feeling sad.

‘And was Mr Alford pleased about that?’ Josh asked.

‘Mr Alford.’ I smiled. ‘It feels funny to hear Algy called that.’

‘Well,’ said Josh, tickling my ribs and making me wriggle, ‘I can hardly call him, Algy, can I?’

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