Page 27 of The Wisteria Tree Cottage

‘But I didn’t know you’d made it,’ Bear said.

‘Well, since then I’ve made a few more. This is one of them.’

‘That dress is… magnificent. You should be very proud of that.’

She smiled. ‘I made a few for Star and Tierra too. And then last year I opened up my own Etsy shop. I still make and sell children’s clothes, but I also sell women’s dresses. I had a few staple designs and people were able to choose their own fabrics. I didn’t think I’d get any orders at all but I’ve made twenty-three dresses so far for different customers. I have expanded my choice of designs and I even worked with one customer to make a design just for her, from her specifications. A few weeks ago, I got my first wedding dress commission and I can’t tell you how excited I am to be making someone’s wedding dress. I’m no Christian Siriano and I’m a million miles away from my guru Jenny Packham but it feels so good to be designing and making beautiful dresses. It’s not about making money, it’s just about the pure joy I get from designing and making a dress from scratch, the sewing, the embellishments, it’s something I love.’

Bear’s face lit up into a huge smile. ‘I love this. I had no idea you were doing that. Why didn’t you tell me?’

She shrugged. ‘I don’t know really. It wasn’t really a secret but I liked having this… other life outside of Star and the treehouses.’

‘Do you have photos?’

‘Yes but I don’t want to bore you with them.’

‘Please do, I’d love to see them.’

Meadow dug out her phone and scrolled through her gallery to find the right folder. She clicked into it and passed it over the table to Bear.

Bear started flicking through. ‘These are incredible. And the embroidery on some of them is perfect.’

‘Oh, I enjoy doing that part.’

Just then the food arrived. Meadow thanked Frankie and Bear glanced up briefly to say thank you to her too as she placed all their dishes on the table before he turned his attention back to the photos again. ‘These are amazing. I’m so happy you followed your dream.’

‘Thank you.’

She picked up one of the tiger prawns and put it on her plate, licking off the garlic butter that was still on her fingers. Bear passed the phone back. ‘Thank you for sharing that with me.’

‘My pleasure. So what’s your thing that no one else knows?’

Bear frowned for a moment as he picked up a chicken wing. He chewed thoughtfully.

‘Come on, I told you mine,’ Meadow said.

‘I… write stories.’

Meadow felt her eyes widen. ‘You were always so good at writing stories when we were kids. I remember you won a prize in class for one of them.’

‘It’s not something I’ve ever grown out of. It’s something I love, every spare second I get I’m scribbling down ideas or writing a scene.’

‘What kinds of stories do you write? Crime, horror?’

‘Children’s books, ones with dragons and mermaids and ordinary children leading extraordinary lives.’

‘I’d love to read them.’

Bear shook his head. ‘It’s not something I really want other people to read.’

‘But isn’t that the whole point of writing a story, for other people to enjoy?’

‘No, it makes me cringe to think of other people reading my stories. What if they aren’t very good?’

‘But what if they are?’

Bear shook his head.

‘What’s the worst that can happen if I read it?’

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