Page 31 of Sunny Skies and Summer Kisses

Anoushka had almost reached the pub when the distinctive rumble of a Land Rover made her ears prick up as it drowned out the evening song of the blackbird perched in the rowan tree of Sunshine Cottage. She watched as the vehicle pulled up on the opposite side of the road, and Kristy and Brogan spilled out, heralding a chorus of enthusiastic hellos. Anoushka smiled, feeling instantly glad she’d agreed to their Friday evening get together.

‘Flippin’ heck, look at the state of me. I knew we shouldn’t have come in the Landie; my new jeans are covered in dust from that bag of sheep feed that’d split.’ Kristy bent to brush dust from her black skinny jeans.

‘Stop fussing, they’re fine; you can’t see anything,’ said Brogan.

‘Ey up, Noushka. How’re you diddlin’?’ Ben leaned out of the passenger window, a smile dancing over his friendly face.

‘Hiya, Ben. I’m good, thanks. How about you?’

‘Can’t grumble. I gather from our lass you’ve been working your backside off, getting ready for your dance school, and could do with letting your hair down a bit.’

Anoushka laughed. ‘Kristy’s not wrong there.’

‘I never need much of an excuse to let my hair down,’ Brogan said with a giggle.

‘Don’t we know it, Broge,’ said Kristy, shooting Anoushka a “tell us about it” look.

Ben laughed. ‘Aye, well, there’s nowt wrong with that. Anyroad, I’d best be off. There’s a ewe and a couple of lambs broken free from the top field; I need to get ’em caught and the fence fixed before we have any more escapees. Have fun, lasses. Send me a text when you want picking up, Kriss.’

‘Will do.’

‘I can’t tell you how much I’ve been looking forward to this. I’ve had a bugger of a week.’ Brogan gave a sigh as she hooked her arms through her friends’.

‘That doesn’t sound good, Broge. Is everything all right?’ Anoushka looked at her friend, concerned when she detected a hint of weariness on Brogan’s face.

‘It’s just… oh, it’s nothing really. I’ve just been feeling a bit “meh” about things. You know how it is sometimes? Our night out has come at a good time.’

Anoushka felt a pang of guilt; she’d been so wrapped up in her own dramas and plans, she hadn’t picked up on how things hadn’t been running so smoothly in Brogan’s life.

‘It sounds to me as if we need a round of Bea’s delicious hot chocolate fudge cake while you tell us all about it,’ said Kristy.

‘Mmm. Now you’re talking.’ A smile brightened Brogan’s face. ‘With gallons of her amazing custard.’

‘Oh, my days, we so do.’ Anoushka’s tastebuds sprang to attention at the thought.

Inside the pub, the friends found a table for three tucked in a corner beside a window through which a welcome breeze was drifting, the scent of the damask rose that sat beneath it wafting through every now and then. Kristy finished pouring the wine and held her glass aloft. ‘Cheers, lasses. Here’s to a good night.’

‘Cheers,’ Anoushka and Brogan echoed her.

‘So, what’s up, Broge?’ Anoushka asked. She had a feeling it was going to be more than feeling weary of her dog-walking business.

‘Yep, come on, chick, spill the beans.’ Kristy took a sip of her wine.

Brogan sat back in her seat and puffed out her cheeks. ‘Ughh, jeez. I feel a bit daft, to be honest, and you’re going to think I’m blowing things way out of proportion when I tell you – and I don’t really know why it’s bothering me as much as it is – but yesterday, I got a call from a girl called Maisie who I used to work with when I lived over at Skeltwick.’

Kristy nodded. ‘Oh yeah, you’ve mentioned her a few times; she seems nice from what you’ve said.’

‘She is. Anyway, the reason she got in touch was to tell me my ex, Archie, has only gone and got married. Poor lass was tying herself up in knots when she was telling me.’ Brogan glanced between her two friends.

‘What?’ said Kristy. ‘I thought he was dead set against marriage. Are you sure Maisie’s got that right?’

‘You’re kidding?’ said Anoushka. From what she remembered, Brogan had been with Archie for about four years before they broke up. ‘After all he said to you?’

‘I know. And would you believe his new wife’s a friend of mine? Karina Roberts; we went to school together.’

Anoushka and Kristy looked at her, confused.

‘You mean Karina as in the girl who’s been ignoring your texts?’ asked Anoushka.

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