Page 21 of A Fresh Start at Bramble Cottage
“I’ll just take my things into the other room, then I’ll make some dinner. What would you like?”
“Oh, anything. Whatever’s easiest.”
“You’re not still on that vegan diet then?”
“Oh, no.” Jayde made a dismissive gesture with her hand. “Amanda said she lost a whole stone in two weeks on it, but I don’t believe a word of it. I didn’t lose an ounce.”
Vicky smiled to herself. She suspected that the main reason it hadn’t worked was because her sister hadn’t stuck to it as strictly as she wanted to believe. She was a little too fond of her wine to give it up.
* * *
“Mmm.” Vicky glanced around the pub. “This is a nice place.”
Jayde shrugged, her pretty face registering bored indifference. “I suppose.”
“Oh, come on. It’s a lot better than most of the pubs at home, all with the same sticky carpets and fake wooden beams.” She pointed at the ceiling. “These are real.”
The floor was wooden too, rich dark oak, uneven in places from years of wear. The bar was the same dark wood, lined with brass beer-pumps. One of the walls was rough stone, with a large inglenook fireplace — there was no fire in it at present, but a wrought-iron basket of hewn logs stood beside it waiting to be used.
“I need to sit down,” Jayde complained. “My feet are killing me.”
“I’m not surprised, in those shoes.”
Jayde tottered over to a table in the corner, leaving Vicky to go to the bar.
The place was quite busy — mostly locals, with a scattering of holidaymakers. It wasn’t difficult to tell the difference — the holidaymakers in bright well-pressed clothes, the locals rugged in well-worn denim and saggy polo shirts.
As she waited to be served, she was aware that several of the younger men — and some of the older ones — were looking her over with mild curiosity. News of her identity would have already spread. She could only wait and see if there was going to be any hostility.
She ordered two glasses of white wine and carried them back to their table. Jayde already had her phone out, checking her messages and accepted her wine without a word. As she sipped it, Vicky wondered if she even tasted it.
At least with Jayde occupied she didn’t need to try to make conversation. As she sipped her own wine, she glanced at her sister across the table. Just one year apart in age, they had got on well when her mother had married Jayde’s father. Both having lost a parent had helped them bond. She had enjoyed having a big sister to follow, and Jayde had enjoyed being the one to benevolently lead the way.
Then Vicky had decided to stay on at school to do her A levels and go to university. For reasons Vicky had never beenable to fathom, Jayde had seemed to take that as some kind of betrayal. And gradually they had grown apart. Now it sometimes seemed as if they were from different planets.
She was just beginning to relax when Jayde abruptly put down her phone and sat up straighter.
“That’shim!” she hissed.
“Who?” Vicky glanced towards the door. Tom. And suddenly it felt as if there was a fizz of static electricity in the air.
“Mmm.” Jayde’s eyes were wide. “He’s even more gorgeous up close and in the flesh.”
Vicky held back a sigh. Jayde in full flirting mode was a sight to behold. As Tom passed their table she flashed him a smile that could have lit up the National Grid. He hesitated, one dark eyebrow raised in question, as if wondering if he was supposed to recognise her.
Then he noticed Vicky, and the question resolved. “Good evening. Come to sample our local night life? Hope it isn’t too wild for you.”
“Oh, I think we can cope.” Jayde slanted him one of her patented seductive gazes from beneath her lashes. “I’m Vicky’s sister — Jayde.” She patted the table invitingly. “Why don’t you join us?”
He glanced at Vicky, then back to Jayde, an enigmatic glint in his dark eyes. “Thank you.” He pulled his wallet from his pocket and peeled off a banknote, handing it to Bill, who had followed him into the pub. “Get them in, mate. And another one for you, ladies?”
“Thank you.” Jayde smiled coyly. “White wine, please.”
“White wine it is. Thanks, Bill.” He sat down. “So you’re sisters? You don’t look much alike.”
Jayde giggled. “Oh, we’re just stepsisters really. I’ve come down for a few days to help Vicky with clearing out the house.”
Yes — I’ll believe that when I see it, Vicky reflected silently.
