Page 92 of The Shape of Your Heart
‘I will.’ She pauses. ‘You too.’
* * *
‘This is Tanith,’ I say as Diana opens the door.
‘Hello.’ Tanith holds out her hand.
Diana shakes it. ‘How nice to meet you. Come in, both of you.’ She closes the door behind us. ‘I’ll put the kettle on. Sasha’s in the kitchen and Stewart’s around somewhere – I’m not sure where, though,’ she says vaguely.
We follow her along a passageway lined with boxes.
‘Do you have a moving date?’ I ask.
‘Next Friday. Thank goodness. I can’t believe what a palaver it’s been. Sasha? Nathan’s here – and this is Tanith.’
‘Not Graveyard Groupies Tanith?’ Sasha’s face lights up.
Tanith rolls her eyes. ‘That’s me! How’s your ankle?’ Going over to Sasha, she sits next to her.
‘So annoying.’ Sasha shakes her head. ‘I’ve gone from being the fittest I’ve ever been to a complete couch potato.’ She glances at me. ‘Mum told me about your plan. I totally approve, by the way. That blinking empty space should have been filled months ago. We even bought her a rose, but she refused to plant it there.’
‘She might not be too happy about us doing this,’ I warn them.
‘You can tell her we’re all in on it.’ Sasha says firmly. ‘And I don’t think she’ll mind – not if this walk does what she wants it to.’
After cups of tea, Diana and I go outside. ‘Now, I have everything ready for you. And I’ve labelled them all. The tallest ones must go at the back. The rest you can plant in clumps.’
‘Sounds straightforward enough.’ I pick up the trays of plants. ‘I’ll put them in my car.’
When I go back in, Sasha and Tanith are deep in conversation. When they see me, both of them look up at the same time.
‘What are you talking about?’ I say suspiciously.
‘You, of course.’ Tanith winks at me. ‘Well, and Callie, obviously.’
‘There really isn’t anything to talk about. Callie and I are just friends.’
‘So you keep saying. But she called you, didn’t she?’ Tanith nudges Sasha.
I’m mystified. I intentionally haven’t told her about Callie’s call. ‘How do you know?’
‘It’s obvious. And we might know something that you don’t.’ Holding a finger to her lips, Tanith glances at Sasha. ‘Not a word.’
* * *
‘What was all that about?’ I ask Tanith as we drive away.
‘Just girl talk,’ Tanith says airily. ‘I hope you know what to do with those flowers.’
‘We dig holes and plant them. Then you have to remember to water them.’
‘I can cope with that bit.’ She glances at her watch. ‘Do you have time to swing by and pick up the boys? It would give my mother such a shock, seeing me with a guy.’ She tosses her hair back. ‘I’d quite like that.’
‘Sure.’ But when we reach Tanith’s parents’ house, my mobile rings.
‘You did that intentionally,’ she says suspiciously.
I pick up my phone. ‘Actually, it’s Simon. Why don’t you go and get the boys? I need to take this.’
