Page 39 of Sun, Sea & Strawberry Shortcake
‘You should treasure her, my dear. I lost my beautiful Jazwhen she was only eight and it was a long time before I could bring myself toget another dog.’
‘She must have been really special.’
‘She was. She came along at just the right time, filling agaping hole in my life.’ Emerald swallows. ‘I lost my little girl, you see.’
‘Oh.’ My heart lurches. ‘I’m so sorry.’I don’t know howI’d cope if I were ever to lose Emma.
Emerald attempts a smile but the memories get in the way,bringing a sheen to her eyes. ‘I cried many a night into that little dog’s softfur and she licked away my tears.’ She takes a deep, bolstering breath. ‘Dogshave such pure souls.’
I nod. ‘Life has been a bit chaotic recently what with a newbaby in the house, but Luna brings us all together. She makes us laugh.’
‘A new baby? Your first?’
‘Yes. She’s called Emma and she’s eighteen months old. No,she’s nearly two! Time flies by.’
Emerald smiles. ‘It does indeed. My box here is full ofmemories of my daughter. I lost her such a long time ago and I’ve been grievingever since, unable to get on with my life. In a silly moment of madness, Ithought throwing away the memories would help me let go of the past and moveon.’ She laughs softly. ‘But it doesn’t really work like that.’
‘No. I don’t suppose it does.’
‘Thank you so much, Jaz, for bringing this back to me.’ Shestrokes the lid of the red velvet box. ‘I can’t thank you enough. I think Ishall hold on to the memoriesandmove on to pastures new.’
‘Sounds like a plan,’ I agree, getting up. ‘I should headback. My friends will wonder where I’ve got to.’ I hesitate. ‘Are you here onholiday?’
Emerald laughs. ‘Not exactly. But do you know what? I’mstarting to feel really glad I came.’
‘Good.’
‘I’ll be here for a little longer. Until Sunday.’
‘Same as us. Perhaps we’ll meet again.’
She smiles up at me. ‘I hope we do, Jaz. I hope we do. Takecare of that baby of yours.’
Ruby
CHAPTERSIXTEEN
The weather turns cooler in the afternoon, cloudsgathering overhead. After sunning myself in the garden, I retreat to thebedroom with my book, leaving Hudson on his laptop in the living room.
We haven’t fallen out exactly – after our ‘discussion’ aboutJoanna – but it feels a bit strained. We’re being polite and stepping aroundeach other, which isn’t exactly how I envisaged our holiday would be. I’vealready made up my mind to walk over to Clifftop House tomorrow, since Hudsonand Joanna are going to be away from early morning. I texted Ellie, not wantingto phone and interrupt their trip, and she texted straight back to say thatwould be fine.
Planning a lazy day tomorrow, so come over any time.It’ll be great to see you!
*****
Later, Hudson and I eat a rather subdued dinner, and totry and get us properly back on track, I suggest we go out into the gardenafterwards and do some stargazing.
We do this at home sometimes, and it always puts me in aromantic mood. Especially when Hudson gives me his special binoculars to lookthrough and starts telling me all about the wonders of the universe we inhabit.
He glances out of the window. ‘It’s a bit overcast. We mightnot see much tonight.’
‘There’s the moon.’ I point as it sails out from behind acloud. ‘We might get lucky.’
‘Okay, then.’ He smiles at me, his eyes full of affection,and my partly frozen heart instantly melts.
He fetches his binoculars and loops them gently around my neck,sneaking a kiss at the same time, and I stand there on the lawn, snuggling intohim and focusing on the sky as he murmurs things in my ear about stars andcomets and constellations. I even manage to find the Plough myself, which Ialways feel quite triumphant about... like I’ve discoveredthe secret meaning of life or something.
But then just as we’re getting really cosy, the strains of ‘HeyJude’ring outfrom Hudson’s phone, hijacking the intimacy of themoment.
