Page 7 of Sun, Sea & Strawberry Shortcake
Ellie frowns. ‘You don’t sound so sure.’
‘No, I am. I am. Harry’s great.’
‘But...?’
I shrug, feeling suddenly shivery, as if a cloud hasappeared to block out the bright June sunshine. ‘I don’t know. Things haven’tbeen... I mean, it’s probably nothing. But these days, wedon’t seem to be as close as we used to be?’
‘Really?’
I sigh. ‘We used to finish off each other’s sentences. Wehad a shorthand and it was all so easy between us. But lately...I don’t know... it’s as if that relaxed intimacy has sort ofdisappeared.’
‘He brought you flowers?’
‘Yes, but... that was the first time forages that he’d done anything romantic like that.’
‘And have you done anything romantic for him lately?’ Ellie givesa knowing smile. ‘Or has giving birth to a little human consumed your wholelife to the degree that it’s hard to find time for romance at all these days?’
I look at her and laugh. ‘You have a point. Emma gets mostof my energy these days, and Harry gets the leftovers. That’s if there’s anyenergy left at the end of a day spent worrying about how to sneak broccoli intoher diet and whether I’ll ever be a good enough mum.’
Ellie shrugs. ‘That’s life.’
I nod. ‘I’m really proud of Harry, actually. He’s beenhelping out at an animal shelter in his spare time, taking photos of the catsand dogs to put on social media.’
‘He does that for free?’
‘Oh, yes. An old friend of his from uni’s running theshelter and recently got back in touch, and Harry offered to take photos. Tohelp the animals find forever homes.’
‘That’s such a lovely thing to do.’
‘I know. He’s got a shoot tonight. I said I’d be back homeby six so he can get away.’
Ellie’s phone rings and when she answers it, her face fallsas she listens. ‘Right. Okay. I’ll be there in five minutes.’
‘What’s wrong?’
‘Maisie’s fallen off a wall at Jessica’s house and bumpedher head. That was Jessica’s mum. I need to go.’ She glances back at the café.‘Oh, hell, I’ve got that pan on the hob. I’d better phone Zak and see ifhecanget to Maisie...’ She starts fumbling with her phone but Istop her.
‘No, you go. I’ll see to the café.’
She stares at me. ‘Are you sure?’
‘Yes, of course! Give me the keys and I’ll lock up.’
She presses the keys into my hand and breathes, ‘Jaz, you’rea life-saver. I owe you.’
‘It’s okay. Now justgo!’
She runs for her car and I slip the keys into my pocket.
‘Thank you,’ she calls through the window as she drives off.
‘No problem. Hope Maisie’s okay,’ I call back, my heartbeating faster in sympathy.
I stand and watch her car bumping along the lane, as the puppytugs on her lead and sniffs at some nettles. I bend to stroke her. ‘Come on, Luna.We’d better see to that pan and lock up the café and get home or Harry will belate for his photo shoot.’
Before going in, I scan the high street, looking for Ellie’slittle blue car. She’s there, pulling away at the lights and then turning intoa side street, presumably heading for Jessica’s house. And as I’m turning away,I catch sight of two people sitting on the bench by the village green duckpond. A man and a woman.
They have their backs to me but something makes me stop.
