Page 75 of Sun, Sea & Strawberry Shortcake
But the place is silent.
I’m trying hard not to be cross with him for not wanting tospend every minute of the last day with me. But it’s hard. I can feel a littleresentment bubbling up.
What the hell am I supposed to do now? On my own?
When the phone rings, I pounce on it.
It’s Ellie, wanting to know if I’d like to pop over toClifftop House, where they’re spending their last day by the pool.
I stifle a sigh. ‘Lovely. When shall I come over?’
‘As soon as you like. Now?’
‘Hudson’s not here, so it’ll just be me.’
‘That’s fine. See you soon.’
I get ready with a rather heavy heart. It’s lovely they’vethought to invite me over, but... still, never mind. I’llcatch up with Hudson later. Maybe we could even go out for dinner, since it’sour last night... I can’t help feeling sad, though, that workhas ended up ruining the holiday for him...
Clifftop House seems mysteriously deserted when I arrive onfoot. The cars aren’t parked outside, as they usually are, and I can’t hear apeep from the swimming pool area round the back.
Have they gone out?
Then I see that the front door isn’t quite closed, andthere’s a note stuck on it. Stepping forward, I read the scribbled message,which is in Madison’s handwriting.
Go straight to the cinema room! (Do not pass go. Do notcollect £200. Haha!)
Chuckling, I push open the door and goinside, and head for the room in question, my head full of questions. This isall so weird.
What’s going on?
Are we going to be watching movies again?
But there’s no sound at all from within the room...where is everybody?
I walk in and the room’s in total darkness. For a moment, Ican’t see a thing.
Then suddenly the big screen bursts into life with a view ofa white-painted wall. The camera wobbles a little, before panning down to alovely doormat, patterned with autumn leaves.
‘Hi, Ruby.’
Suddenly realising I’m not alone, I peer at the tall figureof Hudson approaching me through the gloom.
‘Hi, you! What’s going on?’
‘Sit down and I’ll show you.’
I laugh a little nervously. ‘Okay.’
We take our seats, side by side, and my eye is drawn back tothe big screen.
Hudson take my hand and squeezes. ‘Ready?
‘For what?’
‘This is what I’ve been working on all week.’
‘Oh.’
