her internet browser.
‘That’s a good idea,’ Eliza agreed. ‘I can whip you up some canapes tomorrow—sausage rolls, a few vol-au-vents. Stuff you can stick in the freezer.’
Libby nodded. ‘I’ll make you a couple of sheet cakes. We can cut them up into bit sized pieces. I’ve got a couple of new recipes I want to try out, so your guests can be guinea pigs.’
Beth paused mid-scroll. ‘When did you become the new Mary Berry?’
Her friend blushed. ‘I don’t want to sell fish and bloody chips forever, you know. I’ve got plans.’
This was news. Beth squatted on her haunches and ducked her head to catch Libby’s eyes under the shield of her heavy fringe. ‘I’m listening, Libs. What plans?’
A shy grin crossed Libby’s face. ‘I want to turn the chippy into a tea-shop. Not now, of course, but once Dad retires.’
She tried to picture Libby with her ever-changing hair and grungy clothes standing behind a pristine white counter serving up delicate desserts and fancy pots of tea and coffee. It shouldn’t work, but somehow it did. ‘I think that sounds fab, really wonderful. You know I’ll help you in any way that I can.’
Eliza crouched down next to her. ‘Me too, but let’s get one grand opening sorted out before we start planning the next one.’
Libby reached out to squeeze both their hands, the little grin bursting into a huge smile. ‘Thanks, both, and Eliza’s right.’ She turned to Beth. ‘Didn’t you say something about a Facebook group where you got in touch with those local artists? Why don’t you post something in there and see if a few of them will come along? They can talk about the stuff they’re selling through you. I’d love to meet the woman who makes that jewellery.’
‘What a great idea, I’ll do it now.’ Beth clicked open the app on her phone. A slew of notifications hit her, and she began to browse through them on autopilot. She’d posted a picture of the empty wine bottles and pizza boxes earlier and there were lots of likes, smileys and joking replies. If she was honest, some of the responses were from practical strangers. Collecting friends on social media was like breathing, something you just did without thinking about it.
Libby knelt up to glance over her shoulder. ‘Did you add a page on there for the emporium, yet? It’d be a great way to garner some interest in the place. And you’ll need a Twitter account too.’
‘And Instagram,’ Eliza chipped in. ‘You could take some really lovely mood shots of things in the shop—like those gorgeous scarves I saw hanging from banana monkey.’
‘Oh, I know! We should make him his own account. That could be a right laugh, and people love a gimmick.’ Libby clapped her hands. ‘We could take him on a tour of the town, post photos of him on the beach with a bucket and spade, with a bag of chips in his hands, that kind of stuff.’
Their enthusiasm was catching, and Beth’s mind started racing a mile a minute as the possibilities opened up before her. If she was really going to do this, then what better way to stamp her own personality on the place? If she had a page, then visitors could check-in when they came to browse, and she could run a few little contests…
As the ideas swirled in her head, she clicked on the little speech bubble which indicated someone had sent her a personal message. Still distracted, she frowned at the little sun-tanned profile picture of Charlie. Charlie?! Why would he be messaging her after all this time?
After the countless texts and messages he’d ignored she was tempted to do the same. Curiosity got the better of her though, so she clicked on the message and began to read.
Hi, stranger!!! Long time no speak. I hope all is well with you. I’m fine, crazy busy at work though. I’ve just had a promotion at work so things are SUPER stressful, as I’m sure you can imagine ☺ Look, I’m sorry for what happened before. You probably hate me (and I can’t say I’d blame you) but everything got really complicated and it felt like a clean break would be the best for everyone.
Anyway, I know you keep in contact with a few of the gang, and I didn’t want you to hear the news from anyone else.
A lead weight formed in Beth’s stomach. Had something happened to him? The rest of the message lay below the edge of the screen and for a second she was tempted to close the whole thing rather than use her thumb to scroll down. Whatever was going on with Charlie, it was no business of hers any longer. Hadn’t he made that abundantly clear when he’d cut her out of his life? Oh, who was she trying to kid? If she didn’t read on, it would prey on her mind. She scrolled down.
Kimberly and I have known each other forever. Our parents have been friends since university, you probably won’t remember but her dad and mine set up the partnership together. There was always this expectation that she and I would end up together.
‘B? Are you okay, you look really pale.’ Libby’s voice seemed to come to her from far away. The lead weight in her middle grew exponentially heavier, and Beth slumped down on the side of the cloth-covered bed. Swallowing against the bile burning in her throat, she continued to read the rest of the message.
We dated all through school, and it was all going swimmingly. Only, then I met you, and that put a spanner in the works.
Anyway, I don’t want to rake up the past, I just wanted you to know that Kimberly and I are engaged and there’s going to be a big announcement. I wanted to forewarn you, so it didn’t take you by surprise if you saw anything on here.
I know I didn’t treat you right, but I want you to know that I really did love you.
Let me know if you need to talk XOXO
‘Let me know if you need to talk?’ Libby snatched the phone away and started browsing.
‘Give me that.’ Beth made a grab, only to have her knuckles slapped by Libby who then turned away, eyes still locked on the phone.
‘Who wants to talk, what’s going on?’ Eliza leaned across Beth’s lap to try and see the screen. She tilted her head to one side and Libby turned the phone, so she could see better. ‘Married? Charlie’s getting married?’
‘According to this message he is.’ Libby clicked into Charlie’s profile and started scrolling through his photos. ‘God, look at this lot. They look like those people you see in the back pages of OK magazine—all trust funds and privilege.’ She looked up at Beth, her nose wrinkling like she’d smelt something nasty. ‘What did you ever see in him?’
Beth considered Libby’s question. Charlie had been everything she’d wanted in a boyfriend. Charming, good-looking, and attentive. She’d given him her heart without hesitation, and if his text was to be believed, he’d loved her too. But that sophistication, which had impressed her at first, had begun to grate. His attitude towards waitstaff in restaurants, his weary sigh if she asked a question he deemed naïve—he’d been just a touch too cynical, his humour a shade too cutting for her liking. She’d buried those doubts, put them down to the disparity in their backgrounds.
Now though she could see they had never really been suited. She’d been drawn to him because he was exactly the sort of man her mother had spent years telling her she should be with. The fact they’d fallen in love with each other didn’t negate the underlying dishonesty at the heart of their relationship. If Charlie had used her to try and escape his parents’ expectations, then she’d
