Scrabbling for a good response, she picked up her napkin and fanned herself. “I’m actually feeling a little light-headed. It’s rather close in here, don’t you think?”
Ivan narrowed his eyes.
She rushed on. “I’m sorry, let me just go throw some water on my face. I’ll be right back.” She stood without waiting for an answer, gave Matthew what she hoped was an encouraging smile, and walked as quickly as she could towards the ladies’ room.
Once inside she did take the time to splash a little cold water on her face, if only to remove the blush colouring her cheeks.
Good God, how embarrassing! She never lost concentration like this. Never.
Am I starting my menopause? Jesus, I am so not ready for that.
After drying her hands and face, she gave herself another couple of minutes of simply standing, breathing deeply, to calm down. When she returned to the table, Ivan and Matthew were still chatting.
“Everything okay?” Ivan asked.
“All good, thankfully. Sorry about that. It’s been a long week.” She threw him her most dazzling smile.
He nodded. “It’s no problem. But I think we’re all done here, yes? I have another appointment I need to get to, so…”
Carmen settled the bill, and the three parted company outside the restaurant. Once Ivan had left in one taxi and Matthew in another, she stood on the pavement and inhaled a long breath.
Okay, somehow I pulled that off .
Just.
She rolled her neck a couple of times. God, I’m shattered .
As she climbed into a taxi a couple of minutes later, her phone chimed. She pulled it from her bag, and a smile split her face.
I hope your work evening is nearly done and you’re on your way home. Just wanted to check we were still on for Monday evening? I’ve heard about a new wine bar a couple of minutes from the studio that’s supposed to be kind of funky. Want to try?
God, now even a simple text message from Ash could calm her soul. It was ridiculous but lovely, all at the same time.
A funky wine bar sounds perfect. See you then!
The thrill that shivered down her body was completely out of proportion to the situation.
Wasn’t it?
Chapter 17
“So, monkey, what do you want?” Ash looked across the rough-hewn table at her niece. They were in the beer garden of Courtney’s local pub, The Fisherman, and were lucky to have snagged a table on such a warm Sunday.
Sophie ran a finger down the menu.
“Yeah, come on, Soph, make a decision.” Courtney rolled her eyes.
Ash tilted her head, wondering what was going on. There was a tension to Courtney that she couldn’t read.
“Give me a minute.” Sophie glared at her mum, then returned to her perusal of the menu. She chewed on a strand of hair, and Ash had to laugh as both she and Courtney reached across to pull the hair from her mouth. It was a habit they’d been trying to break Sophie from for years now. Clearly, they’d got nowhere.
Sophie huffed at them but did as she was told. “All right. The chicken burger.”
“Finally!” Courtney stood.
Ash handed her a twenty. “This should be enough, right?”
Courtney frowned before leaning in close to Ash. “I don’t need your money, you know?”
Ash sighed. “I just want to treat you both. That’s all. I’m not trying to offend. I know you can afford this. But coming out for lunch was my suggestion so I’d like to pay. Okay?”
It took a moment, but eventually Courtney nodded, took the money, and headed inside the pub to order their meals.
Ash understood where Courtney’s reluctance came from. Her sister had worked hard to turn her life around, especially since Sophie’s father, a guy Courtney met on a trip to Corfu, had buggered off when Sophie was three. Ash knew her sister would be offended by the thought of any charity, regardless of who it came from.
“So, how’s things?” she asked Sophie.
Sophie shrugged. “Okay.”
“Just okay?”
The teenager shrugged again. She picked up her phone and started tapping on the screen.
“Sophie?”
Sighing, Sophie put down the phone. “Auntie Ash, it’s fine.” She looked away. “I’ve kind of got bigger things on my mind than Mum and her problems, you know?”
“Oh? Anything you want to talk about?”
Sophie looked back at Ash. “No. I… No.” She nibbled a fingernail.
“You’re not having any trouble from anyone at school, are you? Comments or—”
“No!” Sophie stared at Ash. “No one knows anything so no one can say anything. It’s just…” She looked around, then lowered her voice. “I…I like someone, okay? And I know I should be able to talk to you about it, but I can’t. It’s… I can’t.”
Ash’s heart lurched. “Okay.” She held her hands up. “I’ll say no more. But you know where I am, okay? Any time.”
Sophie pushed out her bottom lip but nodded a moment later.
“All right, food’ll be about twenty minutes.” Courtney appeared beside them and sat heavily in her seat next to Sophie. She reached for her beer and took a long drink. “Mm, that’s better.” She smacked her lips.
Sophie rolled her eyes.
Ash smiled and took a sip from her Coke. “So, how’s work?” she asked Courtney.
Her sister glanced over Ash’s shoulder, her gaze wandering. “It’s fine. Nothing changes, but that suits me.”
“Think you’ll get a crack at being manager one day?”
Courtney focused back on Ash. “Not at that store. Brian’s been there ten years already, and he’s quite happy to stay until he gets his pension. Nah, if I get a chance it will be at another store. Then I’ll have to see how far away it is and whether it’s worth the extra travel.” Her gaze drifted once more, beyond Ash, and her face lit up. She stood and waved at someone. “Hey, Hels! Over here!”
Ash swivelled in her seat.
Approaching their table was a woman about Courtney’s age, maybe a little older, with dyed red hair and wearing a tight,
