Page 29

‘Holly, there you are. I was thinking I’d got the wrong night.’ Maud chuckled. She pressed her hands against the table, as if she were pushing herself up to stand, but Holly hurriedly rushed over to her.

‘Stay seated, stay seated. It’s fine. I’m so sorry I’m late. We had a bit of an incident.’

‘Nothing too serious, I hope?’

Holly grimaced. ‘Hopefully nothing a plumber can’t sort out. Preferably tonight.’

Maud, Holly realised, wasn’t actually listening. Instead, she was looking at the little head protruding from the top of the baby carrier.

‘Oh, my word, she is just perfect.’

Holly beamed. She knew that was what people said about babies. It was a line that you had to say. And yet she couldn’t help but feel the truth in it about the hype. She really was perfect.

Maud’s gaze remained on Hope a moment longer, before she lifted it to Holly, and by some impossibility her smile broadened further.

‘Do you know, I think motherhood suits you. Well, I can tell it does. You look wonderful.’ Maud reached up her hand, which Hope promptly grabbed hold of. ‘Look at you. Aren’t you a happy thing?’

It was true. Hope was back to her normal, joyous self, not the terror that Holly had been faced with in the bath. But she was glad it was this way round. She was glad Maud got to see the very best side of her daughter.

‘So it seems like quite a lot has changed since I’ve been gone,’ Maud said. ‘I’m thrilled to see you’re keeping up the sweet shop’s reputation of giving the villagers something to talk about. Having a baby without a ring on your finger. Agnes would have laughed, that’s for sure.’

‘Yes, well, it’s not the way I would’ve planned things,’ Holly admitted. ‘But honestly, I couldn’t imagine it any other way now. Hope’s dad is perfect for her. He balances me out nicely. You might know him, actually. He used to be the bank manager in the village, though he’s taken another role since you left.’

‘A bank manager? That sounds like the type of person I would’ve avoided.’

Holly laughed. ‘He was one of the good ones, trust me. I’m sure you’d recognise him if you met him. He certainly remembers you. His name is Ben Thornbury. He’s the one who made it possible for me to get the shop. Well, made it possible for me to get a mortgage at least.’

‘It sounds to me like you’re lucky to still have him in your life,’ Maud said.

‘I am. I am.’

Holly took a moment to ruminate on the point. She often told people how lucky she was to have Ben as Hope’s father. She hoped he said the same about her.

‘So, what about that handsome young man who had zero knowledge of sweets this morning?’ Maud continued. ‘Where did you meet him?’

‘Would you believe we met in the south of France? We were staying in his villa there.’

Maud’s eyes twinkled.

‘Well, that sounds like a story I need to know all the details of. And don’t miss out on any of the juicy bits, either; it’s what us old people live for, you know.’

26

It may have only been four weeks since they had met and started dating, but Holly was happy to tell the story of how she and Evan got together to anyone who asked. She never forgot to include how she tried to swap seats on their first flight over to France so that she didn’t have to sit next to him. Or how she had been ill on said flight. Or how she thought he was a complete player, but then had a video call to his mother before they’d even shared their first kiss. But as she opened her mouth, ready to begin, something about Maud made Holly stop. It was the way she was sitting there, gazing at Hope so wistfully. It was like she wasn’t really paying attention to what Holly was going to say at all. She just wanted to listen to her talk and drift off into her own little world.

Holly reached across the table and placed her hand on her friend’s.

‘I’ve already told you plenty about me,’ she said. ‘I want to know about you. How was Austria? Why are you back? Why are you in Bourton and how long have we got you here for? I’m sure Hope would love to see more of you.’

Hope, who had now been transferred to a highchair, giggled obligingly, causing a slight smile to rise at the corners of Maud’s lips. However, when her old friend turned to face Holly, the smile didn’t quite meet her eyes.

‘Actually, there are a few things that have happened. Things I wanted to catch people up on.’

‘Well, I can’t wait to hear them,’ Holly replied genuinely.

Maud and Agnes’s stories were one of the things she remembered most about when she had first worked at the sweet shop. Their ability to infuse humour into all their escapades. While Holly waited, Maud took a sip of her drink – a large red wine that was already half drunk. Before she could put it down and start talking, a loud ringing cut through the conversation.

‘Sorry,’ Holly said.