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‘Maybe, but that doesn’t change the fact that she shouldn’t have lied to me. Honestly, I’m so mad at her. And I know that she and Dad are going to call soon and tell me all the wonderful things they’ve done, and I’m going to have to sound smiley and happy and like I don’t know that she’s been lying to me. And I hate it.’

‘Then just tell her.’

Of all the ridiculous things Evan had said, that had to be the most ludicrous. There was no way Holly could do that. ‘You think I should ruin her holiday by telling her now? I can’t do that.’

‘You don’t have to ruin her holiday,’ Evan replied. ‘Just be straightforward about it. “Hi Mum, I spoke to the plumber about the landlord and discovered it was Giles. Thank you for trying to protect me, but honestly, Giles and I are fine now. You didn’t need to do that.”’

Evan finished his brief speech, and Holly had to admit it was good – straight to the point, no fuss. Yet she doubted she could deliver it in the same manner.

‘That’s not how Mum and I work. We talk things through face to face. I can’t do this over the phone. I’ll wait until she’s back and then we’ll go for cake or something. Or wine. Wine might be better.’

‘It’s up to you. I just don’t want you fretting about it, that’s all.’

Holly took a deep breath in and sipped her drink. ‘No, I’m not stressing about it. Let’s talk about something else.’

‘Jamie and Fin’s wedding? Any luck finding a location?’

Holly’s mind immediately went to the large house she’d seen behind the bird park. Her jaw locked in response. How was Giles and his current stunt so impossible to get out of her head? Even when she really didn’t want them there.

‘Not a great topic of conversation, either. Any others you’ve got for me?’

‘Well, how about Maud then? Did you catch up with her again?’

‘Crap,’ Holly said. This conversation was just getting worse and worse.

35

Holly’s frustration and annoyance at her mother were replaced with anger at herself. Not to mention guilt. She felt terrible. Having told Maud to ring the sweet shop, and arrange a time and place to catch up, she’d entirely forgotten that she wouldn’t be in the sweet shop that day at all. Given how busy and sunny it would’ve been, the likelihood of someone picking up the phone and taking a message was slim.

‘Caroline.’ Holly called her friend the second she got off the phone with Evan. ‘Did Maud call while you were at the shop today?’

‘Maud? As in the old sweet shop owner, Maud?’

‘Yes, yes, that’s the one.’

‘No, not that I heard. Listen, Holly, Jamie rang me last night and told me what happened about the wedding. It’s terrible, isn’t it? I sent Michael to see if there are any council buildings that might be free. They sometimes have space for things like this.’

Holly’s guilt deepened further. She hadn’t even text Jamie that day to see how the hunt was going. She was failing on all levels of friendship at the moment.

‘That would be fabulous if he could find somewhere,’ Holly replied, though she didn’t hold out much hope. Summer was the busiest time of the year for everybody. If the council could use those buildings to make some money, chances were that they, like everybody else, were already fully booked.

‘Have you had a good day off?’ Caroline asked, when there was nothing more to add about Jamie’s situation.

‘Yes, mixed. It was lovely to spend some time with Hope, as always.’

‘And Evan? When is he coming back?’

‘Soon, I think. I hope,’ she added, aware of the desperation that echoed in her voice. ‘Hopefully before the wedding.’

She still didn’t know how it was possible to miss someone so much when they had barely spent any time together, but maybe that was why this relationship was different.

‘I hear he bought you a Vespa,’ Caroline said, interrupting Holly’s thoughts.

‘How do you know that? I didn’t tell anyone.’

‘Yes, you did. You told Ben and then Ben told Jamie and Jamie told me. So, when are you going to take us out for a ride?’

By the sound of it, Caroline was deadly serious, yet Holly couldn’t help but laugh.