Page 9 of Broken Beyond Repair

Was home wherever the person you loved was? Sydney wouldn’t know. She hadn’t had a meaningful relationship since…Sam. She pushed the name aside and watched as James and Will shared a kiss.

It was a relief to see James so happy after being dumped by his ex, Matt, two years ago. Matt had set up the boutique London PA agency and asked James to manage the day-to-day operations. But James’s life had changed overnight when he discovered a note on the pillow beside him instead of Matt. Matt had been having an affair with a Spanish waiter, a man James knew well from their favourite restaurant. Matt had gone off to Spain with him and said he was selling the agency. James decided he would buy it from Matt, after asking Sydney — who by that time was quite happy with her job, going wherever the wind blew her — if she would go in with him. It was too much commitment for her, but she encouraged him to go it alone since he’d effectively been running the business single-handedly for years.

Rosie emerged from the French windows of the hotel, pulling Sydney from her thoughts. Making a beeline for Sydney via a waiter, whom she relieved of a glass of Pimm’s, Rosie embraced her childhood friend in a hug.

“I can’t believe you missed me walking down the aisle!” she said.

“I can’t believe it took you sixteen years to tie the knot.”

“Why couldn’t you fly from Edinburgh as any normal person would?” Rosie rebutted, ignoring Sydney’s dig.

“What about Gertie?”

“Your attachment to her is unnerving,” Rosie replied, turning to hug James and Will next.

“She’s still the most reliable woman in my life,” Sydney rebutted.

“Wow, that’s saying something. Hasn’t she been on her last legs for years?”

“I couldn’t leave her. Can you imagine the look on her face if I told her I was coming to see you all and not bringing her? Anyway, I’m planning a little expedition with her.”

“If she’ll behave,” James sniggered.

Sydney glared at him. “Thank you.”

“So did you manage to pleasure yourself with Scotland’s most unreachable, deepest parts?” Rosie asked, taking the seat beside Sydney.

“Sure did. I hit the Highlands, then went over to the Orkneys and Skara Brae. Then I zipped back to Mum’s for a clean-up before coming here. I love Gertie to bits, but you can’t beat a proper bed and bath. I’m thinking we’ll head to Cornwall next; you never know, it may give me some inspiration to write.”

A face caught her eye over Rosie’s shoulder. She slouched in her chair and grabbed her Pimm’s glass, hoping it would cover her face.

“What is it?” Rosie asked, turning to look over her shoulder. “Ah, Sam.”

Of course Rosie would notice.

Sydney’s heart quickened in her chest. Feeling hot suddenly, she gulped at her drink.

“Did you forget he’d be here? He is Greg’s cousin and best man.”

An age had passed since she’d thought about Sam. Or about the right amount of time for an ex-lover.

“No, of course not. I thought I saw him in the church. Wasn’t he ostracised by his family?”

“He was.” Rosie gave her an icy stare. “Not by us.”

“Right, sorry.”

“We didn’t invite the rest of his family. They were quite put out.”

“Good. They deserve to be put out.”

Rosie spluttered her Pimm’s back through the straw. “You’re one to talk! You were hardly supportive of his transition.”

“She’s got you there, Syd.” James piped up.

“I wasn’t… unsupportive.” Sydney choked on her words. Was that how her friends perceived it?

“You ran away,” James laughed.