Page 13 of One Golden Summer

Saffron held out a hand. “Can I carry that for you?”

She was chivalrous, too. Nobody had been chivalrous to Kirsty in quite a while. “I don’t have far to go, but thanks for offering.” Were her cheeks as hot as the sun, now? “Which way were you walking?”

Saffron shrugged. “I don’t have plans, so I’ll walk wherever you’re going. That’s what friends do, right?”

Kirsty nodded towards her flat, and Saffron fell into step beside her.

“What do you think of the divorce party idea? Now you know it has nothing to do with you and everything to do with Ginger.”

Saffron put her shades back on and glanced Kirsty’s way. “Any excuse for a party is a good one. And I do understand the reason behind it. Like I said, my experience with people lately has been a challenge.”

“Hence you’re hiding out here?”

Saffron nodded. “Something like that.”

“Maybe you’re mixing with the wrong people.”

“You might be right.”

They crossed the High Street together, Saffron tripping on the kerb and nearly face-planting on the pavement. It took everything Kirsty had not to laugh, but she kept it in.

“I look forward to your ideas anyway, and I promise to keep you up-to-date when you head home. Is home in London?”

Saffron nodded. “It is. But I’ve rented my place here till beyond the Oyster Festival. I’m not going anywhere for a while.”

“You can do that? I read somewhere you were due to start filming for the nextGirl Racermovie soon.” Kirsty’s cheeks flared at her own words. She didn’t want to sound like she was keeping track of Saffron’s life, but she’d looked at theGirl RacerInstagram account this morning. Just to get an update on her new sort-of client.

Maybe she should stop doing that now Saffron Oliver was her new sort-of friend.

Yep, even thinking that was still totally weird.

“I’ve got the script, but they can’t start filming without me. I haven’t signed on the dotted line yet either. Don’t believe everything you read in the press.”

“I’ll try to remember that.”

A young woman with a toddler and pram walked towards them. She was the daughter of one of Kirsty’s mum’s friends. Tilly? Tracey? Kirsty couldn’t quite remember. The woman greeted her as she walked by.

“You know, there are a few things that are different here from London.” They resumed their walk, Wine Time coming into view. “First, not everyone knows who I am, which is so refreshing. Second, you all walksoslowly.”

Kirsty shook her head. “What’s the rush? It’s called strolling, you should try it sometime. It’s meditative. You’re not in London anymore.”

“I’m well aware. Another thing is you seem to knoweveryone.”

“That’s what happens when you live somewhere your whole life. There are upsides and downsides.” Kirsty couldn’t sneeze in Sandy Cove without it getting back to her parents.

“But youknowpeople. I don’t even know my neighbours.”

Kirsty snorted. “I married mine.”

“That’s taking it a step too far.”

“It clearly was, as she left me.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.”

“Don’t be. I’m over it.” As much as she’d ever be.“Her loss, as everyone here keeps telling me.” Telling her parents had been the worst, because she’d felt like she was letting them down. Although, telling a movie star you were crap at love was currently running a pretty close second. Particularly one who was rumoured to be involved with her gorgeous co-star, Echo Black. Therefore, she was very much a love ambassador to boot.

They drew up outside Wine Time. “This is me. My empire. Well, mine and my business partner’s.” Kirsty dropped her shopping at her feet. Her shoulder would have a red mark.