The Little Bookshop at Herring Cove. Kellie Hailes

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СКАЧАТЬ but on the odd occasion that she did, Natalie always knew how to get her out of it. ‘Fine. I’m just a bit… Okay, a lot interested. But not because I’d sell.’

      ‘I know. You never would.’ Natalie draped an arm around Sophie’s shoulders and brought her into a cuddle.

      ‘Never could. I love that place. It’s where I belong. But enough about me, tell me, just how much money is being flung your way?’ Sophie glanced out the window. Night had fallen and though she couldn’t see the endless stretch of sea, the sound of waves crashing onto sand told her it was still there. As it always would be.

      ‘Enough money that I’m in the mood for a celebratory glass of wine. Just the one though. This lot had me up at the crack of dawn. Any more than one glass and I’m liable to fall asleep on the couch and they’ll be putting themselves to bed. Bella and Joe should’ve been in bed an hour ago as it is, but they’re refusing.’ Natalie stood and ruffled Bella’s hair as she passed her on the way to the kitchen. ‘Pinot gris okay?’ she called out.

      In typical Natalie fashion, she didn’t wait for an answer and not twenty seconds later she walked back in with a glass of chilled wine in each hand. ‘Here you go.’

      Sophie accepted the glass, then raised it in a toast. ‘To you, my friend. You’ve had it hard the last few months. You deserve this bit of luck.’

      Natalie settled down onto the floor and began folding washing. ‘Indeed. And this money. Oh, it’s a glorious amount.’ A teasing smile flirted about her lips.

      ‘Enough that I’ll be seeing chunky diamonds dripping off those dainty fingers of yours? Or that you’ll be swanning round head to toe in designer duds?’

      Natalie slid her hand into her jeans pocket and pulled out a perfectly folded square of crisp cream paper. Identical to the one Sophie had been offered and ignored earlier that day. ‘I’m not really meant to share how much it is… but you’re my best friend, family really, and I know you’re not going to blab it all over town if I show you, so, here.’

      Sophie took the proffered piece of paper, opened it slowly, as if afraid it would bite. Or worse. Tempt.

      ‘This can’t be right.’ She glanced up to see Natalie nodding, a giant grin on her face. ‘There has to be one too many zeroes on here, surely?’

      The nod morphed into a shake. ‘That’s what he offered. That’s what I accepted.’

      ‘Nat, with this kind of money you could…’ Sophie didn’t know where to start. She could buy a home that the family could grow into. She could build a house from scratch and still have plenty left over. This was life-changing money.

      The kind of money that could change her life?

      Sophie shoved the thought away. Yes, she needed money. But not if it meant selling the one place she loved more than anywhere else in the world.

      ‘So, what are your plans, Miss Moneybags?’

      Natalie paused her folding, twisted a small pair of shorts around her hands, averted her gaze towards the corner of the room. Her smile disappeared as a cloud of concern darkened her features. Natalie was worried? When she may as well have won the lottery? But why?

      ‘I’m going to leave Herring Cove.’ The words came out a constrained whisper. Like it hurt her to say them. ‘I’m sorry.’

      Now she understood. Natalie had been cagey about the deal because Natalie didn’t want Sophie to feel abandoned. To feel like she was losing her little family.

      A painful lump appeared in Sophie’s throat. ‘I see.’

      She knew she couldn’t leave it with just those words. Natalie deserved more. She’d always been so supportive, so there. Bringing Sophie home for afternoon tea after school. Inviting her to Christmas dinner leftovers knowing Sophie’s aunt would have fallen into a food and heavily-laced-with-sherry trifle coma after lunch that would last until the next morning.

      When Sophie turned eighteen and her aunty decided it was time she returned to Manchester, it was Natalie, along with Ginny, who’d spent as many nights as possible at Sophie’s. Keeping her company. Keeping her sane. Ensuring she didn’t fall into the doldrums.

      And how could she when they’d been the bright spots in her life. Her life could have gone in a very opposite direction without the love and strength of her friends. Their gorgeous qualities had reflected on Sophie, infused her. Given her a positivity and determination to keep on going even when loneliness or sadness reared its head.

      ‘It’s just… there are too many memories here.’ Natalie’s knuckles further whitened as she wrung the shorts tighter.

      Sophie slid off the sofa and sat beside her friend, so close their knees were touching companionably. ‘Give those to me.’ She held her hand out for the shorts. ‘You’re going to tear them in two.’

      Natalie relinquished the shorts. ‘I mean, there were great times here, but finding my ex cheating on me. In our bed. In this house. I can’t un-see it. It’s ruined the place.’ Tears welled up in her eyes, and she brushed them away. ‘Ugh. I’m not feeling sorry for myself. Not when I have that.’ She nodded to the paper, held gingerly between Sophie’s thumb and forefinger. ‘Not when I don’t have to give him a cent of it because I got that loan to buy him out when he left. A loan I can now easily repay in full.’

      ‘So where will you go?’ Sophie fixed a smile on her face, forced a lightness into her voice. ‘The sky’s the limit.’

      ‘Well, not quite. I don’t see myself buying a mansion in the country anytime soon. But we could certainly get a bigger place. In a bigger town. One where people won’t whisper about “that poor woman”.’ Natalie’s smile faded quickly.

      Sophie rubbed her friend’s arm. ‘No one ever talked about you like that. What I heard was, “That idiot, what was he thinking?” And they were right.’ She picked up her glass and took a long sip. The cool liquid soothed her nerves. Settled her mind. ‘You do what you have to do, Nat. You deserve all the good things in the world. And besides, it’ll be wonderful to have free accommodation… wherever it is that you end up.’

      Natalie took Sophie’s hand in her own. ‘You’re amazing, Soph. The best. What I’d do without you, I wouldn’t know.’

      ‘Actually, I think that sentiment needs to be switched round. You’ve always been there for me. Right from the beginning.’ Sophie pulled herself into a crouch, then stood. ‘If you need help packing, or if I can look after the kids while you sort house-finding things out, let me know. I’m only one door away.’ For the time being, anyway.

      Natalie hefted a pile of folded laundry into her arms and pushed herself up to stand by Sophie.

      ‘Thanks, lovely. There’s no hurry though. Alexander said a few loose ends had to be tied up before the project could go ahead.’ Natalie stifled a yawn. ‘Right, I’ve got to get these kids to bed. I’m not long for the sack either.’

      Loose ends? Was she a loose end? Could the resort not go ahead without her buy-in? Or should that be sell-out? And if she stuck to her guns, did that mean her friend would lose her chance at happiness?

      She stashed the questions away to mull over later. There was no point worrying Natalie now, СКАЧАТЬ