‘And you’re looking pretty happy, so I hope that means it went well.’
‘So well. Best first date ever. And it’s all thanks to you.’
‘We aim to please. Not that it’s my company any more. I saw your mum earlier, by the way.’
‘Oh, I know, she told me on the phone about you and your dad coming to her rescue this afternoon. She was so grateful to you both.’
He shrugged. ‘It was nothing, glad to help. How is she now?’
‘Not too bad. Apparently wrapping a bag of frozen sweetcorn around her knee has worked wonders.’ Layla paused. ‘I was so sorry to hear about your dad. Horrible for him and for you.’
‘Thanks.’ Shay’s voice softened. ‘And I’m sorry about yours, too. You must miss him so much.’
‘We do.’ Layla nodded; her father and Red Mason had been unlikely friends, both of them chancers who shared a sense of humour and a fondness for a few drinks in their favourite local pub, the Prince of Wales. ‘It was hard for Mum especially, having to move out of the house. None of us had any idea what the situation was like financially when Dad died, so it came as a massive shock. Mum’s battled through it – she takes little part-time jobs wherever she can – but it hasn’t been easy, getting used to not having any money. And of course she won’t let me help her out.’
‘We saw the dolls she’s been making. They’re fantastic,’ said Shay.
‘They are, but for every one she sells, there are two more she makes for people who tell her how much they want one but can’t afford it. Mum’s so soft-hearted, she can’t bear to turn them down.’
‘Ah, she didn’t mention that.’
‘You know what she’s like.’ Layla changed the subject. ‘So anyway, does it feel strange seeing Didi again?’
And there it was, that bewitchingly enigmatic half-smile she remembered so well. ‘I don’t know that I’d call it strange. Interesting, perhaps. We’re all older now, aren’t we? Everything changes. Didi’s running this place, got herself a fiancé. I’m glad she’s doing well.’
‘Mum says you’re going to be doing up your old home for Red to live in. So that means you’ll be around for a while.’
‘Well it wasn’t how I’d planned on spending the summer, but he’s talked me into it.’ Shay gave her a wry look. ‘That’s my father for you, always did have the gift of the gab.’
‘And will you stay on here in the hotel while you’re working on the house?’
He shook his head. ‘Dad’s keen to get away from his current lady friend in Edinburgh. He wants to move down as soon as possible. So I’m going to rent a place for the two of us. I’ve found a couple to look at tomorrow.’ He glanced past her. ‘Here comes Didi. I’m guessing that’s the fiancé with her now.’
‘His name’s Aaron.’ Swivelling, Layla waved to them. ‘She’ll be wanting to hear all about my date.’
Shay said, ‘If you two end up together, I’m going to be taking all the credit.’
Layla remembered the giddy-making kiss, the sensation of Harry’s warm fingers sliding through the hair at the nape of her neck. Jokingly – but not completely jokingly – she said, ‘You’ll be guest of honour at our wedding.’
The arms of the doll had to be stuffed in exactly the right way, and Rosa was in the middle of a tricky manoeuvre, wrestling to replicate the angles, when her landline rang. Not recognising the number of the incoming call, she was tempted to leave it. But curiosity, as always, won out.
‘Hey, how’s the knee?’
She did a mini double-take. ‘Red, hello! Who gave you my number?’
‘No one. I looked it up online. You aren’t ex-directory.’
‘Oh, right. I know that. Sorry, I just meant I wasn’t expecting to hear from you.’
‘You probably should go ex-directory.’ He sounded amused. ‘Stops you getting calls from weird people.’
‘You aren’t weird.’
‘I know I’m not. I’m talking about crank calls and scammers. Knee?’
‘Bit painful, not too bad. Are you in Edinburgh?’
‘I am. Now listen. I’ve had an idea. But all I’m going to do is suggest it to you, and it’s fine if you want to say no. In fact, you don’t even have to do that, I’ll just say it and put the phone down. Then you can have a good think about it and if you want to say yes, you call me back. If you don’t want to say yes, it ends there. And there won’t be any awkwardness, I promise.’
Rosa frowned, puzzled. ‘Do you want me to make a doll for someone you know? Because it’s not a problem, I’d be happy to do that.’
‘Rosa, that’s very kind of you, but it isn’t a doll I’m after. I’m more interested in that spare bedroom of yours.’
‘Oh . . .’ Well, she hadn’t been expecting that.
‘Just for three months, until my own house is habitable again. I’d pay you a decent amount, of course. Shay said we could rent a place together, but he’ll be out working all day, and I’m used to spending my time with other people. I don’t much enjoy being on my own. So I thought maybe you wouldn’t mind a bit of company, and I promise I wouldn’t be a nuisance.’ He paused. ‘There, that’s it, I’ve said it. If the idea horrifies you, that’s OK. I completely understand and we’ll never mention it again. I’m putting the phone down now.’
‘Wait—’ Rosa blurted out, but it was too late, the line had already gone dead.
She rose to her feet, limped through to the kitchen and poured herself a small glass of wine. Back in the living room, having made herself comfortable once more on the sofa, she returned the call. Red answered on the third ring.
‘Sounds like an excellent plan to me,’ she said.
‘Really?’ The delight was evident in his voice. ‘You’re sure?’
‘Absolutely sure. Soon as you like. When were you thinking of moving in?’
‘Tomorrow? Or maybe the next day.’ She heard him stifle a cough. ‘This is the best news.’
‘I think so too.’ She meant it. She had plenty of friends here in Elliscombe, and Layla’s flat was only up the road, but living alone wasn’t something she’d ever really learned to enjoy. A bit of undemanding day-to-day company could be just the thing she needed to cheer herself up. In a purely platonic way, of course.
‘Thanks,’ said Red. ‘And it’s only going to be for three months, max. I’ll try not to die on you.’
‘You’d better not. If you do, I’ll kill you,’ said Rosa.
Chapter 10
Didi’s fiancé, Aaron, had introduced himself to Shay with one of those crushing I’m-so-manly handshakes before launching into a manly conversation about cars.
Shay, not remotely interested in cars, was nodding along and half listening instead to Layla, who was excitedly regaling Didi with details of this evening’s date with Harry, which couldn’t have gone better.
‘. . . I mean, have you tried the Mercedes AMG GT Coupé? Got some poke behind it, that one. Eight-cylinder biturbo engine with dry sump lubrication. It’s the bomb, I’m telling you.’ Aaron shook his head in admiration.