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‘Yeah? Why’s that?’
‘You think I was rash, that I’m overreacting and that I should listen to Paige.’
‘Hmm. Interesting. You sure that’s what I think and not what you think?’ Connie said. ‘But listen, that actually wasn’t what I was going to say. I—’ Connie stopped as the drink was placed in front of her. ‘Thank you,’ Connie said, bending forward to take a drink. ‘My God. That’s one of the best Tom Collins I’ve ever had.’ Connie studied Cleo closely. ‘I like you.’
Cleo raised an eyebrow and moved to the other side of the bar and continued to prepare the drinks orders.
‘What I was going to say’ — she took another sip — ‘No, seriously, this is one of the best ever.’ She sipped again. ‘I’m going to be going away again soon.’
Melanie said nothing.
‘But I came back here to make sure Paige was OK. I quickly discovered she wasn’t. You know when they say to check on the quiet ones. They mean Paige.’
Melanie snorted at that, she couldn’t help it. ‘I’ve no doubt Paige can fight her own battles.’
‘She can, in so many ways she’s a fighter just like her gran. She probably didn’t tell you about the relationship she had with her mum. It was difficult. Paige’s mum wasn’t a natural care-giver and Paige wasn’t a naturally caring daughter. They loved to wind each other up, except Paige would always bend, always try and make it right. To the point she would try and fix things before they became a problem. Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn’t. Until her mum decided it just wasn’t going to work. There’s more to it, but when you have that over a number of years, well it’s tricky. And I do blame myself for being away for some of those years, but hopefully I made up for it in the end, but she wants to help. It’s how she shows love. It’s the only way she knows how. Acts of service. Well, maybe not the only way.’ Connie winked.
‘Why are you telling me this?’
‘Are you always this stubborn? I don’t know how to be any clearer. I told you all of this in both your readings. Life’s too short to spend it all with to-do lists.’ She shook her head and finished her drink. ‘Love you, Cleo,’ she shouted as she got off the barstool. ‘I’m biased because she’s my favourite granddaughter, of course I am. But she’s the best thing in the world, and she could be the best thing in your world too.’ Connie kissed her cheek and took off.
Melanie had just about had enough of everyone telling her how amazing Paige was. Nobody was perfect and frankly she didn’t have the time for any of this, she never did.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Paige
‘You know,’ Mya said, altogether too loudly. ‘If this was a romcom, Paige would just need to do a big ol’ romantic gesture and all would be well. You would either kiss or tell each other you love each other and then kiss and that would be that.’ Paige and Sophie stopped and stared at Mya, as she painted the wall. Paige quickly glanced down the scaffolding aisle towards Melanie and knew this had been a terrible idea.
‘Mya, are you sure you want to be here painting? Don’t you have somewhere else you need to be?’ Paige strongly suggested.
‘No, I don’t think so. I’m always happy to help out.’ Mya grinned and tossed her hair, very nearly getting paint all over it.
‘I’m not sure how much you’re helping right now,’ Paige muttered so that hopefully only Mya would hear her.
‘You know we all told Paige to tell you about the app access,’ Mya shouted. Paige cursed and glared at Mya.
‘What? We did! I’m only telling her so she knows we’re blameless in all this.’
‘Really?’ Melanie said, looking surprised that she’d finally entered into the conversation.
‘Yup. We told her to tell you but then she made a plea about how much she wanted to help and so as your new friends we all figured out how we could help. It’s what friends do, right?’
Paige watched as Melanie chewed her lip. Maybe Mya’s direct approach was helping. ‘And that Manchester Confidential post helped too?’ It was at this point she knew Mya had blown up whatever ground they’d fleetingly gained.
‘Was that something to do with you too?’
‘No!’ Paige jumped in. ‘Not the way you think. I have a contact there and they were asking for recommendations for who to review, that was all. I would have done it for any business on the street.’
‘Hmm.’ Melanie turned back to paint.
Paige pulled a ‘what was that?’ face at Mya.
Mya shrugged, her face saying, ‘I tried’.
Paige rolled her eyes in clear exasperation.
‘Oh, Seb’s coming tomorrow to help out,’ Sophie said having just checked her phone.
