Page 143 of My Kind of Happy

I pressed my hands to my burning face. ‘Shush, I don’t want to think about it, not while his children are around here somewhere.’

‘Well that settles it; I’m definitely going to give him a nudge in the right direction now. You two are perfect for each other.’

Privately I agreed, but I’d rather wait until the time was right for us both.

‘You mustn’t say anything,’ I pleaded. ‘Pandora and Sam need space. There are the kids to think about. Adding new people into the mix is too much too soon.’

‘You’re ace,’ she said, her face serious for once. ‘I don’t think I’ve met anyone as unselfish as you. I want you to be happy.’

I simply smiled. ‘I am.’

‘Hmm, if you say so.’ She pursed her lips. ‘Well I really am happy. I was going to tell you later but I’ve booked a two-month trip to South America. I leave next Sunday.’

I was incredulous. ‘What about your house, I thought you were going to rent it out?’

‘Funny you should ask.’

Just then Annabel skipped over and whipped my clipboard away. ‘Have you told her the good news yet?’ she asked Nina and then continued without waiting for a reply, ‘We’re renting Nina’s house while she’s away. My idea.’

I blinked at Nina. ‘Really?’

She grinned. ‘Good, isn’t it?’

‘It’s brilliant!’ I said, thrilled for everyone concerned. ‘And if you come back from your travels and need somewhere to stay, I have plenty of space.’

Freddie’s room was now a spare room. Soft dove walls, big double bed and new white bedlinen. It was fresh and inviting; so much so that when I sent her a photo, Mum had booked herself in for a week. The musty shrine to my brother was no more. I planned to fill it with life, friends, family and maybe in time a lodger, who knew.

‘And such a relief to be out of Nanny’s house,’ Annabel continued, rolling her eyes. ‘I love her, but now Dad and Mum are sharing custody, we need more bedrooms. And he needs his privacy, if you know what I mean?’

She gave me a knowing look far beyond her years.

‘The batteries need doing,’ I blurted out to change the subject.

‘Already done them. Good job I’m not a bridesmaid after all,’ she said pushing her sunglasses up into her hair to study the list. ‘Because you’d never have coped without me.’

Nina and I grinned at each other. Annabel had dropped hints the size of polar bears to all and sundry that she’d never been a bridesmaid and would really like the job, but Laura had only wanted me. We’d compromised and agreed that she would deputise for me as chief organiser while I fulfilled my duties as maid of honour. I had a feeling I’d have to wrestle that clipboard off her if I ever wanted it back. She squinted in the sun and pretended to read it.

‘Check on the hog-roast man.’ She looked at me. ‘You can do that.’

‘That’s not even on the list,’ I said, feeling my face growing inexplicably warm.

‘Yeah, well, I’m in charge now,’ she said pertly. ‘And it’s about time someone took control over you two.’

‘What do you mean?’ Nina asked innocently.

She rolled her eyes. ‘Fearne and Dad were talking and now they’re not. And it’s making him grumpy.’

‘We are talking,’ I protested. ‘We’ve spoken today.’

Annabel sighed pityingly. ‘I mean proper talking with smiles and eye contact.’

Nina snorted.

‘I think the world of you, Annabel,’ I said calmly, ‘but you’ve gone too far.’

She raised her eyebrows and for a split second it was like looking at Pandora: scary. ‘And you, Fearne, you haven’t gone far enough.’

Nina exploded with laughter and gave Annabel a high-five.