Page 105 of The Summer That Changed Us

‘It is a good shot,’ Barney agreed. He had taken it himself on his phone. She was leaning against the shop window, arms folded, with one foot on the step. Her hair was loose around her face and she was smiling straight at the camera. Katie recalled how uncomfortable she’d felt at the time, but there was no trace of it in the picture.

‘You look amazing,’ said Amber, looking over her shoulder. ‘Doesn’t she, Dad?’

‘Absolutely. Let Katie read the article,’ said Barney, rubbing a hand through his hair distractedly.

Absolutely. Katie’s cheeks burned as she scanned through the words, only half taking them in. He didn’t mean it; he’d had to say that because Amber had prompted him. When she’d finished reading, she forced herself to meet his eye.

‘Happy?’ he asked.

She nodded. ‘Thank you very much. That’s a very flattering piece. Well written. I like what you’ve said about sending ladies on their way with a bounce in their step. It’s perfect.’

Barney looked pleased. ‘And it’ll be online as well, so you’ll be able to share it.’

‘I’ll share it with people in real life,’ she promised, ‘but I don’t do social media.’

‘I’ll post it online,’ said Nula, patting her hair and fluttering her eyelashes at Barney. ‘On my Facebook page. I’ve got hundreds of friends.’

‘Oh Katie, Katie, Katie. The whole world is online, it’s time you joined in,’ Amber sighed. She picked up her school bag and stuffed her phone into her pocket, ready to leave. ‘Not everyone is out to get you. You’ve got to start trusting people.’

Barney stifled a laugh and rested a hand on his daughter’s back as if to lead her out of the shop. ‘And here endeth the lesson.’

‘Was that how they used to talk when you were growing up?’ Amber demanded and they all laughed.

‘We’d better go before Elmo shreds another chair,’ said Barney. ‘Or my darling daughter insults us again unwittingly. I suppose I’ll see you on Thursday for the awards then, if not before?’

‘Yep.’ Katie shuddered inwardly; the closer it got, the more nervous she was about possibly having to make a speech.

‘Look at that.’ Barney bent down and picked something up from the floor. He held his hand out to Katie. ‘Here you are: a five-pound note.’

She shook her head. ‘It’s not mine.’

‘Nor mine,’ he replied.

‘You keep it.’ They both spoke at the same time.

The smile he gave her made her heart flip; instinctively she knew Barney Larkin was a man who could be trusted, if only she was brave enough.

‘I suppose we could always go and spend it on ice cream?’ she blurted out before she had a chance to change her mind.

Barney blinked at her, surprised. ‘Yeah, I’m game.’

‘Same!’ Amber piped up.

‘Yes, great idea.’ Nula flapped her to the door. ‘You go, I’ll lock up.’

As the three of them left the shop, Amber lowered her voice to a whisper. ‘You owe me five quid.’

‘It was you!’ Katie’s jaw dropped.

She and Barney had been set up. She laughed out loud as Amber wriggled between her and Barney and linked arms with them both.

‘You two sound like you’re up to no good.’ Barney looked from Katie to Amber, grinning.

‘Your daughter is too clever by far,’ said Katie, giving nothing away.

‘Just doing an experiment, Dad,’ Amber smirked, ‘to check that you’re a nice boy.’

Barney looked bemused. ‘And am I?’