Page 111 of The Summer That Changed Us

She spotted Amber in front of the handbasin, holding her phone up, one hand pulling down the front of her dress, exposing quite a bit of chest. ‘What are you doing?’

Amber glanced up, saw Katie staring at her and dropped the phone in shock. ‘I didn’t send it,’ she protested, going bright red.

‘Oh, Amber.’ Katie’s heart sank as approached her. She had absolutely no experience with this kind of thing; what was she supposed to say to her?

‘Please don’t tell Dad.’ The girl’s eyes brimmed with tears. ‘He wouldn’t understand.’

Katie wasn’t sure she was any better placed. She pulled a tissue from a box on the counter and handed it to her. ‘Do you want to talk about it?’

‘It’s that boy, Ed.’ Amber’s voice wobbled. ‘He asked me to go out with him. I said yes. Then he asked me to send him a picture of … myself.’ She lowered her head. ‘I don’t want to, but if I don’t, he won’t go out with me.’

‘How dare he?’ Katie was livid on her behalf, on every girl’s behalf who’d ever been made to feel that their worth solely depended on their looks or the shape of their body.

‘If he doesn’t go out with you because of that, then he’s doing you a massive favour.’

Amber twisted the damp tissue between her fingers, looking less like the confident young woman who normally breezed into Katie’s shop and like the young girl she really was. ‘But I’m new and just want to fit in. Everyone does it.’

Katie opened her arms and Amber collapsed against her. ‘They don’t. Do you think your dad would have done it when he was your age?’

‘No.’ Amber gave the tiniest smirk. ‘But did they have phones back then?’

‘Funny girl.’ Katie gave her a squeeze and released her.

She placed her hands on the top of Amber’s arms and held her gaze. ‘I’ll let you into a secret that not many people know about me. When I was only four years older than you are now, a man tricked me into having my photograph taken. I was naked. Those photographs blighted my life for ten years. Then a few weeks ago I was sent one of them again by someone who should have been my friend. If you send a picture of yourself on your phone, you have no control over where it ends up. Don’t make the mistake I did. Protect yourself and respect yourself. Ed doesn’t deserve a smart girl like you.’

‘I suppose.’ Amber puffed out a breath of resignation. ‘And he didn’t give me back that pound coin.’

‘There you go, you see?’ Katie smiled and handed her a fresh tissue. ‘He’s not to be trusted.’

Amber dried her eyes and checked her face in the mirror. ‘OK. Done. You know what would really help get over my heartbreak?’

‘No, what?’ Katie herded her out of the bathroom and back towards the bar. In the distance she could hear an announcement for people to make their way to the ballroom for dinner.

‘My first gin and tonic.’

Katie gave a snort and held open the door to the ballroom for her. ‘Nice try.’

Chapter Forty

An hour later, dinner had been served and a slick team of waiting staff were gliding around the room delivering trays of coffee and mint-filled chocolates. Katie and Amber were the only sober ones on their table, not that that had stopped them enjoying themselves. However, Katie’s anxiety levels were creeping up as time wore on, particularly as the dias behind them was now being prepared for the speeches.

So far, the evening had been fabulous and everyone at her table was in high spirits. Ned was lovely and obviously cared a lot for Grace. Katie and Robyn had swapped knowing looks all evening, noticing how the two of them had gradually moved their chairs closer together. It was about time Grace had something or someone nice in her life; she deserved all the happiness in the world. Katie was going to keep her fingers crossed that Ned would become a regular visitor to Merle Bay.

Ned was a born storyteller and had had them all in fits of laughter with his tales. The one about the nude spa in Germany where he’d inadvertently opened the fire escape door which had then closed behind him, leaving him stark naked in the car park, would probably still be making her giggle for weeks. Amber’s eyes were out on stalks and Nula had been left gasping for breath. She and her husband were good fun, if slightly tipsy. Amber had decided to forget Ed and was currently fluttering her eyelashes at the handsome young waiter who’d been assigned to their table, and Robyn and Finn were practically glued to each other like honeymooners. Katie was happy for them, naturally, but seeing the three couples around the table did highlight her own single status.

Automatically, she looked across to the next table where Barney was sitting with the VIP guests and newspaper bosses, but his seat was empty, and she felt a bolt of disappointment. He’d caught her eye several times during dinner and each time, she’d glowed with pleasure as they’d smiled at each other.

‘Are you OK?’ said a voice by her ear.

She turned to find herself looking into Barney’s eyes. He crouched down to her level.

She nodded. ‘Getting nervous.’

Barney glanced at Amber. She was concentrating on Ned, who was teaching her a trick with a coin and a paper napkin. He cleared his throat. ‘I just wanted a chance to talk to you before they announce the awards.’

She raised her eyebrows. ‘Do you have insider info? If so, put me out of my misery, I’ll have bitten my nails down to stumps if I have to wait much longer.’

He caught hold of her hand and pretended to examine each finger. ‘They look fine to me. And sorry, I can’t reveal what I know.’ He raised an eyebrow. ‘Or even if I know.’