Page 44 of The Summer That Changed Us

Katie agreed and after checking Grace was decent, entered the cubicle.

Grace was in jeans and bra, arms by her side, staring at herself. ‘You were right, it does fit.’

Katie nodded. ‘Boobs are often a good indicator of what’s going on in a woman’s life. My guess is that your appetite has decreased since Myles died and you’ve lost weight.’

Grace nodded but her eyes didn’t move from her reflection. ‘Although my calorie intake has gone through the roof these last few days; I’ve eaten so much rubbish and washed it down with too much wine.’

Katie stood behind her, adjusted the band and shortened the straps. Grace’s chest rose another couple of inches. ‘How does that feel?’

‘It feels fine.’ Grace’s voice was flat.

Katie frowned. ‘Only fine?’

‘Sorry, I’m being ungrateful.’ Grace gave herself a shake. ‘It’s the nicest bra I’ve ever had. Certainly, the smallest one I’ve had for a long time. It’s just … ’ She shrugged. ‘I’m not at my best today. Head feels like it’s full of cotton wool.’

‘Because of that phone call from Myles’s ex-wife?’ Katie lowered her voice.

‘It’s not that I believe her,’ Grace said with a sigh. ‘It’s just made me feel a bit down, that’s all.’

‘It seems to me that you’re taking positive action: you’ve been shopping, and you’ve got a gorgeous new bra. Two reasons to celebrate.’

‘Hmm.’ Grace frowned.

Katie waited to see if Grace wanted to say any more but clearly whatever was on her mind, she wasn’t in the mood to share it.

‘I’ll leave you to get changed in private,’ Katie said.

She slid out of the cubicle to see Robyn fully dressed again holding the sample bra.

‘How was it?’ Katie asked.

Robyn beamed. ‘Gorgeous. It fitted perfectly and I felt sexy!’ She looked surprised at herself. ‘First time I’ve thought that for a while.’

‘Good for you, pet,’ said Nula with a wink.

‘But I’d better not buy it,’ said Robyn, handing it back.

‘It’s not actually for sale,’ said Katie, wrapping it in tissue and putting it into a bag. ‘It’s a sample. All yours, free of charge.’

‘No way! Really?’ The look of gratitude and astonishment on Robyn’s face made Katie’s day. ‘I love it, thank you. I’ll even write a review so you can send it to Sasha.’

After Grace’s bra had been wrapped up too, both her friends left, and Katie sent a silent thank you to her Auntie Jean for showing her how to make other women feel good about themselves. Sometimes it didn’t take a lot to put a smile on someone else’s face.

Later that day, after Nula had gone home, Katie was vacuuming the floor before closing up when the door opened and a girl in school uniform came in. She was better at guessing chest sizes than ages, but Katie reckoned she was in her early teens. She had shiny auburn hair pulled back into a ponytail and big brown eyes which looked unsure as they flashed Katie the briefest of smiles. Katie smiled back. She’d leave her to have a little look around first. A thought struck her: was this perhaps Barney’s daughter? The editor at the North East Gazette, the newspaper which was behind the North East Business Awards …

She stifled a groan, remembering the last message from her anonymous correspondent. I’ve drafted an email to the editor … She turned off the vacuum cleaner, feeling flustered. ‘Hello, bear with me a second. I’ll tidy up this cable before someone trips over it.’

‘OK,’ the girl mumbled. She hovered by the door uncertainly.

‘Feel free to look around. My name’s Katie Small by the way.’

‘Thanks. I’m Amber Larkin.’

So, it was Barney’s daughter. She was filled with a surge of dread. Her blackmailer – if that was what it was – could be sending naked photographs of Katie to this girl’s father.

The girl who’d lost her mother. Poor kid. Putting her own concerns to one side for the moment, she gave Amber her full attention.

‘So I think you met my dad.’ Amber’s face flushed. ‘I can only imagine how cringeworthy that conversation was.’