Page 106 of The Sunrise Sisterhood

‘I pity the ambulance or police car that has to get through the gridlock.’

Skye spotted a familiar figure coming towards them. ‘There’s Marta, we can ask her.’

Marta was wearing her hair loose, with sunglasses pushed back on her head, and her curls bounced on her shoulders. She was so beautiful. Skye felt more nervous the closer Marta got. She gave a low laugh, chiding herself – it was about time she got over her girl crush, she was a grown woman for heaven’s sake.

She leaned further out of the window and waved to get Marta’s attention.

‘Oh bugger.’ Liz slipped down in her seat. ‘The last time she saw me I threw up on a grass verge when she drove me home. She must think I’m a complete lush.’

‘Marta’s lovely,’ Skye replied. ‘She won’t think that at all.’

‘Hey!’ Marta’s face split into a smile and she touched Skye’s arm. ‘Good to see you both.’

‘Thank you again for bringing me home the other week.’ Liz gushed. ‘I misjudged my limits badly and I’m very embarrassed about it.’

Marta dismissed her apology with a hand gesture. ‘Please, don’t worry about it. You were under a lot of pressure at the time. As well as man trouble, I remember? I hope you’ve managed to smooth things over with him now? Tell him how you feel?’

Liz turned puce. ‘Well, I … I … yes, thank you, I did,’ she stammered.

‘She’s got a date,’ Skye said slyly. ‘With a lovely man, who Clare and I approve of, so things are looking up.’

Marta looked delighted. ‘That’s great news. I think it’s always better to be honest with those we care about. Even if feelings are not reciprocated, it will help the other person to understand you better and to be more sensitive around you.’

‘Good advice. Thank you.’ Liz turned an even deeper shade of red. Ahead, the cacophony of car horns was getting angrier. ‘Any idea what’s going on up ahead?’

Marta pulled a face. ‘There’s a tourist going in the wrong direction down a one-way street. Plus, a delivery van blocking the road and a group of pedestrians all trying to direct traffic but getting in the way of the vehicles. I offered to help, but the driver waved me away. Poor guy.’

Liz groaned. ‘Not again. That happens all the time in summer.’

‘Sounds like he needs to de-stress at sunrise yoga with us,’ said Skye.

‘So you’re coming tomorrow?’ Marta asked her.

Skye nodded. ‘Definitely. Best way to start the day.’

‘Wonderful – in that case, would you like to go for breakfast afterwards?’ Marta’s gaze flicked away into the distance and then back to Skye. ‘I’m always starving after I teach a class and I’d love to hear more about your time in Africa.’

‘Oh.’ A blush crept over Skye’s face. She’d love that. In fact, she couldn’t think of anything she’d love more, but she managed a calm response. ‘Sounds great!’

‘Then it’s a date.’ Marta covered Skye’s hand with her own. ‘My parking ticket is about to run out, I’d better dash. See you tomorrow, Skye.’

She leaned into the car and touched her lips to Skye’s cheek. Skye’s breath caught in her throat at the unexpected gesture as the scent of patchouli and sandalwood filled her nostrils.

‘I look forward to it,’ Skye said, excitement buzzing through her.

‘That’s two of us with dates,’ Liz teased after Marta had walked away.

But Skye couldn’t bring herself to join in the joke. Her feelings for Marta were so confusing. It was just an invitation to breakfast; Marta wanted to talk to her about Africa, that was all. But if it was a date, a voice in her head asked, then how would you feel? Was it possible that the reason she felt so drawn to Marta, was that she wanted to be more than friends?

Her mouth had gone dry and suddenly she felt too confined inside the van. ‘I’m just going to go and see the drama for myself.’

‘OK. If we don’t move soon, I’m going to park up and walk home; we can empty the van later.’

Skye set off towards the cause of the traffic jam. Her feet picked up pace as she saw a crowd of people around a Volkswagen Golf, guiding the driver with hand signals as the car inched forward and then backwards on the narrow street in an attempt to turn round. Pedestrians squeezed through, some stopping to shout complaints at the stranded car.

‘Excuse me, excuse me!’ Skye pushed through the throng, hoping to do something to speed up clearing the traffic jam.

A blond head appeared through the open car window, and she froze to the spot, her breath leaving her lungs in a whoosh of shock.