Page 113 of The Sunrise Sisterhood

Skye climbed out of Clare’s bed. ‘I will. He’s a lovely guy and he doesn’t deserve to be badly treated. But first I’m going to beach yoga to get my head straight. And then I’m having breakfast with Marta.’

A dart of excitement pinged at Skye’s heart; it would be the first time they’d met up without one of them being at work. She wouldn’t be able to stay too long; it wasn’t fair to keep Jesse waiting, but there’d be time to get to know each other, and hopefully work out if that magic spark was there for Marta too.

‘Your eyes shine when you talk about her. Promise me you’ll tell all when you get back.’

Skye’s stomach twinged with nerves; she so wanted it to go well.

‘Promise.’ She got as far as the bedroom door when something occurred to her. ‘Marta said something odd to Liz yesterday. She must have been referring to their conversation in the car on the way back from Angel’s party. She asked Liz if she’d sorted out her man trouble and said something about feelings not being reciprocated. Any idea what she meant? I don’t think it was Patrick.’

Clare shook her head. ‘No, but I overheard her saying something odd to him. She said that she’d been hung up on the same man for over forty years, that he still had power over her and that she was trying to get over him.’

‘Bloody hell.’ Skye widened her eyes. ‘Poor Liz. I wonder who that could be?’

‘I’ve racked my brains but can’t think of anyone. Mum would have known.’

‘Why don’t you just ask Liz,’ Skye suggested. ‘She’ll tell you.’

‘Maybe.’ Clare didn’t look convinced. ‘But I think I’ve had enough family revelations for one day and it isn’t even seven o’clock yet. See you later, go and sort out your chakras.’

‘Oh shut up.’ Skye laughed under her breath as she left the room. She loved her sister; she’d be teased mercilessly if she admitted it to her, but she did.

Chapter Thirty-One

Liz

Liz turned on the laptop while she waited for the kettle to boil. She wasn’t the only one up early, judging by the whispers she’d heard coming from Clare’s room as she’d come downstairs. Hopefully, she’d get a few minutes to herself before someone joined her.

Lunch for eight people, no expense spared. Normally, catering for such a small number wouldn’t have Liz breaking into a sweat, especially as she didn’t even have to leave Clemency House to do it. But this was Mike. She’d never be as tall and beautiful as Jen, Frankie and Nilla, but she was a brilliant cook, and everyone knew the way to a man’s heart was through his stomach.

She clenched her jaw, realising that she was doing it again: sticking Mike Marriott on a pedestal and worshipping at his feet. She’d promised herself that phase of her life was over. Why was it so hard to remember?

Everything pointed her towards breaking away from the unhelpful obsession she had with him. She was seeing Patrick tomorrow, lovely, gentle Patrick. A man who’d loved his wife until she died and beyond. A man who worked hard, looked after his mother and aunt and was always kind and thoughtful, his eyes never roving to check he wasn’t missing out on something better when they were together. She’d accepted Patrick’s excuses about Viv very easily, she admitted to herself; she’d be far less likely to have believed Mike if he’d fed her the same lines. But she was sure Patrick was telling the truth; she could well imagine Viv not taking no for an answer straight away. She’d been on the receiving end of Viv’s persuasive powers often enough herself.

Viv would be a good match for Mike, she thought idly, pouring boiling water into the teapot. She laughed softly. Except for one thing – they were of a similar age; Mike’s taste in women got younger and younger as time went by.

‘Silly arse,’ she muttered, splashing milk into a mug.

‘Charming.’ Skye wandered in and kissed Liz’s cheek.

She was dressed in a pair of orange leggings and a multi-coloured tie-dye T-shirt, her hair held back with what looked like a strip torn off one of Liz’s old tea towels.

‘Not you, darling, your father,’ said Liz.

Skye rolled her eyes. ‘Don’t tell me we’ve had more alterations from him?’

‘I haven’t checked my emails yet. But it’s too late for any more changes. I’ve got lobster for eight and that’s that.’

Skye chewed her lip. ‘Ah. Nine, I’m afraid, he’s bringing his assistant now. Harriet.’

‘He is the absolute limit. He really is.’ Liz shook her head in dismay.

‘You love him really.’ Her god-daughter laughed, filling her water bottle from the tap. ‘Am I still OK to go to yoga? I can give it a miss if you need me.’

‘Yoga?’ a gruff voice said from the door. ‘Are you going now?’

Jesse leaned against the door frame, wearing nothing but a pair of cotton boxer shorts.

‘Jesse!’ Skye jumped. ‘I thought you were still asleep. You don’t mind, do you? I’d pre-booked before I knew you were coming.’