Page 137 of The Sunrise Sisterhood

‘Don’t worry,’ Skye laughed. ‘I’ll help at the next party too. I’ll always help if you want me to.’

Clare touched her head on her sister’s shoulder. ‘I’d like that.’

‘Are you sure you’re happy?’ Skye peered at her sister. ‘Because I’m sensing a “but”?’

Ivy decided she’d had enough of being cuddled and wriggled out of Clare’s grasp. She set her free and picked up her glass, taking a sip before replying.

‘The “but” is nothing to do with the decorations and everything to do with the people missing from the party.’

Skye nodded, understanding. ‘Your mum?’

‘She’d have loved this,’ Clare replied wistfully. ‘She’d have made such a fuss of Ivy and she would have gone way overboard with presents.’

‘And I’m sure Dad will turn up,’ said Skye. ‘Late, obviously, but he will come.’

Clare paused. ‘Dad’s not invited.’

‘What? Really?’ Skye said, shocked. ‘But he’s Ivy’s grandad.’

She shrugged. ‘I didn’t want to give him the opportunity to let us down. To make promises to come and then forget. Also, he’s never shown an interest in her, so why should he come to her party. When he’s ready to be a grandfather, we’ll be waiting. But I’m not forcing him into it. He’s the one missing out. The sad thing is that I’m not sure he even realises it. Anyway, you said you were – and I quote – done with him, I didn’t want him to turn up and spoil the day for you.’

Skye shook her head, marvelling at her sister. ‘You really don’t take any prisoners, do you? I’m in awe. I’d have crumbled and ended up begging him to come.’

‘Maybe one day he’ll grow up, but until he’ll refer to himself as Grandad and not Mikey, I’ve decided I’m not going to waste my time on him.’

At that moment, Liz appeared from inside, carrying a plate of cupcakes with sugared flower decorations on them. Or rather, where the decorations had been, there were gaping holes in the top of the icing.

‘Was this you, you little monkey?’ Liz said, tickling Ivy’s tummy. ‘Did you vandalise all these cakes?’

Ivy collapsed onto her bottom in a fit of giggles before grabbing one of the naked cakes and biting into it, paper case and all.

‘The little minx!’ Skye gasped. ‘Did you see that!’

‘She gets that from you,’ said Clare. ‘Do you remember Dad’s birthday party when you bit the cherry off every single Bakewell tart and put them all back on the cake stand.’

‘I did not.’ Skye pressed a hand to her mouth. ‘Why didn’t you stop me?’

‘Stop you? Who do you think helped you reach the table?’ Clare said mischievously. ‘Frankie was furious.’

Skye grinned at Clare. ‘We’ve got more shared past than I realised.’

‘And more shared future to come.’

‘I’ll drink to that.’ Skye tilted her glass towards her. ‘To the future.’

Clare raised her glass and suppressed a sigh. There was someone else she’d hoped to share a future with, but it looked as if that was wishful thinking on her part. There had been no word from Adam – not an RSVP, not a please leave me alone, not a joyful acceptance, nothing. Which she guessed told her everything she needed to know. It was her fault, and she could live with that for herself, but she felt bad about it for Ivy. At least she hadn’t spent too much time with him this summer. Maybe it was for the best that they made a clean break before she started to depend on his presence, before Ivy formed a bond with him. What you’ve never had you can’t miss, right?

‘I’m going to miss you when you leave,’ Skye nudged her, bringing her out of her thoughts.

‘I’ll miss you too, and Ivy will miss having so many servants at her beck and call. But I’m ready to go home to Bath. I love it here, but Salcombe will always be my second home; it’s my summer place. I associate it with sunshine and playing on the beach, swimming in the sea, although not so much of the latter this year, obviously.’

‘Salcombe is going to be my proper home, I think.’

Marta chose that moment to join them. ‘I’ll drink to that.’

‘But you’ll come and visit us in Bath, both of you?’ Clare asked. They’d have fun, she thought. A girlie weekend. She smiled just imagining it.

‘Just try stopping us,’ said Marta, taking hold of Skye’s hand.