Page 30 of The Sunrise Sisterhood

‘Was he a cross-dresser?’ Agatha laid a hand on her knee, her eyes bright with curiosity. She turned to Camilla. ‘Remember Priscilla Wheatcroft’s husband?’

Camilla nodded. ‘Wore French knickers under his police uniform.’

‘And this was 1959,’ Agatha added gravely.

‘Nothing like that,’ said Liz. ‘Jonathan was completely innocent.’

But he wasn’t Mike, and he could hardly be blamed for that. She thought back to Friday lunchtime and how her heart had hammered when Mike had wrapped his hand over hers. He still had the same effect on her now as he’d had when they’d met. The admission bubbled up and out of her mouth before she had chance to stop it.

‘The trouble was – or is – that I’ve been in love with someone else for forty years. My husband got fed up with being second best.’

Her cheeks flamed. She’d never told a single soul that before. No one. Not even her best friend – especially not her best friend. She had no idea why she’d just done it. Her hand trembled as she replaced her cup in the saucer.

‘Actually, can we forget I said that, I’d rather not—’

‘Forty years?’ Camilla cut across her. ‘Darling, let that one go. If he was interested, he’d have let you know by now.’

‘You’re right, I know,’ Liz agreed. She had come to that conclusion many years ago. But what could she do? The heart wants what the heart wants.

Opposite her, Patrick was sitting perfectly still, his expression unreadable.

‘Poppycock.’ Agatha dropped a crust onto her plate. ‘Men are useless at saying what they want. I know for a fact that Ivan Davis was sweet on me, and he never said a word. I turned down being Bill Malone’s bridge partner for Ivan, just in case he asked me. Then Ivan died, but by then Bill had buddied up with Margo, so I missed my chance.’

‘I rest my case,’ said Camilla smugly. ‘You waited too long for your ship to come in, during which time your other potential ship sailed.’

‘I’ll get the cakes if everyone’s finished with the sandwiches?’ Liz suggested, determined to change the subject.

‘If he hasn’t appreciated how wonderful you are by now, he’s an idiot and doesn’t deserve you,’ said Camilla, dabbing the edges of her mouth with a napkin.

‘If you want my advice …’ Agatha began.

‘I don’t think she asked for it, Auntie,’ Patrick said firmly.

Agatha ignored him. ‘You’ll forget about him. Put him out of your mind. Ask yourself, do you want to spend the next forty years waiting for him to throw you a bone?’

‘Three years of unrequited love is enough, let alone forty,’ Camilla said, giving her son a sideways look.

Patrick exhaled. ‘I should think Liz has endured quite enough interrogation for today.’

Liz smiled at him gratefully. ‘In answer to your question, Agatha, I know I shouldn’t waste my time waiting for him. But it’s complicated; our lives are entwined. I couldn’t escape if I wanted to.’

There was a moment of silence while the Delmarge family absorbed this new piece of information. Liz had an awful feeling that she’d just overshared.

‘If you’ll please excuse me, I shall go and make the coffee.’ She was on her feet and on her way back to the kitchen before anyone had a chance to argue.

She rushed to the sink and ran her wrists under cold water to cool her blood. What was going on with her today? Why on earth had she let her guard down like that? The Delmarges might feel like family, but they were clients.

She blew out a calming breath and forced herself back into business mode.

Right. Coffee. She flicked on the kettle and set about preparing the cakes to take in next. The ladies preferred tea with their sandwiches and coffee with cakes.

Liz was spooning clotted cream into a small bowl when Patrick appeared with the teapot and their empty cups on the tray.

‘Please forgive the inquisition back then. Mum and Auntie Aggie shouldn’t have pried.’ Patrick put down the tray gently and hovered by the kitchen table, sweeping crumbs up into his hand. ‘I hope we haven’t put you off us entirely?’

‘Not at all!’ She met his gaze. ‘It’s me who should be apologising. It’s hardly very professional behaviour, raking up one’s love life in front of clients.’

‘Only under duress.’ He grinned at her. ‘I do appreciate you coming, I hope you know that. It’s the highlight of the month. For them, I mean. They love getting out of the home for a few hours and your food is all they talk about for days.’