Page 42 of The Sunrise Sisterhood

‘No, you’re right,’ said Liz, ‘Of course she hasn’t.’

‘Persuading Clare to trust someone else with Ivy,’ Skye said, narrowing her eyes. ‘Hmm, that might have to be one of my goals for the summer.’

‘One of?’ Liz said, glancing at her as she edged towards the junction meeting the steep hill.

‘I’ve got several.’ Skye focused her gaze on the cake box on her lap. ‘Being with Clare makes me feel as if I’m still a student on a gap year. She’s exactly where she wants to be in life. Whereas I’m still dithering about, wondering what I want to be, who I even am. So I guess that’s my main goal: to make some decisions about my future.’

She used to feel like that about Jen, Liz mused. Jen was a woman who knew what she wanted and went after it wholeheartedly. She, on the other hand, wasn’t brave enough to pursue her heart’s desire until it was too late. But that wasn’t something she wanted to share with Skye.

‘But you’ve been happy with your choices so far?’ Liz asked instead.

Skye was quiet for a moment. ‘Yes, mostly at least.’

‘Then you’re winning at life,’ she told her. ‘Comparing yourself to someone else will never end well. All you can do is make choices that serve you, that take you where you want to go. That’s what Clare does, and you can do it too.’

‘That’s probably the best advice I’ve ever been given,’ Skye said, looking thoughtful. ‘But while I think about my next move, the most pressing job is to help you pay Dad his money back.’

‘I’ll drink to that!’ Liz accelerated to get the little van up the hill. ‘Thurlestone, here we come.’

The venue for the birthday dinner party was a charming cottage with thick whitewashed walls and a thatched roof.

As soon as Liz parked the van next to a trailer on the gravel drive, the front door opened. A young woman appeared in her dressing gown, her skin looking very orange.

‘That must be Ele.’ Skye quickly climbed out to meet her, still carrying the cake box.

Liz took her time, her fingers fumbling with the seat belt as a bout of nerves flooded through her.

‘Showtime,’ she murmured, opening the driver’s door. ‘Wish you were here, Jen.’

She was happy to cook anything in her own house, but she always experienced a wave of self-doubt when she arrived at someone else’s. This was the point in any job where Jen would come into her own. She’d make light of any setbacks, smooth over any complaints and put Liz at ease in the kitchen.

Today, Liz was going to have to find a way to keep herself calm. A drink would do it. She swallowed, imagining ice-cold wine slipping down her throat. Maybe that was what she should do, where would the harm be if she just had a small one?

‘Ele, meet my boss, Liz,’ Skye said, when she eventually joined them.

‘I’m so excited that we managed to book you!’ said Ele, shaking Liz’s hand. ‘I went to a party, ooh must be three years ago now, and you did the food. I’ve never forgotten. Amazing. Anyway, I’d been ringing the number on your website, sent an email and nothing. I thought I’d give it one more go before giving up and then …’ She spread her arms wide. ‘Ta-dah! You answered! Couldn’t believe it. Then we thought, in for a penny, in for a pound, let’s go large and—’

‘We’re delighted to be here,’ Liz interrupted as Ele took a breath. ‘Can you show us where we’ll be?’

‘Of course.’ Ele beckoned them towards the front door. ‘And then I need to get in the shower and wash off this fake tan. I think you feel so much more confident when you’ve got a bit of a glow, don’t you? I mean, look at your tan.’ She pointed to Skye. ‘You must be super-confident.’

Skye gave a tight smile. ‘I’m working on it.’

She was just as capable as Clare, thought Liz, she just needed to believe in herself more. Have the courage of her own convictions. Skye was more introverted than Clare, but she had natural empathy, she was very much a team player and had an endless willingness to learn. She’d only been working for Liz for a couple of weeks but had already made herself indispensable. Maybe that could be one of Liz’s goals this summer, to help Skye recognise her own talents.

‘It’s a very pretty cottage.’ Liz noted the lovely oak settle in the hallway adorned with embroidered cushions.

‘It’s my parents’ house, formally my granny’s.’ Ele waved a hand at the old-fashioned watercolours on the walls. ‘Hence the 1940s vibe.’

‘So you’re not on holiday?’ Skye asked.

Ele shook her head. ‘I work remotely for a London company. Most of the guests are local too, including Angel, the birthday girl.’ She directed them into the kitchen. ‘Small, but perfectly formed, as they say.’

Crikey. Liz tried not to panic at the lack of room. At least they’d done most of the prep at home.

The kitchen consisted of free-standing cupboards and cooker, an original Victorian sink and a dresser with shelves full of pretty china. Other than a small table and four chairs, there was hardly any workspace at all. The biggest assets, without a shadow of a doubt, were the double doors leading out into the garden.

‘Super,’ said Liz, itching to get to work.