Page 50 of The Sunrise Sisterhood

‘Shot-shot-shot!’ chanted someone else.

Skye didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. ‘Thanks for trying. Your coffee is ready.’

He stepped inside as the girls pushed past him with the cake, yelling, ‘Coming through, coming through!’

Skye followed them outside in time to see Liz shimmying into position in front of a row of glasses. ‘This is such fun! I’ve never done tequila shots before.’

Someone handed Liz a slice of lime and sprinkled salt on the back of her hand. The cake had been set down on the table. Ele and her friends were lighting matches, but a breeze had picked up and every flame was snuffed out before they could light a single candle. They were finding it very funny. Skye could hardly look.

‘Try not to worry.’ Marta’s smooth voice materialised in her ear. ‘We all have our own ways of letting our hair down. And something tells me Liz needs this.’

‘You’re probably right.’ Skye glanced sideways at her. There was a calmness about Marta which Skye took comfort from. ‘And, after today, I’m going to need a lie-down in a darkened room for a whole week.’

Marta laughed. ‘You need to join me for some yoga. I’m a teacher.’

‘Like classes?’ Skye hadn’t done much yoga in her life, but if there was a chance she could absorb some of Marta’s serenity, it might be worth a shot.

She nodded. ‘You should join us.’

‘Us?’ For a second, Skye was disappointed that Marta hadn’t extended a personal invitation to her and flushed at the thought. She was instantly transported back to school and the crush she’d had on a girl called Luella, who she’d followed around like an adoring fan. But Skye was almost thirty, not a desperate-to-please teenage girl, and she gave herself a shake.

‘In the summer, I teach sunrise yoga on the beach,’ Marta explained, handing Skye a card. ‘The schedule is in my Instagram bio. I’d love to see you there.’

‘Thanks. Well, who knows, you just might.’

The two women smiled at each other. It had been a long time since Skye had a real connection with someone and she hadn’t realised how much she’d missed it. She felt an urge to hug her, but before she had a chance to act on it, Marta tilted her face upwards and held out her hand.

‘I felt rain.’

A droplet of cold water splashed on Skye’s warm skin. Then another. ‘Me too.’

There was a crack of thunder overhead and the heavens opened. Within seconds, everyone was screaming.

‘Arrghhh!’

‘Everyone in!’

‘Grab the speaker!’

There was a stampede to get inside as people scooped up phones and bags and glasses. The door to the kitchen was a bottleneck and Liz was swept along with the crowd. The beautiful cake had been abandoned and Skye pushed her way to it, determined to rescue it.

‘Skye! It’s me!’ came a voice from the midst of the crowd. Skye peered through the glass and caught sight of Clare waving frantically at her. ‘Help me with Liz!’

‘Two seconds!’ Skye yelled back. ‘Let me just get the cake.’

‘Quick!’ Clare shouted back. ‘I’ve left Ivy in the car.’

Skye’s clothes were already soaked and her hair was plastered to her head. The birthday cake was probably ruined, but Skye didn’t care. All that work, all that money, not to mention the dozens of candles which now pierced it. She tried to pick up the cake, but the cardboard base had gone soggy.

‘I’ll help.’ Adam appeared on the opposite side of the table; his shirt was wet through and she could see his nipples. ‘Lace your fingers through mine.’

Skye dragged her eyes away from his chest and nodded. Their hands linked underneath the wet cake.

‘Three, two one, lift,’ he said.

They lifted it up and stepped sideways, clearing the table.

‘I’ll go backwards,’ Skye offered.