Page 91 of The Sunrise Sisterhood

‘I’d have loved to have been on the water on a day like today,’ Camilla sighed.

‘It’s years since I’ve bounced about on an inflatable. Sadly,’ Agatha added with a mischievous twinkle at Skye, who offered to push the wheelchair inside.

‘Either of you might have fallen overboard,’ said Patrick smoothly, adding under his breath, ‘and I might have been tempted not to rescue you.’

‘Very droll,’ his mother replied, driving everyone out of her way with her walking frame so she could reach the door.

‘Besides I’m not a good sailor yet, as Liz will testify; I still need someone to help me navigate.’ Patrick gave Liz a hopeful smile.

Skye and Clare exchanged dreamy glances; the man was smitten, it was adorable to see.

‘Let’s get everyone comfortable,’ said Liz, ignoring him and waving them down the hallway towards the living room. ‘Your afternoon tea awaits.’

‘Can’t wait, something smells delicious,’ said Patrick, rubbing his hands together.

‘Liz has been whipping up delicious treats for you all morning,’ said Clare, standing aside to let the guests go in first.

‘And I still have plenty to do,’ Liz announced, ‘so I’d better get back to the kitchen.’

‘Before you dash off …’ Agatha produced a bunch of peonies from her bag and handed them to Liz. ‘These are for you, Elizabeth.’

She took them from the old lady and buried her nose in the flowers. ‘How gorgeous!’

‘Patrick chose them,’ Agatha added.

Liz gazed at the flowers and then met Patrick’s eye directly. ‘You needn’t have, but thank you.’

‘A bit romantic for my taste, but you know what he’s like,’ said Camilla. ‘Always has to get his own way.’

Patrick simply shook his head fondly. ‘Would you like some help, Liz?’

‘Not today, thank you,’ she replied, primly. ‘Do take a seat.’

‘You have a beautiful home,’ said Camilla, clasping Liz’s hand, before she had a chance to leave the room. ‘It’s even lovelier close up.’

‘Oh it is,’ Agatha was quick to add. ‘Patrick showed us through his binoculars, but we couldn’t pick out the details.’

Patrick let out the tiniest sigh and strode to the French doors. ‘Do you mind if I open these?’

‘Yes, do, darling,’ said his mother. ‘You look a little hot under the collar.’

‘I’ll go and put these in water,’ said Liz, slipping out of the room.

Ivy chose that moment to wake up, and Skye ran upstairs to fetch her.

‘Tell me, Clare.’ Agatha gestured to Patrick to pull the wheelchair up to one of the armchairs. ‘How did you break your arm?’

‘I slipped on a birthday cake, would you believe?’ Clare smiled wryly.

‘Oh, I do love an amusing anecdote,’ Agatha clapped her hands.

‘There’s really nothing to tell.’ Clare shuddered as an image popped into her head. Adam carrying Angel’s birthday cake inside out of the rain with Skye and the flood of shock which had rushed through her when they’d both realised who the other was. The fall, the pain, the panic … maybe one day she’d find it amusing. But not yet.

‘You’re a head teacher, I understand,’ said Patrick, helping his aunt transfer from the wheelchair to the armchair. ‘Your family must be very proud of you.’

‘Thank you.’ Clare breathed a sigh of relief at the change of subject. ‘And I’m not sure really, I don’t have a large family.’

Skye entered the room with Ivy on her hip. Ivy’s cheeks were flushed and her body still soft with sleep. She was clutching one of her favourite fabric books.