‘You actually asked him?’ Cassie sounded awestruck. ‘I didn’t think you’d go through with it.’

‘To be honest, he didn’t seem overjoyed. I think it’s because he’s never been out with a single mother, but I know once he meets Bridget he won’t regret it.’

‘She’d better be a lot nicer to you after this.’ Cassie stepped to one side while Ted the floor man unpacked the floorboards, having deemed the floor dry and ready for business – leading to lots of high-fiving and a swoop of relief in my stomach. Meg had gone back to the bakery, but Cassie had pounced as soon as I walked back in, determined to extract every detail of what had happened after I left the café.

‘He’s crazy rich,’ she said. ‘We looked him up on Meg’s phone after you’d gone, and let’s just say he’ll never have to work another day in his life – if you can call driving a car work.’

‘Racing’s a skill,’ I said, ‘and money’s never been an issue in our family, so it’s not like Bridget would be interested in that.’ Seeing Cassie’s face, I realised how that sounded. I sometimes forgot I was one of the lucky ones; that I’d never wanted for anything growing up, because Dad’s career as an architect (award-winning) had afforded us a better lifestyle than most of the people I’d gone to school with. Not that he’d been remotely flashy with the money, once it started rolling in. It was more that there’d been no worry around it, and our house hadn’t been mortgaged, and bills had been paid without question. Holidays were plentiful, and Christmases and birthdays extravagant without being over the top, but we’d had to work for our pocket money like everyone else; or rather, Bridget had. I’d been perfectly happy to do without. ‘I’m just saying, Bridget wouldn’t be interested in his cash.’

Cassie nodded. ‘Fair enough, but Seth probably doesn’t know that. I bet he’s used to women wanting him for more than his good looks.’

‘I get the feeling that’s the last thing on his mind at the moment.’

‘Imagine if he ends up marrying into your family,’ she said. ‘Wouldn’t that be weird?’

‘It would a bit.’ A showreel ran through my mind: of one dinner leading to another, a declaration of love, an introduction to each other’s children and family, followed by wedding bells and the patter of more tiny feet.

‘Just let me know when and where you’d like me to meet your sister,’ he’d said, as I got out of the car with my bag of clothing. ‘And come to the cottage whenever you can, and we’ll talk about that makeover.’

‘Tomorrow?’ I’d pushed. That way, when he met Bridget there wouldn’t be any awkwardness if she mentioned me working for him.

‘Tomorrow’s fine,’ he said. ‘Although, talking of makeovers…’ He’d looked through the rain-speckled back window, towards the café. ‘Will you have time, if you’re already pushed with this project?’

‘I’ll make time.’ I squashed an image of Gwen’s furious face, confident I could manage both. ‘Anyway, I’d better get back.’

I’d jogged back to the café in a surprisingly carefree mood, not caring that my hair wouldn’t thank me for getting wet.

‘I thought he liked the look of you, to be honest,’ said Cassie, while I squeezed out my fringe. ‘You’re not tempted?’

‘He was wearing rose-tinted goggles because of what happened yesterday, that’s all,’ I said. ‘I’m definitely not his type and, anyway, I’m seeing Rufus, remember?’

Cassie’s eyes widened. ‘What’s it been now?’ she said. ‘More than a month?’

‘Six weeks,’ I said. ‘I think I’m going to his brother’s wedding on Saturday.’

‘Think?’

‘OK, I’m definitely going.’

‘Good for you,’ she approved. ‘We should all get together sometime.’

‘Together?’

‘Well, we’ve only seen you with him once, that night in the Smugglers Inn, when he tried to hide while we did our routine.’ She was referring to our All Saints tribute karaoke act, which I hadn’t invited Rufus to. He’d turned up anyway, keen to ‘see where you hang out’, but hadn’t stayed long after my hasty introduction – probably put off by my shockingly off-key vocals, and the salvo of questions fired at him by Meg. ‘He’s definitely different to your usual type.’

‘Well, they do say opposites attract.’ I was imitating my Scottish grandmother, who’d had a ‘wee saying’ for every occasion. ‘Not that I’ve ever believed that.’

‘Oh, I don’t know. It depends what the opposites are.’ Cassie – like Meg – fancied herself as something of an expert since finding True Love. ‘Danny and I had totally different approaches to life when we met, but we’ve rubbed off on each other.’

‘I’m sure you have.’

‘Don’t be smutty.’ She smiled through a blush.

‘I suppose he “completes you”.’ I put on my best moony voice, recalling the line from Jerry Maguire – which I’d secretly loved despite pretending it was lame.

‘Ugh.’ Cassie rolled her eyes. ‘I didn’t need completing, thank you very much. I suppose we do complement each other, though.’

‘You do,’ I agreed. ‘Like Meg and Nathan.’

‘Exactly. And I bet when you get to know Rufus better, you’ll find you’ve more in common with him than you think.’ She glanced at her watch, before I could ask her what she meant. ‘I’m meeting a new artist in a minute. She’s going to display her work here.’

‘Hopefully her paintings will go down better than the last lot,’ I said, wondering why Ted was standing around scratching his head, instead of getting on with laying the floorboards.

‘That wasn’t my fault,’ said Cassie. ‘He’d promised me something poignant from his latest collection, which I thought would be more studies of the local coastline, then cried when I said they weren’t right. I felt sorry for him.’

‘I don’t think Seashell Cove was ready for abstract pictures of old ladies’ hands.’

‘I don’t think anyone is.’

‘You got a mixed batch here,’ Ted’s voice broke in.

‘Sorry?’

Cassie gave me a sympathetic smile and backed into the café mouthing ‘Good luck.’

‘What do you mean, a mixed batch?’

‘Half of them are a different shade to the rest.’ He pointed to where he’d laid some of the boards out in a row. ‘It’s not obvious at first, but when you look more closely you can tell.’

I tilted my head for a better look, then moved across the room and studied them from a different angle. With light from the windows flooding across the wood, there was no getting away from it. Half of the boards were a subtly darker shade, and while it might not be noticeable once the tables and chairs were in, I would know.

‘They’ll have to go back,’ I said, heart sinking. This was the last thing I needed.

‘So, you don’t want me to put them down?’ A look of annoyance crossed his moon-like face. ‘I already had to switch jobs around because of the leak.’

I sensed it wasn’t the right moment to point out that the leak hadn’t been my fault. ‘I know, and I’m sorry,’ I said. ‘I’ll pay you for coming out.’

‘Fine,’ he said, slightly mollified. ‘That’ll be eighty quid, plus my petrol expenses.’

‘Petrol expenses? You’ve only come from Kingsbridge.’

‘I charge twenty pence per mile.’

I rummaged in my back pocket. ‘Here, I’ve got four quid in change.’

‘There’s no need to be sarcastic.’ He practically snatched the coins I was holding out. ‘I’ve got a business to run, you know.’

‘So have I,’ I said to his departing back, even though it wasn’t strictly true. And now I was eighty-four pounds down and didn’t have change for a cup of coffee, never mind a slice of the rich, fruity Christmas cake I’d spotted on the counter. I’d left my wallet in my rucksack in the car, and couldn’t be bothered to fetch it.

Sighing, I called the flooring company to explain, and after arranging for the boards to be returned and a fresh batch delivered, I stared around for a while, realising there was nothing more I could do.

Leaving, I heard Gwen regaling a customer with a tale about how, when she’d lived in London, she’d seen the Queen in disguise outside Marylebone Station. ‘Carryin’ a shoppin’ bag, she was, wiv one of ’er Corgis inside.’ Jerry was hanging on her every word, blinking more than was natural.

‘Where are you going?’ Cassie caught me at the door, glancing back at a woman with mink-grey hair smoothed back from her face, holding a crate of framed pictures.

‘Are they any good?’ I said.

‘I don’t know, I haven’t looked yet.’ She grabbed my arm and lowered her voice. ‘Is there a problem?’

‘Wrong floorboards, would you believe?’ I said, trying to keep the alarm from my voice. ‘I’ve ordered some new ones.’ Cassie bit her lip, eyes darting over my face. Her cheeks were deeply flushed, but it was warm in the café, and her sweater was a bit on the chunky side. ‘What is it?’

She looked from side to side, like a cartoon spy. ‘I know Gwen’s already asked you, but the room will be ready in time for the party, won’t it?’

A smile twitched at my lips. ‘Are you worried it won’t be done before Mummy and Daddy get back, and they’ll tell you off and send you to your room?’

Instead of grinning, and possibly punching me, she said, ‘No, no, it’s not that.’ Another glance behind her. The arty woman had put down her crate and was pointedly looking over.

‘What is it then?’

‘It’s just…’ Cassie bit down on her bottom lip, as if to stop any more words bouncing out.

‘What’s going on?’

She took a deep breath. ‘I want to make an announcement, that’s all.’

‘Now?’

‘No, not now.’ She slapped my hand. ‘At the Christmas party.’

‘Oh?’ I zipped up my jacket and looked at her more closely. She was almost vibrating. ‘What sort of announcement?’

I could see her fighting to hold back, but she was terrible at keeping secrets these days – a legacy of not being honest for years, about her life in London. She’d only recently confessed to her parents about how stressed she’d been in her job, because she hadn’t wanted to upset them. ‘It’s…’ She dipped her eyes, to where her hand was resting on her belly.

‘Ohhhh,’ I said, realisation dawning, even as she snatched her hand away. ‘You’re—’

‘Don’t say it,’ she hissed, darting a look towards the counter, but Gwen was still in full flow, the words ‘’is nibs, the Prince of Wales, blew me a kiss, but I told ’im I was married,’ carrying over, followed by a blast of laughter. ‘No one knows, but Danny and me,’ Cassie whispered, eyes glowing like lamps. ‘We wanted to wait until it had been twelve weeks, which it will be on Christmas Eve.’

‘Oh, Cassie, I’m so happy for you.’ I felt oddly choked as her words distilled in my mind. I wanted to hug or kiss her, or pick her up and spin her round – something to mark the occasion – but it would have been a giveaway. We already looked odd, huddled by the door, talking in hushed voices. ‘To be honest, I can’t believe you’ve kept it to yourself this long.’

‘I really wanted to tell you and Meg, but thought it might be tempting fate,’ she said, the words spilling out. ‘I actually didn’t know myself for ages, even though I’ve been feeling sick every evening. I thought it was Nan’s cooking, now she’s gone vegan and keeps sticking hemp in everything.’

‘I didn’t even know you wanted kids.’ I felt an odd little pang again – the sense of being excluded from something good; something that only happened to other people.

‘I didn’t either, but being around my nephew… let’s just say, we’d already decided we were happy to let nature take its course.’

‘Ew.’

Cassie giggled. ‘He is really cute. The baby, I mean. I’ve bought him a little elf outfit for Christmas and can’t wait to see him in it.’ She’d become an auntie two months ago, and was relishing her new role, which had been something of a revelation. At school, Meg had been the one hankering after marriage and babies, while Cassie couldn’t wait to escape and fulfil her get-rich ambitions, yet Meg was the one now focused on work, and ‘not ready’ to start a family. ‘Do you know when it’s due?’

‘Sometime next June,’ said Cassie. ‘Promise you won’t say anything?’

‘Cross my heart.’ I had to make do with grabbing her hand and giving it a tight squeeze. Catching a raised eyebrow from the artist, I guessed she thought we were having a lovers’ tryst. ‘I suppose it’s a good way to let everyone know at once.’

‘And the perfect Christmas gift for Mum and Dad.’ She groaned. ‘I’ve no idea what to get them.’

‘At least you’ve the option of producing a piece of original artwork,’ I said. ‘I’ve no clue what to buy mine.’

‘I could do one of my cartoon sketches of them if you like.’

‘Oh, Cassie, they’d love that,’ I said, wondering why I hadn’t thought to ask before.

‘Excuse me, Miss Maitland.’ The artist gave an imperious click of her fingers. ‘I haven’t got all day.’

‘Oops, I’d better go.’ Cassie grazed my cheek with her lips. ‘Thanks, Tilly-willy.’

‘Don’t ever call me that again.’

Outside, I zipped up my jacket to ward off the cold as I walked to my car; a beetle-black Kia Picanto, which Dad had bought for my thirtieth birthday, even though I’d been perfectly happy borrowing Mum’s car, especially as she rarely drove any more.

In the driver’s seat, I sat for a moment, thinking about Cassie’s bombshell, and how lit up she’d looked, and something I couldn’t name started rising beneath my skin.

‘Oh, get a grip,’ I ordered myself, and without knowing I’d intended to go there, I started driving to the leisure centre in Kingsbridge, mentally checking I had my bag in the boot. There was only one way to shake off whatever it was I was feeling, and that was by going for a swim.