Chapter 4

“I can’t believe you’re married,” Josie said to Lizzie as they sat on the beach and watched the waves rolling in. After a leisurely breakfast, they’d waved off the majority of the wedding guests and re-convened back at Lizzie and Max’s house, then moseyed down to the beach to enjoy the lovely spring weather.

“Me neither,” she said.

“And to think that not so long ago you were engaged to someone else!”

“I know. It’s crazy how quickly things can change. Speaking of which, you should think about Annette’s offer.”

“You can’t be serious,” Josie said as Max wandered over and draped an arm around Lizzie’s shoulder, kissing the side of her head.

“It’s really not a bad idea,” Max put in. “You need a job and Annette needs some help. And if you move in quick it would be good. Then we won’t have to worry about her while we’re away on honeymoon.”

“Oh, I see.”

“It’d be good for you too,” Max said. “Free rent and food.” He raised his eyebrows. “Sam right next door…”

“There’s a good reason not to move then,” Josie said lightly. “I’m completely embarrassed that you told him to keep an eye on me yesterday. I’m not some charity case.”

“He wasn’t supposed to tell you,” Max said. “And he wasn’t supposed to kiss you either…”

Lizzie’s eyes widened. “You kissed Sam?”

“Shush!” Josie looked round and caught sight of Sam chatting to Max’s nephew further along the beach. She looked back at Max. “I can’t believe he told you that.”

“I don’t think he meant to, he was just excited.”

“Sam’s lovely.” Lizzie cast a glance in his direction. “It’s a bit soon after Jack, though, isn’t it?”

“It was only a kiss,” she said. “These things happen at weddings.”

“Apparently so,” Lizzie said. “Anyway, what about Annette’s offer?”

“I’m not going to move in with Max’s aunt. And I’m surprised you’re okay with the idea. Has no one else noticed that I can’t keep a job for more than five minutes? Why would you recommend me to Annette?”

“Better the devil you know,” Max said deadpan, earning himself a shove from Lizzie. “Well it’s true!” He laughed. “She’s determined to employ someone, and she’s basically a vulnerable little old lady living in an isolated farmhouse. I don’t want someone we don’t know up there. She’d be handing over her life savings before we know it. She’s far too trusting.”

“Thanks for the vote of confidence. Some brother you’re turning out to be.”

“Brother-in-law,” he corrected. “As you keep reminding me.”

“Whatever. First day on the job and you’re being mean to me!”

Putting an arm round her, he squeezed her affectionately. “You’d do a great job with the kennels. And I’m sure you and Annette would get on well. Just think about it.”

She promised she would and went to mingle, chatting to one of Max’s brothers and then an elderly neighbour, Dotty, who she’d met several times before. Eventually, she made her way round to Sam.

“I’m going to make an observation.” His voice was suspiciously quiet. “And you can tell me what you think…”

“Okay.” She tried not to focus on his proximity. “What?”

“Your sister’s not drinking.”

“So?”

“She wasn’t drinking yesterday either.” 

“She was. For the toasts she definitely had champagne.”

He shook his head. “She may have held a glass of champagne. She wasn’t drinking it.”

“What are you getting at?”

“Nothing.” He shrugged. “Just an observation.”

Josie looked over to Lizzie, sitting in the sand, cuddled up to Max. “You know when you said you live in a village full of gossips? I think it may have rubbed off!”

“I’m not gossiping,” he said. “It’s just an observation.”

“An observation which leads you to believe Lizzie’s pregnant?”

“Yes,” he said firmly.

“No way.”

“Okay.”

“Do you know something I don’t?” Josie asked.

“No. But I was visiting them a couple of weeks ago and I felt like there was something weird going on. Lizzie gave me a list of reasons why she couldn’t have a drink with us in the pub. If she’d just said she didn’t want a drink I wouldn’t have thought anything of it. That’s why I noticed yesterday. And today.”

“She’s not pregnant,” Josie said. “No. Lizzie likes to plan everything perfectly. She wouldn’t get pregnant before the wedding. It’s not how she does things. She’s very proper.”

Sam’s gaze stayed on an oblivious Lizzie for a moment. “I think she’s pregnant.”

“No. She’s not.”

He stuck his hand out for her to shake. “Fiver?”

She laughed. “I’m not betting on whether … oh go on then, a fiver.” She shook his hand. “But if it turns out to be true and you already had inside information then the bet’s off.”

“I don’t know anything,” he insisted. “I’m just guessing.”

“Hmm. If you say so. I know how you and Max like to tell each other everything.”

He looked puzzled.

“You told him about last night … on the beach!”

“Oh, yeah.” He grimaced. “Sorry. That just slipped out.”

They both turned when Annette called out to Sam. She was standing at the top of the beach, waving to them. “I’ve got to play taxi,” Sam said. “I think she’s had enough. She doesn’t like being away from the farm. I think this is the longest she’s been away in years.”

“I’ll come and say goodbye,” Josie said.

They walked up the beach to Annette. Sam was right; she was keen to get home.

“Why don’t you come with us?” she said to Josie. “You could come and have a look around. See what you think about taking the job.”

“Are you really serious about me working for you?”

Annette looked at her pleadingly. “Very serious. At least come and have a look around and then you can think about it properly.”

“I should be getting home,” she said.

Max appeared behind her. “You pretty much drive past Annette’s place on the way to Oxford.”

“Come on,” Annette said. “Just have a look at the place. No pressure…”

Josie rolled her eyes. “Not much!”