A Summer Escape and Strawberry Cake at the Cosy Kettle: A feel good, laugh out loud romantic comedy by Liz Eeles

Author:Liz Eeles [Eeles, Liz]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781786816702
Publisher: Bookouture
Published: 2019-06-30T18:30:00+00:00

After Daniel, Luna and Caleb have disappeared into the pub, I slip my feet out of my sandals and sit, for a moment, with my bare feet on the cool grass. It’s gorgeous out here, drinking wine in the sunshine. Birds are twittering in a nearby tree that’s casting shadows across the grass and a Dalmatian is lapping water from a bowl near the door. All around me are couples, groups of friends and families, laughing and relaxing on a late Sunday afternoon.

A wave of heartbreaking loneliness suddenly sweeps over me. I get up quickly, push my feet back into my shoes and hurry over to Callie before I’m engulfed.

‘Hey, Flora. Did you open the shop today?’ Callie gives me a beaming smile and pushes her wavy blonde hair over her shoulder. ‘If you’d let me know, I’d have come in to give you a hand when I finished at the coffee shop. I only went for a picnic with Noah afterwards.’

‘No, I didn’t want to intrude on your time together.’ I smile at her handsome, square-jawed boyfriend, who grins back. ‘When do you start your new job in Oxford, Noah?’

‘Tomorrow. This is my last day of freedom.’

‘Ah, good luck. And what about you, Stanley? How are you?’

‘I’m sick,’ says Stanley, pulling at the beads around his neck.

‘Oh, I’m sorry to hear that.’

Callie rests her hand on my arm. ‘He’s absolutely fine. He means sick as in “great”. It’s his favourite slang word at the moment.’

‘Only one of my favourites,’ insists Stanley, rustling about in his shell suit. ‘Along with “wicked”, “salty” and “goat”.’

‘Goat?’

Stanley shakes his head. ‘Short for “greatest of all time”. Honestly, Flora, I’d have thought you’d know that, what with you being such a young ’un.’

‘Talking of young,’ butts in Noah, his pale blue eyes twinkling, ‘did you know that Stanley has decided that dance is his latest passion and a good way of staying young and supple? He’s looking into doing ballet classes.’

‘Um, I didn’t realise that. No.’ A vision of Stanley wearing a pink tutu and doing pliés floats into my mind, as Callie groans quietly.

‘I have a bad case of elderly FOMO,’ declares Stanley. ‘Fear of missing out,’ he adds, helpfully. ‘So, before the Grim Reaper calls, I’m trying my hand at all sorts of things. What do you think about me being the next dance sensation?’

‘I think it’s wonderful,’ I tell him, and I mean it. Stanley isn’t opting for a life that’s familiar or safe. He’s breaking away from the norm, and I’d love just a little of his courage and chutzpah.

‘By the way, when are we going to meet to discuss the book club taking part in the Charter Parade?’ he asks. ‘I’ve got loads of ideas to help us stand out from the crowd, though I’m not sure Millie will go for them.’

‘We can have a chat about it at book club next week and maybe get a planning meeting organised?’

Stanley nods. ‘Better had. There’s a lot to sort out in a short amount of time.

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