An Almost Perfect Summer: The brand new feel-good romantic read from the beloved bestselling author by Jill Mansell

Author:Jill Mansell [Mansell, Jill]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Headline
Published: 2025-01-16T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 29

Maeve hadn’t meant to confide in anyone. It was all too humiliating for words. What she hadn’t bargained for was Lizzie inviting her over for a swim that evening, then saying, ‘Oh dear, you were all lit up yesterday, and now look at you. Whatever’s happened?’

What was she, some kind of witch? Across from Lizzie, Nella lifted her sunglasses to get a better look. Defiantly Maeve said, ‘Nothing.’

Lizzie gave her a cheer-up smile. ‘Fed up with me already?’

‘Of course not. I’m tired, that’s all.’

But Lizzie and Nella were exchanging knowing looks. Lizzie said, ‘Sweetie, I can’t help being nosy. It’s in my nature. And we can’t help noticing certain things either. It’s just that yesterday you spent the evening flirting like crazy with the handsome artist next door. At eleven o’clock, the two of you left here together. Then this morning you were spotted leaving Hay Hall at some ungodly hour. You went home to change, and switched your cleaning routine around. And now it’s as if a Dementor has squeezed all the joy out of you.’

‘I’m fine.’ Was it that obvious? Maeve felt the shame building up inside her and knew her neck was going blotchy.

‘Hey, these things are always easier to see from the outside.’ Lizzie’s voice softened; she glanced across at Nella, who nodded in agreement. ‘And now he’s gone off in a cab with the woman who showed up here this afternoon. It hasn’t turned out the way you hoped.’

Cami, in a black maternity swimsuit, was bobbing around in the pool like a popped cork. She said with feeling, ‘When does it ever?’

‘He let you down.’ Nella’s tone was sympathetic. ‘Made you think it was the start of something serious.’

Since they evidently already knew, there was no point in trying to deny it. Miserably, Maeve nodded. ‘I believed him. And he didn’t mean any of it. I just feel so stupid.’

‘Oh sweetheart, don’t think that. You mustn’t.’ Leaning across, Lizzie wrapped her up in a hug, and the kindness of the women around her brought a lump to Maeve’s throat.

‘Please don’t tell my dad. I don’t want him to know. He’d be so disappointed in me.’

‘We wouldn’t,’ Lizzie promised.

‘But he wouldn’t be disappointed in you,’ Nella joined in. ‘I can tell you that for sure. He’s so proud of you, everyone knows that. And Dane Cruse isn’t fit to lick your dad’s boots.’

Maeve nodded, still enfolded in Lizzie’s arms and breathing in the scent of her expensive perfume. ‘I just hate that I was gullible enough to believe him. I thought he really liked me.’

‘That’s how they do it,’ said Nella.

‘How do you know when they’re lying, though?’ Maeve pleaded. ‘I mean, how can you ever trust them?’ One thing was for sure, never again would she have a one-night stand.

‘We’ve all been there,’ said Nella. ‘There’s no magic answer. Some men are good. Others are bad but great at tricking you into thinking they’re good. And some are just bad and don’t even bother to hide it.

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