Crazy Little Thing Called Love by Charlotte Butterfield

Author:Charlotte Butterfield
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780008216528
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 2017-06-22T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 16

Tasha’s kitchen was once featured in 21 Beautiful Homes. The white Shaker-style units were described by the salivating journalist as ‘Hamptons-esque’, while the pale Tiffany blue walls ‘introduced a coastal chic feel into the culinary centre of the family home’. Everything from the tea towels to the crockery matched the blue and white colour scheme. Everything except the bright pink kettle that Tasha had bought in a petty act of rebellion against the flawless scheme. That, and the haphazard array of paintings that Oscar had done at nursery that were tacked up with fridge magnets that Alex kept moving onto the side of the big white Smeg fridge, and Tasha resolutely kept moving back to its front.

‘So you must be really chuffed,’ Tasha said to her sister, pouring boiling water into two mugs. ‘I forgot to ask, is instant ok? I can’t be bothered to fire up the bean grinder and wait for hours for a cuppa.’

‘Sure, it’s fine,’ Leila replied. ‘Yes, I’m really happy about it. I even started sketching some ideas for the project on the flight back.’ She reached out to accept the proffered mug. ‘Thank you. I can’t believe that I stuck around in a rubbish situation for so long before breaking out on my own.’ That was too blatant, Leila thought, she should have started softer. She tried to meet her sister’s eye to gauge her response but she wasn’t looking.

‘I mean, sometimes, things seem ok, don’t they? When you’re in the middle of it, I mean,’ Leila continued earnestly. ‘But it’s only afterwards, when you’ve got out, that you realise how amazing your life is now. And you wonder why you hadn’t done it before.’

‘But you did eventually, didn’t you, that’s what counts.’

Was Tasha talking in riddles too? Or was she still referring to Leila’s job? ‘I guess. But I think people are too quick to just put up with situations when they don’t necessarily have to.’ That should do it, Leila thought, she’s bound to know what I mean now.

‘But you liked your old boss didn’t you? It’s only since this new despot started that you started to hate it, so you weren’t suffering for too long.’

Dammit, Leila thought, Tasha hadn’t a clue what she was on about. Maybe subtlety wasn’t called for. ‘Everything ok with you?’ she asked innocently, blowing the steam off her coffee.

‘Fine thanks. Mia’s mocks are going well, and Talia’s just got her ten-metre swimming badge, so yes, couldn’t be better.’

‘Great, great. And Alex? He’s well, is he?’

Leila wondered if she imagined a slight narrowing of Tasha’s eyes at the mention of her husband, but there was no mistaking the intonation in Tasha’s voice as she frostily replied, ‘Very.’

But still Leila pushed on. ‘He was away recently wasn’t he? On a course or something? That go well?’ She was pleased with the way that came out. Just a run-of-the-mill friendly enquiry. Nothing else.

‘Yes. In Cyprus. I told you that.’ Tasha’s reply was curt.

‘Oh lovely. Cyprus is one place I’d love to go to.

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