Good Neighbours by Mary Grand

Author:Mary Grand [Grand, Mary]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Boldwood Books
Published: 2022-05-17T16:00:00+00:00

22

The next morning Nia checked out of the window, saw it was dry and seemed to hold the promise of a sunny day. Finding Gwen’s file of walks once more, she chose a different walk, this time to Headon Warren.

‘Right, Romeo, let’s get ready for a good long walk.’

Nia packed up food and drinks for them both and set out. They parked on the roadside and then walked together up an unmade road that led to a sandy path.

They were surrounded by the creamy yellow flowers on the gorse bushes. To her right, she’d read, was the narrowest stretch of Solent between the island and the mainland and she could see the Tudor fortress of Hurst Castle.

They kept climbing and when they reached the top the views were breathtaking. The sun shone down on blue, glistening water and ahead she could see what had to be one of the most iconic pictures of the island, Alum Bay with its famous-coloured sands, and the Needles lighthouse at the end of the stack of jagged white chalk rocks.

‘Look at that, Romeo,’ she said. ‘Isn’t it just fabulous?’

The wind was cool but gentle on her face as she sat sharing her lunch with Romeo, watching an array of birds. She recognised the gulls and wagtails but there were some that were new to her. The freshness of the air seemed to blow away the heaviness she’d been feeling the past few days. Not for the first time she felt the island reaching out to her, and she knew that, despite all the trauma around Ruby, something inside her was healing and she was getting stronger.

The next day Nia had a full day’s work ahead, and so she slipped into her new work clothes and went to the salon.

Jade was very quiet and pale that morning, that Nia asked if she was unwell. Jade replied rather abruptly that she was fine and so Nia began her appointments for the day.

Most appointments were straightforward colours and cuts. She noticed that Joe had an appointment that afternoon and was looking forward to talking to him. It would be interesting to see if she could find out what he was up to on a Sunday night after he closed Wight’s, and, of course, she still needed to find out what his argument with Ruby had been about.

Joe rushed in ten minutes late and dived into the chair. ‘Sorry, nearly forgot,’ he said. ‘Now, I was thinking of trying something new, but trendier. What do you reckon?’

Nia was surprised but asked him what he had in mind.

‘I’ve a few celebrations coming up as it’s my thirtieth this year. Dad is planning some big do, and some friends on one of the yachts are throwing a party for me. Also, of course, there’s Old Gaffers this weekend, although I’ll be busy manning the bar then. It’s always a good weekend for business. Anyway, I was thinking kind of short at the sides, long on top.’

‘That kind of style is popular and looks good.

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