Strictly Friends by Frances Mensah Williams

Strictly Friends by Frances Mensah Williams

Author:Frances Mensah Williams [Williams, Frances Mensah]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781542038898
Google: 88o4zwEACAAJ
Amazon: B0B2PBN1DT
Goodreads: 74818141
Publisher: Lake Union
Published: 2023-03-16T00:00:00+00:00


26

Miss Ida’s eyes were glued to the laptop as Ruby scrolled through the draft pages of the Paradise Inn website, and she listened intently while Ruby explained the rationale behind Nick’s design and the features for the app currently in development.

‘What do you think so far?’ Ruby asked, closing the laptop. ‘We still need to upload the pictures and I want to include a page about the island’s history and, of course, the story of you and Marty.’

Relinquishing Miss Ida’s chair, Ruby returned to the visitor’s chair on the other side of the desk, hoping Miss Ida didn’t hate what she’d seen so far. But Miss Ida didn’t reply, and as the silence stretched out, her eyes suddenly filled with tears.

‘Miss Ida!’ Caught off-guard, Ruby gasped in dismay. ‘What’s the matter? If you don’t like it, we can change the colour scheme or even the whole layout. Honestly, whatever you want—’

‘No, no, sweetheart!’ Miss Ida said shakily. ‘Don’t pay me no mind, I’m just being foolish. It’s beautiful just as it is. I’m just so – so overwhelmed and – and grateful for what you folks are doing for me. It’s hard to imagine that people all over the world will be reading about our home. Oh, Ruby!’

Miss Ida clasped her hands together and shook her head slowly, and Ruby blinked back her own unexpected tears.

‘I’m so glad you like it, and I know Nick will be over the moon when I tell him. Your love story is incredibly inspiring – even to grouchy non-romantics like me.’

Keen to lighten the mood, Ruby lightly tapped the computer on her lap. ‘Once I’ve finished with the pictures and sent everything to Nick, he’ll finish the site in no time. Just promise that when you and Paradise Inn become world-famous, you’ll find space for Jake and me when we visit.’

‘There’ll always be a room here for you and my sweet boy!’ Miss Ida rested her arms on the desk with an amused twinkle in her eyes. ‘So, you do plan on coming back, then? See, a few days ago, I’d have bet it was because of Kenny – or even Mac, since he comes every year. But now your beautiful man-friend has shown up, I’m not sure what to think.’

Ruby shook her head. ‘You really are a hopeless romantic, Miss Ida! Well, I’m sorry to disappoint you but Griffin and I have been best friends since we were kids.’

‘Can’t say as I know many friends who’d pick up and travel all this way just to surprise you. Calling me up to book a room and all.’

‘It does sound hard to believe when you put it like that,’ Ruby giggled, ‘but that’s typical Griffin. We have a bond that is hard to explain to people. Neither of us has siblings, and growing up we were in and out of each other’s house all the time. I was really close to his mum and, after she died, Griff was a mess for ages.’ Ruby paused. ‘In some ways, he’s still a bit lost.



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