The Winter Girl by Elodie Parkes

Author:Elodie Parkes [Parkes, Elodie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Hot Ink Press
Published: 2013-06-12T07:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Three

It was Monday evening when Lily came back to town. Ash had succumbed to visiting her house in her absence on the Sunday, and finding her not at home, tried calling her. She saw his number on her cell phone and rejected the call. Lily had talked with Mia and another friend about Ash. They decided he wasn’t good for Lily. He might be great in bed and gorgeous, but in the long run would probably break her heart. She already felt something for him, though what exactly was debatable, and so it was wise to stop seeing him completely.

They went out for Sunday lunch at a city restaurant and Lily decided that she would heed her friends. Sitting there in the bright lights reflected in the chrome décor and surrounded by people all happily talking, Lily could almost believe she had been lulled into a dull way of life in the small town. It was pretty and it had been soothing, but now it felt distant and parochial. A group of legal people from the offices opposite her own was at a table not far away, and one of the partners waved to Lily. He stood up and approached.

“Hi Lily, I’ve not seen you around for weeks.”

She smiled. “Hi Oscar, no I’ve been sorting out the property my grandmother left me.”

He pulled a chair over and proceeded to tell them about a new client. Oscar specialized in environmental law. They chatted companionably for a half hour and then Lily found herself inviting him to her birthday party. When he went back to his own table Mia giggled.

“Lily, that was fast work, you’ve only just ditched the gorgeous Ash, and here you are lining up a replacement.”

Lily felt the smile leave her face and an ache grew in the middle of her body. Not quite in her stomach and not quite in her heart, but it made her feel hollow and a little nauseous.

“I was just being friendly, Mia. We’ve been acquainted for years,” Lily said softly, and she hoped it would appear that way to Oscar.

Now back home Lily arranged her desk and considered the needs for the party on Friday. It wasn’t to be formal, and she didn’t intend it to be big, but there were already more than twenty people coming. She picked up her cell phone and called the catering company that she sometimes used for conferences and larger client meetings. Then she called the local florist for a table center display and then the liquor store for drinks. She had a chest freezer in the utility room and decided to go into town because the gas station sold huge bags of ice. She would buy a few and store them ready for Friday. Lily put on her coat and picked up her keys and wallet. ‘That’s all arranged then’, she thought, and left the house.

Lily parked on the side of the forecourt. She went into the gas station office and paid for six bags of ice that the assistant brought to her trunk on a wheeled cart.

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