Page 54 of Finding Love in Micklewick Bay

‘Hiya, Stells,’ Florrie and Lark chorused back, both wearing happy Friday night smiles.

‘Tell you what, it’s a bit nippy out there now.’ Stella was aware that both her friends were regarding her closely which didn’t surprise her after everything that had been happening, and they didn’t even know the half of it yet.

‘You’re not wrong there. I had to fish out my thicker jacket,’ said Lark.

‘Yeah, me too,’ said Florrie. ‘Jazz is on her way, says she’s adding the finishing touches to a cake for a fiftieth wedding anniversary. We’re expecting her to arrive covered from head to toe in golden glitter.’ That made them chuckle; Jasmine regularly sported some sparkly evidence of her cake-decorating.

‘Poor old Jazz, she works her socks off.’ Stella slipped in beside Lark on the settle, laying her jacket beside her.

‘She does,’ said Lark, inching up for her. ‘Which reminds me, as it’s her birthday coming up soon, I was going to suggest we book her in for a pamper session at that place you go to over in Danskelfe, Stells. You’re always raving about it. What do you reckon?’

‘Ooh, fab idea, she could do with a treat like that,’ said Florrie, reaching for the bottle of white wine in the ice bucket and pouring a glass for Stella.

‘Thanks, Florrie.’ Stella picked up the glass and took a sip, the crisp flavours dancing on her tongue. ‘I agree, it is a fab idea. Rachel isamazing. Her hot stones massage is sodreamy, I defy anyone not to feel relaxed after one. It’d do Jazz the world of good, providing she can sit still for long enough, that is. We could take her for a meal at The Sunne Inne in Lytell Stangdale after. I’ve had a Sunday dinner there and it’s absolutely amazing, and Mags is still raving about the meal she and Bear had there.’

‘Aww, that would be a fab way to finish her day off, she so deserves some “me time”.’ Lark pressed her hands to her heart. ‘I suggest we tell her it’s all been paid for in advance and that it’s our treat; you know what she’s like about not letting folk pay forthings for her. We don’t want to make her feel like we think of her as a “charity case” as she calls it.’

‘Heck, no, we don’t want that,’ said Florrie.

‘How about we don’t let on any of the details at all?’ said Stella. ‘We could just tell her we’re taking her out on a surprise trip for the day, that way she won’t have the chance to dissuade us or try to get us to cancel it.’

‘Good plan.’ Florrie nodded and Lark agreed.

‘Now then, lasses.’ Just then, Maggie appeared at the table, oozing radiance, her baby bump standing proud in her brightly coloured jersey tunic dress. ‘I just caught the tail-end of that, but I’m guessing you’re plotting our Jazz’s birthday.’ She inched her way in beside Florrie.

‘We are.’ Stella nodded as they filled Maggie in on their idea.

‘We’ll need to make sure her parents are free to look after the kids that day. I can run it by them when we settle on a date,’ said Florrie.

‘Ey up, the woman in question has just walked in,’ said Maggie. ‘Time to change the subject.’

‘Flippin’ ’eck it’s good to see you lot.’ Jasmine puffed out a sigh as she flopped onto the chair at the end of the table, her brow glistening with perspiration. Her hair was shimmering with gold sparkles, the soft lighting of the bar picking out a dusting of gold edible glitter on the end of her nose. Despite her smiles she looked exhausted. ‘So what have I missed? Owt or nowt?’

‘Nothing really,’ said Stella, ‘we haven’t been here long ourselves; you’ve made good time.’

‘I’m not surprised! I belted down Skitey Bank as fast as my little legs could carry me. I’m jiggered now,’ she said with a chuckle. ‘Anyroad, how’s things with you, Stells? Have they settled down after Wednesday night’s drama at The Cellar?’

‘Yes, that can’t have been an easy night for you. Have you seen any more of your father?’ asked Lark.

‘And how’s your neighbour Mr Dishy?’ Jasmine waggled her eyebrows mischievously at that, raising a smile from Stella.

‘Hmm. There’s so much to tell, I’m not sure where to start,’ Stella said, before pointing her finger between her nose and Jasmine in an attempt to alert her friend to the smudge of gold glitter adorning her nose.

Jasmine’s brows knitted together before she clicked what Stella was doing. ‘Ahh, the bloomin’ stuff gets everywhere. I dare say I’ll find it in my knickers when I take them off.’

‘Please tell us you’re not going to do that now, Jazz.’ Maggie feigned a worried expression just as Ando Taylor’s shrieking laugh rang around the bar. The friends glanced over at him and burst out laughing. ‘Ando clearly agrees.’

‘Trust me, my belly-whackers will be staying firmly in place on my bum. No one in their right mind wants to see those things.’

‘Phew!’ Stella mimed wiping sweat from her brow. Jasmine responded by poking her tongue out at her friend.

‘Anyroad, getting back to you, Stella, we’re all dying to know how things went with your father after his dramatic appearance on Wednesday night. Have you seen or heard from him since,’ asked Florrie.

‘I met him at The Cellar yesterday morning, Pim was there too.’ Stella went on to share what followed.

‘Wow!’ said Jasmine. ‘That’s some heavy stuff.’

‘Tell me about it,’ said Stella. She was still trying to get her head around it and reliving it had got her feeling a little churned up again.

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