Page 21 of A Sky Full of Stars
‘How are you doing, mate?’ Nick asked as he helped Tristan ferry three pints of scrumpy back to the table. ‘Haven’t seen you back in the village in ages.’
‘It’s been busy,’ Tristan replied. ‘I’ve been up to my eyeballs in plans and permissions for several projects, including the one in the village, and they’ve taken me all over the place lately.’
‘Sounds like things are really taking off for you,’ Annabelle interjected. ‘It’s about time. You’ve worked hard enough for it.’
The friends lapsed into a pause while they sipped their drinks. Annabelle asked about Thea, and Tristan filled her in on his sister’s plans to move into the new development on Observatory Field.
‘Makes sense,’ Annabelle replied, although her tone sounded less certain. Tristan didn’t need to ask why. Nick and Annabelle had been witnesses to his and Thea’s family tragedy, and had helped pick up the pieces afterwards, and for years while they were all still at school. He knew that Thea could square living in a new home at Observatory Field more easily than he could: she had a pragmatic, practical streak that allowed her to see the advantages, despite the history. Being back in Lower Brambleton and closer to Lorelai was more important now. He still couldn’t bring himself to feel the same way, but then there were some things about the tragedy he’d never reconciled himself to.
‘I saw Thea this afternoon,’ Nick said, after taking a sip of his pint. ‘I was dropping off a delivery to your gran’s house, and she rocked up with those adorable sprogs of hers. They’ve grown since the last time I saw her.’
‘They have,’ Tristan replied. ‘Time flies when you’re a single parent of two, or so she’s always telling me!’
Nick laughed. ‘She looked really well, though. I did ask her if she fancied coming over with the kids to watch the cricket, but I guess she decided against it.’
Tristan smothered a grin as Annabelle raised a speculative eyebrow in her brother’s direction. ‘She turned you down again, did she? Still carrying that torch from secondary school?’
‘It wasn’t like that!’ Nick muttered, but Tristan noticed his colour rising slightly. ‘I just thought it would be nice for her to have a break, that’s all.’
Annabelle’spull the other one, it’s got bells onexpression wasn’t lost on Tristan. ‘Whatever, little brother. I’m sure she had her reasons for turning you down.’ Before Nick could respond to her, she’d turned her attention back to Tristan, in a swiftvolte facethat only people who’ve been friends forever can achieve without confusion. ‘So how’s itreallyall going sorting out Observatory Field, Tris?’
Tristan didn’t want to get into a deeper discussion with Annabelle, who had the ability to read him better than most of his friends, over a pub table, so he was relieved when her attention was drawn to Charlotte, who’d pushed open the door of the pub. Charlotte was blinking slightly, having come in from the still bright evening sunshine. She gave a brief smile of recognition as she spotted the group of friends, and then went to the bar. His eyes followed her across the room, watching the way she walked and the way her little black and white dog trotted obediently at her heels.
‘Someone caught your eye, Tris?’ Annabelle teased gently.
Tristan shook his head a little too forcefully to rebut her suggestion. ‘I just need a word with Gran’s new lodger. She’s got some paperwork I’ve got to take to the office on Monday.’
‘Oh, the last of the great romantics.’ Annabelle rolled her eyes. ‘It’s Saturday night and you’re still thinking about work. Why don’t we ask her to join us? She probably doesn’t know that many people, and she might like company in this most local of local boozers.’
Tristan didn’t have time to protest as Annabelle waved broadly at Charlotte, who did appear relieved to have an anchor point in an unfamiliar pub. ‘Come and have a drink!’ Annabelle called. ‘You don’t want to be sitting alone.’
Charlotte smiled, and Tristan thought what a lovely smile she had. ‘Thanks,’ she called back. ‘I’ll just grab a Coke and I’ll be on over.’
Tristan sipped his cider and sat back in his chair. It didn’t look like he’d be going anywhere soon, and, if he was being honest, he was quite enjoying being social on a Saturday evening. Perhaps he’d stay for another drink and see how the night panned out.
23
Charlotte’s eyes took a moment to adjust to the dim light inside the pub, but when they did, she saw Tristan, Annabelle and Nick and a guy she didn’t recognise sitting at one of the tables. When Annabelle called her over to join them, she hesitated for a second: would Tristan want her there given their somewhat uneven recent encounters? But, she figured, if things got awkward, she could always make her excuses and leave the friends to it.
Taking her drink, she walked over to where the four were sitting. As she did so, she noticed how much more relaxed Tristan seemed in the company of his friends, and how that smile she’d seen on the doorstep of the observatory was readier when he was with them. Perhaps she’d misjudged him after all?
‘So, it didn’t take you long to find the local pub, then?’ Annabelle’s tone was teasing, once she’d introduced Charlotte to the other guy at the table, Jamie, her husband. ‘Rural life tends to be better if there’s a chance of a bit of alcoholic lubrication now and then!’
The friends all laughed and Charlotte gave a grin. ‘I live in university halls most of the year, so I’m well used to booze,’ she replied. ‘But it’s nice to be out amongst actual adults and not perennially drunk undergraduates making the most of being away from home for the first time.’
‘I can’t think of anything worse.’ Annabelle wrinkled her nose. ‘How do you have the patience for all of that?’
Charlotte laughed. ‘You get used to it after a while, and it’s nice to know that you’re helping to support the kids as they settle in. I suppose I just like university life, and I’m happy to do my bit to make sure the undergrads do, as well.’
‘That all sounds very noble,’ Annabelle grinned. ‘Although I do hope you make the most of your freedom while you’re working in Lower Brambleton, even if things are a little quieter than you’re accustomed to.’ She raised her glass. ‘To summer adventures.’
‘Summer adventures,’ Charlotte echoed. As she did, she couldn’t help stealing a glance at Tristan, who, to her surprise, was looking right back at her. She felt her pulse quicken, but as soon as he saw she’d seen him, he glanced back to Annabelle.
‘So, Lorelai tells me that the Lower Brambleton Astronomical Society meets here on a Saturday evening,’ Charlotte said, trying to move things forward, and away from the knowledge that she’d caught Tristan looking at her. ‘Do you have any idea where I can find them?’
‘Wrong Saturday, I’m afraid,’ Nick replied. ‘They have the back room of the pub for their presentations and discussions on the last Saturday of the month. Although I doubt that’ll be happening for much longer now the observatory’s being demolished.’
Charlotte shook her head. ‘Seems a bit of a shame they can’t set up somewhere else, but I suppose that’s progress.’
