Page 57 of Happily Never After
‘Bien sûr. You may not see it yet, but it is there.C’est comme une graine. Il suffit de l’arroser et de le regarder grandir.Like a plant, you know? Some plants, they grow very quickly but are not strong.Les Arbres, trees, they grow more slowly but they last. You and your friend are like that.’
I smile at her, unsure what else to do. ‘Merci, I think,’ I tell her. She’s read way more into the situation than can possibly have been there, given that Finn and I had only just met when we saw her last, but I don’t have the heart to tell her that I think she’s probably mistaken. I have no idea what kind of relationship Finn and I will have going forwards, but the more I think about it, the more I think that yesterday was probably our moment, and we missed it.
I’m philosophical as I make my way back to the house. Maybe I just let myself get carried away because I enjoyed spending time with Finn so much. Would our bubble have translated into the real world? We’re both creative people, I suppose, but is that a good thing in a relationship? Part of the reason that Angus and I worked as well as we did was that he was the steady one, with a solid job that allowed me to take risks and pursue my writing dream. Liv may believe it’s always better to regret something you did than something you didn’t do, but maybe, sometimes, it’s better this way around.
21
It’s impossible not to pick up on the atmosphere as I make my way in to breakfast. The seating arrangement has changed, for one thing. Gina and Lynette are sitting next to each other, chatting quietly, and Suzie has been forced to move down to make room. From her facial expression, she’s far from happy about that. To be fair, Grace doesn’t exactly look ecstatic either, and she hasn’t even been bumped from her usual spot. Next to her, Tess is quietly sipping a cup of coffee and seemingly ignoring the torrent of non-verbal tension in the room.
‘Is it all right if I sit next to you?’ I ask Suzie.
‘Come to join the mortals now your little playmate has left?’ she replies sarcastically.
‘On second thoughts, maybe I’ll sit at the end where I normally do,’ I tell her, backing away. I’m not in any mood for barbed remarks today.
‘No, it’s fine,’ she says with a sigh. ‘Sorry. I expect you’re missing Finn, aren’t you?’
‘A little, yes.’
‘Come,’ she instructs. ‘Sit next to me. Gina’s obsessed with her new friend, so I could use some conversation.’
‘Thanks a lot!’ Grace complains. ‘You make it sound like I’ve been completely ignoring you as well.’
‘Of course you haven’t,’ Suzie soothes her. ‘But I’m aware none of us have really given Laura a chance, and I’m just wondering if perhaps we should, that’s all.’
Grace’s facial expression is enough to tell me what she thinks of that idea, and it’s not positive. I’m also a little suspicious of Suzie’s motives, so resolve to keep my guard up.
‘I’ve never asked you what you write,’ I say to her as I take my seat and Cara, used to our preferences by now, places a steaming coffee in front of me.
‘I’m working on a saga,’ she tells me.
‘Like Gina’s?’
‘No, twentieth century. Basically, it follows three generations of the same family through the pre-war era, and then the two world wars, showing how they’re affected by the tremendous social upheaval that took place during that time.’
‘Wow. That sounds like a big project.’
‘It is, particularly as I don’t get that much time to work on it when I’m at home. These retreats are literally the only opportunities I get to immerse myself fully in it. I love my family, but they are time hogs. How do you manage it?’
‘My family consists solely of a dog,’ I tell her with a smile. ‘As long as she gets her walk, she’s pretty easy.’
She leans in conspiratorially. ‘I probably shouldn’t admit this in front of Gina, but I’ve read all of your books and I love them.’
This does catch me by surprise. ‘Really?’
‘Oh, yes. Who can resist a gritty murder plot? Tell me though, why write as a man?’
As I explain the publisher’s rationale to her, I become aware that the other conversation around the table has stopped.
‘That’s ridiculous,’ Gina declares crossly when I’ve finished. ‘My husband reads lots of books written by women.’
‘She’s right,’ Tess tells her. ‘Your husband is an exception, I fear.’
‘Really? Maybe I should resubmit my book as Gerald,’ she muses.
‘But you’ve already got a publisher lined up,’ Grace reminds her. ‘You’ve made it.’
To her credit, Gina does have the grace to look a little uncomfortable, and I notice Lynette’s mouth twitch up. They may have buried the hatchet, but it seems there is still a little bit of residual rivalry there.
