Page 46 of The Sunshine Sisters: Aurora

‘Really?’ I stared at her. She was right. I could really do with a break away from everything. For weeks, I’d been plagued by the idea of someone watching me, but not knowing who. It was a horrible, creepy feeling that never really left me, especially at night. Then I’d met Kurt and things seemed to be looking up –until it all went flat. And now Skye landing on my doorstep out of the blue and causing her own particular brand of chaos.

I was bone-weary. My head was all over the place.

A day at a spa in great company was just what I needed.

*****

Later, at the art class, I was working on my new hellebores watercolour, when Cal pulled a chair across and spent a good while talking about my work and saying how he thought I showed incredible promise.

‘From what I’ve seen, you’ve definitely got the talent to make a career of your art. Whether it’s selling your paintings in some form or teaching classes yourself.’ He grinned. ‘I’m doing myself out of a job here.’

I laughed, blushing at his fulsome and unexpected praise. ‘Thank you, but I haven’t painted for a long time so I feel like I’m quite rusty.’

‘Well, if that’s the case, Rori, I can’t wait to see the results when you really hit your stride. They could be quite spectacular.’ His eyes twinkled at me as he walked away, and Janey made a funny face at me behind his back.

‘Teacher’s pet!’ she laughed, when he was well out of earshot. ‘Rori Sunshine, I think you’ve got an admirer there.’

‘Well, he likes my paintings, anyway.’

She gave me a knowing look. ‘If you ask me, I think he likes rather more than your watercolours.’

I shrugged, grinning self-consciously, not really knowing what to say. I liked Cal and I was flattered he’d made the time to talk to me about my art, but surely that was all he was interested in? Even if Janey was right that he liked me (and I didn’t think she was), I still seemed to be rather inconveniently stuck on Kurt...

‘Mind you.’ Janey grinned. ‘The poor man probably doesn’t stand a chance with Kurt in the picture. How are things going with you two, anyway? I bet the ghost train was cosy.’

I laughed and blushed, giving myself away instantly.

‘Aha!’ She pointed a triumphant finger at me. ‘I knew it!’

Then, of course, I had to tell her that after a promising start, it had all gone a bit wrong with Kurt after he told Nash where I was living.

She frowned. ‘You mean you didn’t give Kurt a chance to explain?’

I shook my head. ‘I was just so freaked out, seeing Nash driving away from the flat, and then when Kurt admitted it was his fault he was there, I just fled.’

‘You should definitely see him and talk things out.’

‘I know. It’s just with everything else that’s been happening... but yes, I will. I’ll text him and arrange to meet him. I just hope he’s forgiven me for being so out of touch lately.’

‘He will if he’s keen. And you can explain that your sister suddenly landed on you so she’s been taking up all your time?’

I nodded, knowing she was right. And as it turned out, I didn’t have to text Kurt at all – because when we came out of the art class, there he was, like magic, coming out of the village store. It seemed like Fate. And not wanting to waste any more time, I explained to Janey, waved at Lance who’d been outside waiting for her, and I walked straight over to Kurt with a smile.

He seemed a little nervous, asking how I was.

‘I’m fine.’ I hesitated. Then I said in a rush, ‘I was just really shocked to find out you’d told Nash where I was living now. I didn’t even know you knew him.’

He shrugged. ‘But Ididn’tknow him. Not until I won that contract to install kitchens in some of his new-build houses, and we had a meeting to discuss the details. You’d never told me thename of your ex, so I had no way of knowing who he was in relation to you.’

‘Okay,’ I said slowly. ‘But how on earth did my name come up in abusinessmeeting?’

‘It didn’t. Not during the meeting. But afterwards, we chatted in the car park and I mentioned I lived in Sunnybrook, and his face sort of lit up and he said he had a good friend he’d lost touch with who was apparently living there now. He really wanted to get back in touch with her, and did I happen to know someone called Aurora? I said I didn’t, because of course I only knew you as “Rori” and he looked sad and said he missed her friendship. So at that point, I clicked that it was you, and without thinking, I said, “Oh, the girl who’s living above the Little Duck Pond Café now?” Of course, I could kick myself now.’

He shrugged, looking so fed up I almost wanted to give him a hug.

Almost.

I sighed wearily. ‘You’ve no idea what grief you’ve brought to my door. But I understand now. It wasn’t your fault. And I’m sorry I ran off that night without giving you a chance to explain.’

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