Page 3 of The Sunshine Sisters: Aurora

‘Oh. Gosh.’ I was taken aback. I’d been assuming she and Zak would sell up. But the flat was up forrent? ‘Um... can I have a think about it?’

‘Of course you can. It’s got two bedrooms and the kitchen-diner’s nice, if a little small. And it’s really cosy in winter with the heat from the café down below.’

I nodded, my heart beating a little faster. ‘And getting your hands on breakfast probably won’t be too taxing, either.’

She grinned. ‘Absolutely. We open at nine. Cappuccinos and lattes or hot chocolate if you prefer. Croissants and pastries fresh from the oven daily.’

‘Sounds perfect.’

‘Well, have a think about it. Your hair looks great, by the way. Have you done something different to it?’

‘Oh, thanks.’ My hand flew self-consciously to smooth down my choppy blonde locks. ‘Yes, I... fancied a change.’

‘Well, it’s lovely. I wish mine would behave itself like that. Within an hour of blow-drying it, it’s already doing its own mad thing and making me look like a poodle in need of a grooming session.’ She grinned. ‘Anyway, have a think about the flat.’

‘I will. Thank you so much for suggesting it.’

I walked across the village green with a spring in my step. Staying at Milo’s had been just what I needed, but it really was time I got a place of my own. I’d been worried that moving too far from Sunnybrook would leave me feeling isolated, at a time when I was still feeling pretty vulnerable.

But living above the Little Duck Pond Café?

You couldn’t get more central than that!

I walked the rest of the way back to Milo’s, my mind working feverishly, and by the time I arrived, I’d already decided I’d have my old grey sofa recovered in a bright and cheery post-box red... and there were those gorgeous curtains I’d spotted that time in a home store in Guildford. They weren’t expensive and Ihad a feeling they would tone in beautifully with the décor I was planning...

CHAPTER TWO

‘Nice place.’ Milo, carrying a stack of boxes, glanced approvingly around the compact kitchen-diner of Ellie and Zak’s flat, before setting down his load of crockery and cutlery boxes on one of the counters.

Following him into the kitchen with my ironing board, I smiled happily. ‘I know. I can’t believe I’m actually going to be living here. I can get out of your hair at long last!’

‘Don’t be daft. It’s been great having you staying at mine.’ He grinned. ‘I’m going to miss our late-night discussions about life, over a bottle of red.’

‘I’ll miss them, too. You’ve honestly helped me so much these past few months, Milo. I was in such a state when I first arrived but you’ve got me through the absolute worst time in my life.’ I smiled ruefully. ‘I’d probably have gone off the rails completely without your support. You should write a book on how to remain sane.’

‘I guess staying well away from Nash would be my first chapter,’ he murmured drily.

I snorted in agreement. ‘Second chapter: Don’t get involved with such an angry man in the first place.’

‘Quite. Not that you were to know.’

I nodded sadly. ‘He was so very charming when I first met him.’

‘And then he very definitely wasn’t,’ Milo growled. ‘Seriously, after what he put you through, it’s probably best I never actually get to meet the scumbag in person.’

Feeling the ironing board was about to clatter from my grip, I set it quickly against the wall. My hands were trembling and I felt all shaky inside just talking about Nash.

With an effort, I pushed him from my mind, determined he wasn’t going to spoil this lovely new start of mine, in a place all of my own. He wasnotgoing to ruin this, like he’d ruined everything else in my life!

Jaz came in, her arms full of cushions. ‘Where do you want these? Living room?’

‘Yes, please.’ Some removal men were bringing the big items from my lock-up, but Milo and Jaz had very kindly offered to help with the smaller stuff on moving day. ‘The kettle’s in one of these boxes. Why don’t I liberate it and get the refreshments going?’

We sat on cushions in the living room drinking hot coffee and watching our breath steam in the freezing January air (I hadn’t yet figured out how the heating system worked) and talking about how homely the flat could be with just one or two extra little touches, like pictures on the walls and some cosy lighting. And I thought how lucky I was to have made friends already in Sunnybrook, and to be thinking of a future without fear... a future where I was happy and could be totally myself.

A future where I wasn’t always walking on eggshells, trying to keep Nash happy.

Milo got up and went to the window, checking the lock. ‘This place is a little fortress,’ he said, turning to smile reassuringly at me. ‘All the windows are secure and you’ve got a double lock on both the main door downstairs and the flat entrance. No one’s getting in without your invitation.’

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