The Lavender Bay Collection. Sarah Bennett

Beth glanced from Libby’s knowing grin to Eliza’s open-mouthed expression of shock. ‘Twice, actually.’

      ‘Where? When? Come on I need details! And shut your mouth, Eliza, it’s not like this hasn’t been brewing for years.’

      Eliza glugged a mouthful of her wine. ‘Yes, you’re right, but still the thought of anyone kissing my brother is a bit…’ She shuddered, though her eyes were full of humour.

      Taking her own fortifying drink, Beth held up her hand. ‘Before you get too excited, we’ve decided to stick to just being friends.’

      ‘What? Why?’ Libby demanded. ‘You two are a match if ever I saw one, I think you’d be great together.’

      Beth shook her head. ‘It’s too complicated, and not the right time for either of us.’ She waved her arm to indicate the space around her, almost spilling her wine in the process. ‘I need to put all of my focus into this place, and Sam’s got his hands full with the pub, and…’ It was on the tip of her tongue to tell them about the restaurant idea, but it wasn’t her news to share. ‘everything. It’s bad timing.’ She was starting to hate those two words.

      A familiar toot-toot sounded from the street below, and Beth grabbed her purse. ‘Saved by the bell!’ She hurried out of the flat and down the stairs.

      Libby followed her out to lean over the top bannister rail. ‘It’ll take more than a pizza to save you, B. We want all the gory details!’

      Beth took her time collecting the pizzas, trying to concentrate on the friendly conversation with Davey as he refused her offer of a tip and carefully counted out the change she was owed. She pocketed the coins, and had just balanced the pizza boxes on one hand when he reached into his car to produce a plastic carrier bag. ‘Here, Gina sent you each a slice of tiramisu, on the house.’

      ‘Oh, Davey, that’s very kind, but you should let me pay for them.’ Beth had her hand halfway to her pocket before he waved her off.

      ‘Don’t you dare! You know she likes to spoil you girls when she can. Just make sure she has an invitation to your grand opening, and that’ll be payment enough. She hasn’t stopped talking about how pleased she is to see you picking up where Eleanor left off.’

      Grand opening? Beth swallowed hard. She’d hoped everyone would be busy enough with their own businesses that she’d be able to open the doors to the emporium quietly in the run up to Easter. From what Davey was saying, that didn’t sound like the case. ‘I…I’ll make sure to let her know the date.’

      ‘Splendid.’ He handed over the bag with a broad smile. ‘I know you’ll do Eleanor proud, Beth.’

      It was hard to talk around the sudden lump in her throat, so she settled for a nod and a slightly watery smile. Hands full, she pushed the gate closed behind him; locking it seemed like overkill, it wasn’t as though she was living in a high-crime area of London anymore. The only people who came to the back door were delivery men, and her friends. Entering the house, she kicked the back door shut with her heel. The Yale lock clicked into place and she used her elbow to push the deadlock button up. More than enough security.

      She carried the food into the living room, to find Libby had opened another bottle of wine and laid out sheets of kitchen paper to use as napkins. Eliza took the pizza boxes from her hand, then noticed the carrier bag swinging from Beth’s fingers. ‘What’s that? Garlic bread?’

      Beth shook her head. ‘That should be in the top box, I think. This is Gina’s homemade tiramisu—her treat. I’ll just pop it in the fridge for later.’

      By the time she returned, Eliza had ripped the lid off one of the boxes and shovelled half the Hawaiian pizza together with several slices of garlic bread on to it. She slid it across the coffee table towards Beth and she sank into an armchair with a sigh. ‘Gina’s expecting a grand opening for the emporium.’

      Libby paused with a slice of pizza just inches from her lips. ‘The whole town is, B, I assumed you’d realise that.’

      Groaning, Beth snatched up her wine glass and took a swig. ‘Tell me you’re kidding? I was hoping for something quiet.’ She still had serious doubts about whether she could make a go of things, and hosting a big party felt like a commitment she wasn’t sure she was ready to make. Easter would be the real test, so she’d give herself until the end of April and then sit down to evaluate her options. She’d keep that to herself for now; as much as she loved her friends, it had to be a decision for her and her alone.

      ‘Fat chance of that around here. This is the most exciting thing that’s happened since the newsagents rearranged their shelves last summer. Face it, you’re the talk of the town.’ Libby stuffed half the slice in her mouth and began to chew, which must have been tough given the huge bloody smirk on her face.

      ‘Just imagine what they’ll be saying once they find out you’ve been smooching the boy next door,’ Eliza added, tartly.

      ‘What? Oh, God, don’t even go there. It was two kisses.’ Two of the best kisses she’d ever experienced, but that wasn’t the point. ‘I shouldn’t have bloody said anything.’ She grabbed for the remote control. ‘Shall we watch a film?’

      Eliza leaned forward to snatch the remote from her hand. ‘Nice try, but you’re not getting out of this. I want to know what’s been going on between you two.’ She didn’t sound cross, much to Beth’s relief, more concerned.

      Libby on the other hand, was full of nothing but mischief. ‘Yes, tell us everything. How was it?’

      ‘It was okay.’ Beth helped herself to some pizza, stuffing it into her mouth before she could say anymore.

      ‘Okay?’ Libby snorted. ‘You don’t blurt it out and then blush the way you are over an okay kiss. Details, B, come on now. Let me live vicariously through you.’

      Beth couldn’t help but laugh. The way Libby made things out to be, you’d think she’d never had a boyfriend. Sure, her choices might be limited by being in a small town, but things couldn’t be as bad as she kept making out. ‘It was nice.’ Heat rose in prickling spots across her chest and throat. ‘Very nice.’

      Eliza shuddered. ‘That’s enough detail for me, thanks. When did this all happen?’

      ‘The first time was when he helped me fix the sink.’ She winced almost as soon as she said it, knowing she’d given the game away.

      Eliza arched an eyebrow. ‘And the second?’

      ‘In the stock room,’ Beth mumbled. ‘When we had the mix up with the inflatable dolls.’

      Libby choked on a mouthful of wine, and kept spluttering until Eliza thumped her on the back to help clear her airway. ‘Okay,’ she said, when she finally managed to speak. ‘I don’t care what Eliza says, now I definitely want details.’

      They stayed up late; Beth’s anecdote about the dodgy sex toys had led onto Eliza telling them about a terrible Ann Summers party she’d been talked into attending by a member of her book group, and Martin’s horrified reaction when she’d shown him the catalogue afterwards. They’d laughed until their sides ached, their noise level increasing as the contents of the wine bottle disappeared.

      Full of pizza, feeling slightly dizzy and with a combination of minty toothpaste and garlic confusing her taste buds, Beth crawled under the cover of the double bed in the spare room. Eliza was already snuggled in against the wall, and Libby looked cosy enough in a kind of nest she’d made on the floor using the mattress they’d dragged in from Beth’s old bed and a pile of quilts and pillows.

      Stretching out, she clicked off the bedside light, leaving the room dark except for a sliver of moonlight peeping through a gap in the top of the curtains. She felt a hand brush against her side and slid her hand out to grasp Libby’s fingers.

      ‘I’m glad you’re home, B,’ she whispered sleepily.

      ‘Me too, Libs. I missed you both so