Page 67 of The Village Inn of Secret Dream

‘Nonsense,’ said Amber, smiling sweetly at the dog. ‘He’s perfect just the way he is.’

Belle had a sudden thought. ‘We’d better make sure that we have some dog-friendly tables in the new restaurant, don’t you think?’

Her friends nodded their approval.

‘That’s a great idea,’ said Amber encouragingly.

Belle made a mental note to mention it to Pete. She slowly became aware of Molly looking at her. ‘What?’ she asked.

‘You said “we”,’ said Molly, with a soft smile. ‘I presume you meant you and Pete?’

Belle shrugged her shoulders. ‘Nobody else I’m stuck with in this place is there?’

She realised all three of her friends were now grinning at her and sharing knowing looks.

‘Yes, we’re a “we” where the inn is concerned,’ she snapped. ‘So you’d better get used to it.’

‘Well, that’s a step in the right direction at least,’ said Lucy, nodding her head in approval. ‘So does this mean that you two are getting on better these days?’ Lucy looked up at the bar before looking back at Belle. ‘Or should we still be removing all sharp objects in the vicinity whenever we mention his name?’

‘You’d be amazed what damage can be done with just a teaspoon,’ said Belle with a smile. She hesitated before adding, ‘But yeah, I suppose I’m getting used to him.’

The others exchanged knowing looks once more.

‘That doesn’t mean that I now believe in love or any of that soppy stuff,’ she added, bringing out her mobile. ‘I mean, look at this text from Aunty Angie. Does this look like love conquers all?’

‘We’re in San Francisco,’ read Molly out loud. ‘I should have left your uncle in the cells on Alcatraz.’

‘Sheesh,’ said Lucy, with a grimace.

‘Exactly,’ said Belle, before looking at Amber. ‘Now, tell us about Grandma Tilly’s optician’s appointment.’

‘It’s cataracts,’ said Amber, with a huge sigh of relief. ‘They’re quite bad but entirely fixable, thank goodness.’

‘That’s such good news,’ said Molly, smiling.

‘I shall have a word with her tomorrow night about giving us all a fright,’ said Belle.

‘And you’re all set to go?’ asked Amber.

Belle nodded. ‘More or less.’

‘And what are you wearing?’ asked Lucy.

Belle glanced down at her dark top and jeans. ‘My usual stuff,’ she replied.

The girls sighed and looked at each other, shaking their heads.

‘Why don’t you wear one of your grandmother’s pretty tops?’ said Molly.

Amber nodded in agreement. ‘That’s a great idea,’ she said.

But Belle was frantically shaking her head. ‘There’s too much to worry about tomorrow already.’

Secretly, she longed to have the courage to wear one of the beautiful tops, but the fear of rejection was still strong, a hangover from her wretched childhood.

‘Stop nagging,’ said Lucy, with a sigh. ‘She’ll do it in her own time.’

‘I’m sure Pete would appreciate seeing you in something different,’ murmured Amber.