Page 29 of Plot Twist

Ellie and Bridget reached out under the table and squeezed hands.

‘That’s just. . . amazing,’ I said. ‘I hope it happens soon for you guys.’

‘Thank you, we hope so too.’ Ellie smiled. ‘It would be lovely for Ivy to have a cousin to play with. Or cousins.’

‘Wow! One at a time,’ Bridget laughed.

‘Hopefully not much longer for us to wait for our new family member,’ Riley said. He raised a glass to his sister and Ellie. And, even though I’d just met them both for the first time, I crossed my fingers for them under the table.

And then they toasted me. Becca. The guest of honour, Riley said. I gazed around at the sun beaming down into the garden with me, the guest of honour, surrounded by these people who had filled me with more warmth in the short period I’d spent with them than I’d felt in a very, very long time.

‘Right, so you’ll come for our weekly walk and then on Sunday evenings we have outdoor book club. . .’ Ellie said.

It had been a lovely afternoon. The conversation flowed so easily and by the end, I felt like I’d known Bridget and Ellie for ages. Riley, too, obviously. Although I did know him, technically. Putting everything together and attributing it to Riley, the romance writer, as a male, was still a confusing conundrum. It was hard to think of him as the person I’d messaged before, sometimes into the early hours. It had been so easy then, the chat flowed freely between us, but I could feel any tension slowly lift as we eased our way back into our friendship. His sparkling green eyes seemed to agree. On more than one occasion, I had to tear my eyes off them after realising I shouldn’t be looking at him so much.

‘You need to bring a hip flask for outdoor book club.’ Bridget nodded firmly. ‘You can’t just turn up empty-handed.’

‘What about the book? Should I read it before I come so we can talk about it?’ I asked.

They burst out laughing.

‘Oh, shit, that’s right! We’re supposed to read a book.’ Their chuckles vibrated around the kitchen.

‘I can’t remember what we are currently pretending to read,’ Ellie confessed. ‘But just come along. We usually just talk about themes and then go off on a tangent with our hip flasks. Anyway, I think we’ve had enough hilarity for one afternoon. We should really be on our way. Put those dates in your diary, Becca.’

‘I will, thank you.’ I smiled.

‘Oh, and don’t forget, the grand opening of our business! You need to put that in your diary,’ Ellie said. ‘We’ll be working to get everything completed and then get the finishing touches in place over the next few weeks. I can’t wait to show you around.’

Ellie and Bridget had told me all about their new business venture. They had been working for months, renovating former cottages to transform into a self-catering business, and had promised me a tour of the site. Bridget insisted Ellie was the ‘brains’ behind the operation, sitting up at night crunching the numbers, while she ‘oohed and aahed’ at cushions and bedspreads. Ellie fixed her square glasses firmly on her nose and confessed to knowing nothing about interior design.

‘Can I cut the ribbon at the opening?’ Ivy asked. ‘Pleeeeeease?’

‘I’m sure you can,’ Bridget replied.

Ivy danced around, pointing her toes in a princess dress, as Ellie and Bridget made their way to the front door. Riley followed behind.

‘Thanks for coming over.’ He hugged Ellie first, then his sister.

‘Thanks for having us. It has been so lovely to meet you, Becca,’ Ellie said.

‘It was lovely to meet you both, too.’

Bridget whispered in her brother’s ear and he rolled his eyes.

‘Goodbye, Bridget.’

‘Bye, Auntie Bridget and Auntie Ellie!’ Ivy curtsied as they left.

Both aunties pulled her in and showered her with kisses and Bridget made loud noises about how much she loved her. Ivy giggled and wriggled away from her.

As the door closed, I waited for the house to feel empty without their presence. But it didn’t. It felt normal. I helped Riley to put the plates in the dishwasher in complete and utter silence. But not awkward silence, wondering when he was going to speak or whether I should say anything. Just easy silence.

‘I’m sorry if Ellie and Bridget said something to make you uncomfortable earlier,’ Riley said, eventually. ‘I heard you kind of go quiet.’

‘No, it was fine.’ I shrugged. ‘Your sister and Ellie are the most adorable couple I’ve ever met in real life.’

‘They’re some craic, the two of them,’ Riley agreed. ‘Bridget is bonkers, but Ellie seems to keep her in line, most of the time.’