Page 29 of Ask Another Day

‘It’s OK, Luke. I know you wouldn’t actually let her drive.’ She patted her brother on the shoulder and then held out a hand to Natalie. ‘Come on, we’ve scared Uncle Luke enough for today, time to head home.’

As Natalie scrabbled around to collect her dolls and ponies, Holly sidled up to Rose, who had also been reveling in Luke’s distress - it was another reason Holly loved her - she finally had someone else to tease her brother with.

‘I swam two strokes today.’ Holly raised her eyebrows to push the point home.

‘Amazing. Anything else of note happen?’

‘Rose, please. Can this conversation not be within my earshot?’ Luke grimaced.

‘That’s rich, seeing as I had to witness you shirtless, with my best friend–’

‘I’m your best friend?’ Rose interrupted, her hand flying up to her heart.

‘Of course.’ Holly shrugged. Although she hadn’t told Rose, she assumed that was obvious.

‘Well… you’re my best friend too,’ Rose said, with an affection Holly had definitely missed hearing until Rose moved to the Bay earlier that year.

‘Well, obviously.’

‘You two are so annoying,’ Luke groaned, but he pulled Rose in for a kiss.

‘But you love us anyway,’ Holly teased.

‘I love her,’ he pointed to Rose, ‘You - that’s still under advisement.’

‘Whatever, loser,’ Holly said, using her fingers to make a W and then a L.

‘How old are you, twelve?’

‘Loser says what?’ Holly spoke quickly to try and get Luke to fall for her trap.

‘You know, I don’t think you’ve ever been as attractive as you are right now,’ Rose said to Luke as he started to stick his tongue out at Holly. ‘Text me later?’ she added to Holly as she tugged Luke away.

Holly nodded, and gently moved her daughter out of the bookshop. Natalie raced ahead, and was inside the pub before Holly had even made it across the street. By the time she stepped inside as well, Natalie was nowhere to be seen. But she could be heard. Holly followed the sound to find her daughter in the kitchen, chatting away to Seb whilst setting up her ponies on the floor at his feet.

‘And then Mummy and Ow-en–’

‘Natalie Sandra Loxley, what did we say about tattling?’ Holly cut her off, dreading what she was about to say. The possibilities were endless, and nearly all would be embarrassing.

‘Sorry, Mummy,’ but instead of stopping, she’d tugged Seb down to whisper something to him. Whatever she said made him look at Holly with a disappointment that made her breath catch. But she had nothing to feel guilty about or ashamed of, so she shook off the sinking feeling that was trying to settle in the pit of her stomach.

‘Natalie, can you take those toys up to your room please?’

‘I want to stay with Seb,’ she replied without looking up.

‘Tally, go and do what your Mum wants.’

And to Holly’s infernal annoyance, her wilful three year old picked up her ponies and made her way upstairs without argument.

‘Holly,’ he said at the same time she said, ‘Seb’.

Holly cut in first in the momentarily silence that followed.

‘Seb, whatever Natalie has been saying to you, well, frankly, it’s none of your business.’

Seb looked away for a couple of seconds, before turning to face her again.

‘She said you kissed Owen.’ His words came out harsh and strained.