‘Surprise!’ yelled Sophie, lifting the lid off the box.
Ginny whipped her head around, then approached her excited friend to see what exactly the squeal of joy was all about. ‘Oh!’
‘Happy birthday, Ginny,’ called Lottie, entering the warmth.
Not being much of a fan of the day, Ginny had hoped to let it pass without an audience. Her friends didn’t normally make such a fuss, and it was obvious why they’d upped their game this time.
She so wished everyone would stop making sure she was okay. Ever since blabbermouth Will let out her secret, her mates had become clingy and melodramatic.
Robson put the radio on, Samuel produced a cold buffet from the fridge that one of his cooks had secretly prepared, and Alice filled glasses with fizzy wine.
‘Now, we know you don’t like presents or any sort of fuss,’ said Lottie, whipping out a wrapped gift. ‘But we figured a little something for your new home would be okay. Here, check it out.’
Ginny smiled, knowing she was blessed to have such love in her life. She unwrapped the balloon-patterned paper to find a set of coffee mugs with a farm animal print. ‘Aww, I love them. Thanks.’
Lottie grinned. ‘We’ve actually got you a few more, but they’re back at mine, so you can get them later.’
‘Four is enough,’ said Ginny, raising the box.
Sophie chuckled. ‘Not for when we all come over.’
‘Which will be in a couple of weeks when we move your things,’ said Spencer, taking a prawn sandwich from a platter.
‘It’s all happening so fast,’ said Alice, handing Ginny a glass of bubbly. ‘It’s so exciting.’
It was and it wasn’t. Ginny had the silliest idea that Will might just move in with her and they’d live happily ever after like the Henshaws. Oh well. It wasn’t as if she had a healthy relationship with luck.
Robson and Matt started singing along to the radio, raising their arms, adding an impromptu dance.
Lottie was inserting candles into the birthday cake, and Sophie faffed with crockery.
All Ginny could do was smile, realizing she had something good in her life, so maybe luck liked her in a small way. She flopped into a chair and picked at the food on the plate in front of her. There was no way she was going to shoo her friends outthe door, so she decided to join in by making a start on dinner, seeing how hungry she was.
Lottie manoeuvred to her side. ‘Thirty-five now, lady. You feeling it?’
Ginny laughed. ‘I’ve been feeling fifty since I turned twenty-one.’
‘Aww, well, at least you only look about thirty.’
‘There’s not much difference.’
Lottie rolled back her shoulders. ‘You’re only as old as you feel.’
Ginny laughed. ‘Fifty it is then.’
Lottie dipped her head and voice. ‘How are you, really?’
‘I’m okay. You lot need to stop fussing.’
‘But we love you, Gin. You had such a mad year last year.’
Ginny nodded. ‘Which is why I’m determined to make this year better, even if it didn’t start off well.’
Lottie leaned closer. ‘What do you mean?’
They knew everything else about her life, there was no point hiding things anymore.
‘It’s Lee.’
