‘Well, I’ve started a new project.’ Flo held up the square she’d crocheted, featuring a central sunflower surrounded by cream-coloured wool. ‘A blanket for my niece, so that no matter where she ends up living, she’ll always have sunshine and happiness in her life.’
‘Olive’s daughter, Teresa?’ Elsie questioned. ‘I thought she was very firmly settled in Melbourne.’
‘She is, but this is for my great niece,’ Flo explained. ‘Such a sweet girl.’
Everyone else blithely accepted her answer, but Flo shot Beth a wink, and that’s when it struck her—shewas the intended recipient of the happy, sunshiny sunflower blanket.
Overcome with emotion, she struggled to get any words out when it was her turn to speak. ‘Um, I’ve been getting drawing lessons from Hana, and I was thinking that … well, I might try to sketch you, Flo.’
‘Oh, darling, I’m honoured! And sketching is a beautiful form of—’
‘Gah!’ Elsie dumped the tiny penis she was working on in her lap. ‘Enough of this chit-chat. I can’t stand not knowing!’
‘Elsie!’
Ignoring Flo’s warning, Elsie trained her eyes on Beth. ‘So, is he a good kisser?’
‘Don’t answer, Beth.’ Flo side-eyed Elsie. ‘Some people just aren’t very well versed in minding their own business.’
Carmen sighed dreamily. ‘They did look cute together, though.’
Flo rolled her eyes and threw her hands in the air.
Trevor said, ‘Maybe we let Beth decide what she wants to tell us.’
And yet everyone leaned forward in their seats, eager for any tidbit she was willing to offer.
Beth blinked. She loathed being the centre of attention, but oddly enough, she didn’t mind at all that the crafters were interested in her blossoming relationship with Noah and, given that she’d been hiding her joy from Ellie for weeks, she had the sudden urge to share her happiness.
‘Heisa good kisser,’ she admitted, feeling her cheeks heat.
Elsie flopped back in her chair, a satisfied look on her face. ‘I knew it!’
‘Well done, girl!’ Trevor winked at her. ‘He’s adorable.’
Hana flashed an encouraging smile and gave Beth’s knee a congratulatory squeeze.
Carmen prodded Beth with her elbow. ‘So, are the two of you an item, then?’
‘Um, well, I wouldn’t say it’s official or anything. We’re just … enjoying each other’s company.’
Elsie guffawed. ‘I bet you are.’
‘Oh, for goodness’ sake!’ Flo scolded.
Everyone fell silent—but only for a moment.
Aiming for subtlety, Carmen turned her head and spoke into her shoulder. ‘Would you like to be an item?’
Elsie snorted, but Flo looked ready to blow a gasket.
‘It’s okay, Flo. I don’t mind.’ And she really didn’t. Volunteering information about herself had never—and probablywouldnever—come naturally to her. Her friendship with Ellie, though, had taught her that sometimes she needed to be poked and prodded until the truth fell from her lips. It was the only way she’d open up. Besides, she’d been finding that being prompted to share her thoughts gave her the impetus she needed to consider how she truly felt, and figuring out how she felt about Noah might just help her with the rather large decision that was weighing on her.
‘I think I would,’ she said in answer to Carmen’s question. ‘I mean, he’s so considerate. And he understands me in a way no one ever has before. It’s weird.’
‘Why is that weird?’ Flo asked, gently.
Beth set about extracting her sketch pad and pencils from her tote bag, giving herself time to process her thoughts.
