But Maya wasn’t having any of it. ‘Rubbish! Are you really going to throw away the possibility of a beautiful relationship because you’reafraid?None of us knows what lies round the corner or how long we’ve got. I think you should seize the day. You might regret it for the rest of your life if you don’t take that chance. If it doesn’t work out, well, at least you gave it a go.’
Cleo bit her lip and frowned. ‘Hm, maybe you’re right.’
‘Of course I am!’ Maya cried.
‘That’s so nice you’ve been writing to each other,’ Tash said next. ‘He’s pretty special.’
‘Yes, he is,’ Cleo replied, with a secret little smile.
When it was clear there was no more to come on that topic, Maya turned back to Tash, with eyebrows raised.
‘So?’ she said. ‘Again. Over to you.’
Tash sighed. ‘I suppose I’ve been a bit in my head lately.’
‘Go on,’ Maya coaxed.
‘I’m getting just a bit bored with doing audiobooks. I mean, it’s a great sideline and the money’s handy, it’s just not hugely fulfilling. What I really want is to get my play off the ground, but so far all I’ve had is rejections.’
‘It’s early days, isn’t it?’ Cleo commented. ‘And anyway, don’t most writers get loads of rejections before they strike lucky? I thought it was par for the course.’
Tash bit her lip. ‘True,’ she said with a frown. ‘I’m too thin-skinned, that’s the problem. I need to be more resilient.’
‘How’s the scriptwriting course going?’ Maya asked next.
Tash’s eyes lit up. ‘Great. I’m really enjoying it. There are some lovely, interesting people on the course and the tutors are excellent. One of them – a professional scriptwriter who’s done loads of TV work – singled out my last piece of writing and asked me to read it to the class. He said it was better than a lot of the stuff TV companies pay for. I was really chuffed.’
Cleo clapped her hands. ‘There you go! I knew it. You’re obviously a natural. Keep at it, Tash. Keep plugging away. You’re so talented, you’ll get there eventually, for sure.’
Tash looked down at her plate. ‘Thanks,’ she said. ‘I wish I could be as confident. But yes, I will keep trying – and thanks for being so kind and supportive.’
After that, the conversation turned to other matters – current affairs, celebrity gossip, films they’d seen and places they’d visited.
They laughed so much, their second cups of coffee went cold and the waiter checked twice to ask if they needed refills.
The afternoon slid into early evening and the sky drifted through ever deeper shades of grey as the river darkened. Meanwhile, folk came and went round them, but the three women were oblivious, so wrapped up were they in each other’s company.
Eventually, after Maya insisted on paying the bill, they decided to take a short walk along the river.
The wind had picked up slightly, ruffling their hair, and the lights along the embankment flickered on, casting a soft golden glow across the pavement.
‘I’ve missed you both,’ Maya said quietly.
‘So have I,’ Cleo replied.
Tash nodded and wrapped her multicoloured scarf more tightly round her neck, like a comfort blanket.
They paused near a railing to watch a tourist boat glide by. The people on board waved and Maya waved back enthusiastically, which made them all giggle.
‘You know,’ Cleo said after a moment, ‘I’ve been thinking.’
‘Oh dear,’ Tash murmured. ‘That’s a worry.’
‘Hush,’ Cleo replied with a laugh. ‘I’ve been thinking that maybe we should all go back to the village.’
‘To Porto Liakáda?’ Maya asked, surprised.
‘Yes,’ said Cleo. ‘The three of us. Next spring or summer.’
