“Heard ofTop Stay?” Pippa said.
Mae groaned. “Yeah, the budget hotels? I’ve stayed in loads of them.”
“Well, perhaps that’s what we will have instead of Squires,” Pippa growled. “They were viewing today.”
“That sucks.” Mae tapped into her phone. “Come on, doesthislook like it belongs in Hurst Bridge?” She showed her screen to Pippa, having pulled up the hotel’s website to reveal the latest build in Nottingham. It showed a solid cube with utilitarian white windows and a large cement car park. Inside, the décor matched the colour scheme of Toby and Steffany’s business cards. Pippa couldn’t imagine getting a good night’s sleep in a room with vivid turquoise walls. Mae was right; it wasn’t the sort of building that would fit in in Hurst Bridge.
“This is so bloody typical,” Pippa sighed. “My ex sells my life out from under me so I move into the house of dreams, only to have that sold out from under me too.”
“I know,” Mae said, frowning. “That placeisfalling apart, though. Looks like the Squires family hasn’t invested any time or money in it for years. Did Wolfie say why he’s selling?”
“Not really. He basically said because he could,” Pippa replied.
Mae thought of something. “Maybe they’re skint and that’s why they’re selling up?”
Pippa frowned. The housewason the tatty side. But the Squires family were insanely wealthy. Weren’t they? “Like I said, not sure. He’s been deliberately vague.”
“I bet that’s it.” Mae took a swig of her mocha. “I mean, Carmichael was dead flashy, wasn’t he? You saw that wine cellar. And remember the cars? I’ll bet he frittered every penny away.”
Pippa nodded. Carmichael used to speed around the village in a variety of swanky vehicles. There was a custom Range Rover that had been a favourite and Pippa also recalled a vintage Jaguar as well as several Mercedes in varying shades. She hadn’t seen any sign of those vehicles in the garage, so either they were being stored elsewhere or they had been sold off. “How sad,” she said. “I wonder how Trudy is managing if that’s the case.”
Mae shrugged. “Does it really matter at the end of the day? No business of ours.”
“You’re right. I need to focus on where I go when I’m made homeless for like, the second time this year.” Pippa lolled her head back and flapped her arms. “What am I going to do? Oh!” Her arm had caught someone walking past her chair.
“Pip?” Finn Goodman stood next to her, for it was he that Pippa had snagged with her flailing arms. Alex’s little brother was the last person she’d wanted to see at that moment or, indeed, at any moment. Mainly because he looked almost exactly like Alex, just with lighter hair and a lot more freckles. Even that faintest notion of familiarity lanced her like a blade.
“Hi, Finn.” Pippa wearily got to her feet and accepted his offer of a hug. It did seem like the mature thing to do, seeing as she’d known him for much of his life. “How’s university life?”
“Great, thank you,” he said. Finn lectured on horticulture at Sheffield Hallam, where Julie also worked. “How are you?”
“Ah, you know.” Pippa’s face hurt from all the fake smiling, but she was damned if she’d let Finn see her crack. Losing her cool in front of Ted had been bad enough. “Getting on with life.”
“I never got to say how sorry I am,” he said. “It’s so weird. You were like my sister. And now you’re not.”
His words stung and Pippa bit her lip. “It is what it is.” Then, because she wanted to pick at the scab, asked, “Have you heard from him?”
“Yup.” Finn scratched his neck. “You know Al, not one for detail but seems like he’s doing great. Busy. Every time I call him, he’s rushing from one meeting to another, barely able to stop and chat.” Finn smiled bashfully. “So it must be going well, right?”
Finn’s sweet optimism was like a barb piercing her skin. “Then I’m happy for him.” Anger bubbled up from the wound. “Breaking my heart was obviously worth it.”
Finn paled. “Pips, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean…” He cleared his throat. “I know it’s been hard. Especially with my dad being … well, Dad.”
“Yeah, he went off at me.” Pippa’s cheeks burned with the memory.
“I heard. You know, he’s hurting too,” Finn said. “I think he misses Alex. More than he thought he would.”
“At least Alex consulted Ted before he blew up our relationship,” Pippa sniped. “He didn’t afford me that courtesy.”
Finn looked troubled. “I know Alex didn’t handle things between you well, but I’m sure if you call him—”
Pippa lifted a hand to halt his speech. “Me? Callhim?”
Mae chimed in. “Don’t think so!”
“Why would I do that?” Pippa added.
Finn shifted, as if he might bolt. But his wavering gaze met Pippa’s fierce one and then he relented. “He just seems sad is all,” Finn said. “I think he might be lonely. I mean, he doesn’t know anyone down there, does he?”
