“And they were making plans to meet up.”
“I see,” said Ross.
“So maybe that’s why she’s been avoiding you?”
“Now you mention it, she may well have been giving me the bum’s rush and I didn’t realise, which would make sense if she had someone else on the go.”
“I’m sorry, Ross. I hope I haven’t upset you. But I thought you ought to know.”
“It’s fine. We were never together. I never even managed to get her to go on a date. I just somehow thought … but clearly, I had my wires crossed all along …” He trailed off.
Amelia realised she had done enough fibbing about Evie and said briskly. “Thanks for the drink, Ross. I’d better get back to Freya. I’ve never known anyone who goes through so much dairy produce. I swear she sits and eats handfuls of butter straight from the dish.”
Ross said, “Let me give you a lift. That was a big glass of wine and it’s more or less on the way, and I can look in on Freya. I know she’s not been well.”
Amelia beamed at him. She could always pick up Freya’s car later.
“That would be really lovely. Thank you.”
When Ross and Amelia come through the door, Freya looked up from working on her jewellery and thought for a moment he was with Evie. It was only when she heard Amelia’s American accent and saw her properly in the light that she realised her mistake.
Amelia was positively bouncing with delight. “Look, Freya. I bumped into Ross in the deli and he bought me a drink. I feel very naughty having red wine in the middle of the day. He drove me back, but I will go and pick up your car later.He also paid for our shopping, which was so kind. I’ll just put things away in the fridge.”
Amelia disappeared into the kitchen.
“Can you believe how much she looks like Evie?” said Ross, shaking his head.
“Yes. It’s uncanny” said Freya, wondering how often she’d have to have this conversation.
Ross lent in and whispered, “Amelia is a lovely woman. I’m thinking of asking her out. Do you think she would say yes?”
“Ross. Every woman on this island, married or single, dead or alive, would go out with you. Of course, she will say yes, but are you sure? I thought you and Evie had something going on.”
“Nah,” said Ross. “She isn’t interested in me. She’s made that very clear.”
Freya wasn’t convinced. “Are you sure? You never actually asked her properly did you?”
“I did. That time I delivered the chair to her. I distinctly remember asking her to come out for a drink with me. Anyway, that ship has sailed,” said Ross. “She’s got someone else on the go.”
Freya looked puzzled. Evie hadn’t said anything to her about meeting another man. She felt hurt. Normally, she and Evie shared everything, but then Evie hadn’t even visited when she’d been ill. So maybe she did have someone else. She was just about to ask Ross for more details when Amelia came in with a pot of tea, three mugs and a plate piled high with homemade biscuits.
“Not for me, Amelia love,” said Ross. “I need to get back to the grindstone. But if you aren’t doing anything tomorrow night, do you fancy a drink?”
“I’m not. Doing anything, I mean. And I do. Fancy a drink, that is.”
“Where and when?”
“Same place as today? Seven o’clock?”
“It’s a date,” she said, instantly beaming at him.
“See you tomorrow then,” said Ross, grinning shyly.
“Bye, Freya.” With an awkward wave, he turned and left.
“Well,” said Freya when Ross had roared off in his car. “That was something I never expected to see with my own two eyes. Ross agreeing to go on an actual date. Who would have thought it?”
She looked at Amelia seriously, “Be careful with him, Amelia. He’s not a man to give his heart lightly.” Freya remembered saying almost the exact same thing to Evie around this time almost two years ago when Ross had hesitantly asked her out.
