She heard Amelia sigh and say, “I reckon I’m the one who will have to be careful. I think he might just be the most wonderful man in the world. He’s so kind. Fancy buying our shopping and then taking me for a drink to cheer me up, and giving me a lift home, and now we are going on a real date. I can’t believe it.”
Freya looked at Amelia and saw the excitement in her eyes. Perhaps she and Ross could make a go of it. She remembered what he had told her and asked, “Has Evie said anything to you about meeting a new man?”
“Not a thing,” said Amelia. “But I still don’t know her very well. I am sure if there was someone she would have told you, Freya. She tells you everything.”
Amelia added, “Anyway, where did you get that idea?”
“It was just something Ross said.”
She shook her head, “He might have got it wrong. Nobody can keep a thing like that quiet for long here, everyone would know in a minute if she was serious about someone.”
Then Freya thought to herself, ‘I hope she hasn’t met some clown online and got herself into another mess. She stayedwith that vile ex Jeremy for years and he nearly sucked all the life and happiness out of her. And I know how much of an oyster she is at keeping secrets. She kept the most important one of all from me for over twenty years, but I thought those days were behind us and she trusted me. Surely, she would tell me if she had met someone else?’
Amelia said reassuringly: “If she is seeing a guy, I am sure she will tell you when she’s ready.”
She looked hopefully at Freya. “But right now, I really need your help. What am I going to wear for my date with Ross? I obviously don’t want to be too overdressed and like I’ve made a huge effort, but then I don’t want to look scruffy either.”
The two of them spent a happy hour chatting about outfits and jewellery, and how to get that difficult ‘I haven’t tried a bit’ look that takes hours of effort.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Evie’s House
Evie had been up since daybreak working on the portrait of Freya that was to be her special eightieth birthday gift. She hoped Freya would hang it in her sunny front room beside the one she had painted of her more than twenty years ago.
Evie was painting from memory and a couple of favourite photos as she wanted this to be a genuine surprise for Freya, but as always when she painted someone’s portrait, the hands were giving her endless trouble and driving her crazy. She was feeling the pressure as this had to be perfect for Freya.
She stepped back and took a good long look at her work so far. Evie was happy with the eyes that glowed with kindness and wisdom, and she had swathed Freya in bright purple like an empress. She had toyed with the idea of a crown and a cloak of ermine but decided Freya didn’t need those trappings to look like royalty.
Evie was tired and in need of a break and was surprised to see it was already 2pm. She was meeting the others later to plan the final details for Freya’s party so didn’t have as much time as she would have liked.
She put down her brush and went into the kitchen to make herself a coffee, when she heard a car drive up and Amelia calling her name.
“I hope I’m not disturbing you, Evie, but I just wanted to pop in and see if you needed anything in town. I’m getting dinner in for Freya.”
Evie almost dropped her mug at the sight of a newly blonde Amelia. She quickly shut the door on her painting, she didn’t want anyone seeing her unfinished work, least of all Amelia. She was still annoyed at not standing up to her and insisting on seeing Freya when she was ill, and they hadn’t really spoken since.
“Your hair …” Evie said faintly.
“Oh, you haven’t seen my new hair style. Do you like it? I asked for the same as you and I think Agnes has done a great job.”
Evie was taken aback. There was something vaguely creepy about Amelia’s transformation. Imitation was supposed to be a form of flattery, but Evie just felt uneasy.
“It’s very nice,” she said quietly.
“Are you sure? I don’t want you to think I’m being a copycat, but I just love your hair. Do you think it’s a bit too much that it makes us look so alike? I can change it.”
That was exactly what Evie was thinking but instead she heard herself say unconvincingly, “No, it’s fine. It was just a bit of a shock. But it looks good on you.”
Amelia nodded. “Well, that’s a relief. I’d love a coffee if there’s one going and it’s not too much trouble.”
‘Why does she always make me feel so uncomfortable and on the back foot?’ Evie thought. Then said out loud, “Course not. I was just about to offer.”
“I smell fresh paint. What are you working on? Can I take a look?”
“Oh, I’d prefer you didn’t …”
But Amelia was already through the kitchen door and into the sunny front room which Evie used as her studio and stoodadmiring the portrait. Wincing, Evie followed. She felt so exposed. She hated people seeing her work before it was ready. But Amelia had her hands clasped over her mouth theatrically.
