Page 32 of The Perfect Gift

‘Come and help me put some snacks out, then, and I’ll sort the champagne. By the time we’ve done that, hopefully she’ll be here.’

Issy and Chloe headed into the small kitchen off the main living room of the flat and a few seconds later a very satisfying ‘pop’ sounded as the cork was removed. The front door buzzer went at the same instant and Kat hopped up from the sofa to let Anya in. ‘Perfect timing!’ she called down the stairs. ‘Frankie is spoiling us with a gorgeous bottle of the good stuff.’

‘It’s no big deal,’ Frankie said, feeling embarrassed all over again as she stood to greet her friend. As the others had done, Anya put her arms around Frankie and hugged her. She returned the gesture, each hug feeling less awkward than the last. She wasn’t demonstrative by nature, but it was hard to resist such easy and open affection when it was something she’d secretly craved all her life. In those lonely days growing up she’d longed for a sister. She’d lived in several households with other children, but they’d all carried their own emotional wounds, making it hard for them to open up to each other. The few tentative friendships she’d made had been broken without warning because either they’d been returned to their homes or, in one case, a longer-term fostering solution had been found. Making friends on set was easier because everyone knew from the start that their time together was limited. WhatsApp groups were created with good intentions, but it didn’t take long for activity in them to die off as people moved on with their lives.

She looked around the room as Issy and Chloe joined them with glasses brimming with golden bubbles and wondered if perhaps this time it might be different. Frankie would still be coming and going all the time, but these four women would be here whenever she returned. The idea was almost as intoxicating as the champagne.

As soon as the five of them were seated, Kat nudged Frankie gently. ‘Come on, then, I’m dying to hear your news.’

Four sets of eyes watched her expectantly and, for the first time she could remember, Frankie wasn’t comfortable being in the spotlight. ‘I, um, I was talking to Ed the other day and I’ve decided to stay on in Halfmoon Quay for Christmas.’

Kat’s eyes lit up. ‘Oh, that’s lovely news! You’ll be joining us all on Christmas Day, I take it?’

Frankie shrugged. ‘I guess so. I mean, Ed said one more wouldn’t make any difference but he was going to double-check with his parents. I don’t mind either way; it’ll just be nice to stay on in the cottage. I didn’t have any plans in London other than working on the script for my next project.’

‘I’m sure Rachel and Jago will love to have you,’ Anya told her and the others nodded as if it was a done deal.

‘And it’s Mum and Dad’s turn to host on New Year’s Eve, so you’ll be coming to us then,’ Chloe said. ‘Assuming you’re planning to stay that long? When does your next job start?’

‘Filming starts the end of January but I’ll be going out the week before to get acclimatised and do some rehearsals.’ Frankie took a deep breath. ‘But that’s not what I wanted to celebrate. I’ve spoken to the landlord and I’m planning on extending the lease on the cottage. My agent’s got all the paperwork, I just need to look over the contract and give her the go-ahead tomorrow morning.’ She smiled around at the women who had become her friends. ‘I’m not ready to give up Halfmoon Quay just yet, and the four of you are a really big part of that.’

Frankie wasn’t sure what kind of reaction she’d been expecting, but stunned silence had been the last thing she’d thought would greet her news. She stared at the bubbles dancing in the glass in her hand and her gut twisted. Oh God, I’ve completely misread the situation. She’d overplayed her hand, first by bringing expensive champagne to a casual get-together and, much worse, she’d presumed a deeper bond with these women than they felt for her.

‘How long are you planning on keeping the cottage?’ It was Chloe who spoke, a deep frown etching her brow.

‘I had thought six months to start with, but nothing’s finalised yet. As I said, I haven’t even reviewed the contract.’ She watched as Chloe and Kat exchanged a look, the sick feeling inside growing all the time. She set her glass down on the coffee table and stood. ‘Look, I don’t know what’s going on but clearly I’ve made a mistake in thinking it was a good idea. Maybe I should go.’

‘No!’ Issy jumped out of her seat so fast she spilled a little of her champagne. With a frustrated tut she placed her glass on the table next to Frankie’s then reached for her hand. ‘You haven’t made a mistake. Please sit down a minute and let us explain.’

‘Explain what?’ Frankie looked anxiously between the four.

A deep frown marred Chloe’s brow. ‘It’s about Matt.’

As if she’d found the vital missing piece in a jigsaw puzzle, things suddenly started slotting into place. Ed having a key and assuming she was Matt’s girlfriend; Matt’s casual familiarity with the cottage and having the right kind of bolt to fit on the door. ‘He used to live in the cottage, right? Before he moved into the flat next door to you.’ She nodded towards Kat.

‘Yes, that’s right,’ Kat replied.

‘The flat’s only a temporary measure,’ Chloe added. ‘Matt didn’t leave the cottage by choice.’

Frankie’s gut tightened again. ‘What do you mean?’

Chloe sighed. ‘Because of the never-ending demand for holiday rentals, decent housing for people of our age is rarer than hens’ teeth. It’s even harder when some people I could mention throw their cash around and snap up places the moment they are advertised.’ Her face had scrunched into a tight scowl.

‘That’s not fair, Chloe!’ Anya said, her tone close to scolding. ‘Adam’s not some second-home queue jumper. He’s done loads to invest in the area.’

‘He’s so invested, he’s done a moonlight flit!’ Chloe’s mouth clamped shut like she’d said more than she’d intended. ‘And I wasn’t talking about him specifically, if you must know.’

‘He hasn’t done a flit,’ Kat said. ‘He told Harry he had a long-standing family commitment and he’ll be back after New Year’s.’

‘Who’s Adam?’ Frankie asked, feeling as disheartened as she was confused.

‘He’s a pain in my arse.’ Chloe glared at her glass like it was to blame for everything then took another drink.

‘You only think he’s a pain because he had opinions about our designs for the hotel and he wasn’t afraid to express them. Kind of reminds me of someone else now I come to think of it.’ Anya tapped her chin as if in thought while Kat and Issy laughed.

Chloe stuck out her tongue then joined in with a rueful chuckle of her own. ‘I’d like him a bit better if he wasn’t always right, damn him.’

Still smiling, Issy turned to Frankie. ‘Adam’s a property developer who came to the area last year. Liam couldn’t have completed the hotel refurbishment without his support, and he’s invested in the cookery school as well.’