Page 49 of Happiness Under a Summer Skye

‘I suppose I just⁠—’

‘Stereotyped him?’ she said. ‘And badly.’ She shook her head, but soon realised she too had done the same when she had met him.

He chuckled. ‘Maybe a tiny bit. But I didn’t expect him to be that good-looking. You don’t expect religious people to be attractive.’

‘That’s a little unfair, Edwin Halsall.’

He poked her leg lightly. ‘Ooh, you used my Sunday name. Am I in trouble?’ Angelia shook her head and smiled. After a few moments, Ed spoke again. ‘Are you and he…?’ His question trailed off and he turned to stare out the window at the road, clearly not wanting to know the answer to his incomplete question.

Angelia narrowed her eyes and prodded him back with her finger. ‘Are he and I what?’

He glanced at her briefly again. ‘Is there something there? Between you and Ferris the vicar, I mean.’

Angelia rolled her eyes. ‘I’ve only known him for a few weeks and we’re friends. Although why should that matter to you?’ she asked, a little befuddled.

Ed shrugged. ‘No reason. I’m just being nosy.’

‘Well, don’t bother. There’s nothing to tell. Anyway, why don’t you tell me about Ava.’

Ed stiffened. ‘What do you want to know?’

‘How did you meet her? What’s she like? Are you guys serious? You didn’t even tell me you were dating anyone, so I know nothing, remember? I had to hear it from Fee and then when I talked to you on the phone you couldn’t wait to hang up.’ She knew she sounded a little wounded and surly about not being kept in the loop.

He held up a hand in a defensive motion. ‘Okay, okay, jeez.’ He gave a deep sigh. ‘She’s Australian. I met her when I travelled to Sydney with the Chamber Orchestra. She plays the cello. She’s nice.’

Angelia laughed with incredulity. ‘That’s just a repeat of what Fee told me. And if I was Ava and I heard that that’s how you talked about me I’d dump you.’

Ed scrunched his brow. ‘What? I said she’s nice, how is that a bad thing?’

‘Nice is such a meh kind of word, Ed.’

He laughed without humour. ‘Well, what else is there to say?’

‘What colour hair has she got? Is she tall? Short? Curvy? Slim? What do you like about her? There are so many more superlatives you could’ve used other than nice.’ She shook her head in exasperation.

‘She’s short, slim and pretty with long black hair, her parents are Japanese, and she’s sweet, better?’

Angelia huffed. ‘Fine, I get the feeling you don’t want to talk about her.’

Ed paused and tapped his fingers on the steering wheel and clenched his jaw. ‘It’s not that… it’s just… we broke up. That’s sort of why I’m here early.’

Guilt niggled at Angelia, knotting her stomach. ‘Oh, shit, sorry, Ed. Maybe you should have just said that though, eh?’

He shrugged. ‘Maybe. Sorry. It’s no big deal though. We weren’t that serious.’ She could see from the sadness in his expression that he wasn’t being entirely truthful.

‘Why did you break up?’ She knew the question was possibly a step too far, but the words were out before she could stop them.

He narrowed his eyes briefly and shook his head. ‘We wanted different things, I suppose. Why does anyone break up?’

‘Is there any chance you might get back together?’

He shook his head. ‘Nope. Definitely over.’

His curt answers told her it was time to stop pushing. And why, she wondered, was she so bothered anyway? She reached out and squeezed his arm. ‘Well, I’m sorry to hear you broke up, even though it did mean I got you here early.’

He smiled but it was fleeting. ‘Thanks.’ He fell silent again for a few moments until he turned to her again. ‘How about you? Seeing anyone?’

‘Nope. My love life is non-existent, as usual.’