Page 109 of The Sunrise Sisterhood

Jesse got to his feet, took the ring out of the box and everyone whooped and cheered as he slid it onto my finger.

‘It’s beautiful,’ I said. ‘I love it. And I love you.’

He put his arms around my waist and drew me to him. As I wrapped my arms around his neck. He kissed me to a round of raucous applause. Phone cameras flashed as our proposal was recorded for prosperity.

And then we were descended on by our friends and staff and the kids, everyone squealing and hugging and kissing as the music was cranked up again and the party resumed, the mood euphoric. Jesse and I danced too, our bodies pressed against each other, my eyes glued to the rock on my ring finger.

‘You didn’t say yes,’ Jesse murmured once we were no longer the centre of attention.

My mouth felt as dry as the sun-baked soil and I swallowed. ‘I know.’

If you feel the same, he’d said.

And that was the issue. I didn’t.

Chapter Thirty

Skye

AUGUST 2022

The morning after Jesse’s surprise appearance, Skye reached for her phone on the nightstand, taking care not to wake him. Five o’clock. Too early to get up. She’d hardly had any sleep and her eyes felt gritty. She hadn’t come to bed until 1 a.m., busying herself with prep for Dad’s business lunch later today and catching up with admin and emails. None of which were strictly necessary but meant that Jesse was bound to be asleep by the time she joined him in her bedroom.

Skye suppressed a moan. What an almighty mess.

She rolled over to study him. His breathing was soft and even, his arm was thrown back above his head, his tanned face so dark in contrast to his blond hair. There was a scar on his shoulder from an operation he’d had after a football accident at school. She knew his body intimately: where his birthmarks were, how to make him convulse with laughter by tickling him on the side of his neck, and she understood the meaning behind all of his smiles.

She’d probably always love him. She’d spent the happiest years of her life so far with him. He was her best friend, but that wasn’t enough; he deserved to marry someone whose very soul lit up when he was in the room. She blamed herself entirely for not being honest with him. If she’d only been brave enough to tell him that she wasn’t in love with him before he proposed, then maybe all this heartache could have been avoided.

And now, having decided he’d waited long enough for an answer, he was here in Salcombe, in her bed. Was it better or worse to be face to face with the person you loved while they broke your heart? Skye felt sick at the thought of what she was going to have to do to him. Last night had been bad enough.

‘Your boss?’ he’d said in disbelief once they were alone together. ‘What’s going on here, Skye? Are you ashamed of me.’

They were back at Clemency House, standing in the hall. A few metres away, she could hear Liz humming inside the downstairs loo and the sound of running water.

‘Of course not,’ she’d whispered, squeezing his hand. ‘I just needed some time to think about us. I didn’t want advice or anyone else’s opinion. This is something I wanted to decide by myself.’

‘I understand, but you’ve had time,’ Jesse had said, running his thumb softly down her cheek. ‘You must know what the answer is by now. That’s why I’ve come, to hear it.’

He was right, she did know. She’d blinked at him, fear ricocheting around her stomach like a marble in a pinball machine. But she couldn’t simply dissolve their relationship in the hall, just after he’d stepped into the house, while Liz was going to the loo within earshot. ‘Jesse, I don’t—’

At that moment, the door had opened, and Liz had appeared.

‘Why didn’t you tell us you’re getting engaged?’ Liz had said, hugging them both. ‘This is wonderful news. You’ll stay with us, of course, Jesse,’ she’d continued, blithely unaware of the tension between them. ‘There’s plenty of room; the more, the merrier, and Skye’s got a double bed. I’ll fetch you some clean towels.’

‘Thanks, Liz.’ Jesse had given her a flash of his devastating smile. The one which all the female volunteers at the Hope Foundation went weak-kneed over. ‘If you’re sure I’m not imposing? I should have called ahead, but that would have ruined the surprise.’

‘He’s an absolute babe,’ Liz had added, pretending to whisper behind her hand, nudging Skye. ‘No wonder you wanted to keep him to yourself.’

‘Yep,’ Skye had said faintly.

Clare had welcomed him warmly and Jesse had ingratiated himself by insisting on cooking everyone dinner and carrying Ivy upstairs for her.

‘Nice guy. Are you happy?’ she’d asked Skye in a quiet moment.

Her reply, while gathering up some of Ivy’s toys and stowing them in the toy basket, had been non-committal. ‘It’s great to see him.’

‘Bit of a shocker, though. I got the impression you were single.’ Clare had whistled under her breath. ‘But engaged?’