Page 22 of The Sunrise Sisterhood

‘It always feels like home to me,’ said Clare, giving her another hug.

‘Well,’ Liz swallowed the lump in her throat, ‘that’s the nicest thing anyone’s said to me for a long time.’ Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Skye hovering awkwardly, so she released Clare and bustled over to the kitchen. ‘Now, who’s for tea and scones?’

‘Me,’ said Skye, steering Liz to an armchair. ‘But let me do it, you’ve been on your feet since I arrived.’

‘Me too, please. I had to gulp down the drink Dad made me, he was so desperate for us to go,’ Clare said. ‘I’ll just pop some things upstairs in my room first.’

‘Actually, darling,’ Liz replied, feeling at a disadvantage now that she was sitting down. The atmosphere was so fragile; she hoped everyone would relax soon. ‘I’ve put Skye in your usual room. You and Ivy are at the back away from the road noise. I thought it might be quieter for you.’

Clare looked confused. ‘She’s staying the night?’

‘But if it’s a problem, I don’t mind swapping rooms,’ Skye added.

‘No need,’ Clare shrugged. ‘This is a first, Skye. We’ve never been at Liz’s at the same time as each other. And I must admit I’d like to hear about Uganda and your mysterious return.’

‘Not that mysterious,’ Skye laughed uneasily. ‘And I’m here longer than a night.’

‘Skye is staying for six weeks,’ Liz said breezily. ‘So I’ve got both my god-daughters for the summer. Aren’t I lucky?’

‘Gosh!’ Clare’s eyes widened.

‘But don’t worry, I won’t be in the way of your holiday, I’m here to work,’ Skye assured her.

‘You’ve got a job? Amazing. Doing what?’ Clare asked.

‘Um …’ Skye looked to Liz for help. ‘A bit of everything, I think – admin, waitressing, food prep, isn’t that right?’

‘Exactly,’ said Liz, bouncing to her feet as the kettle came to the boil. ‘To help me get through silly season.’

Oh lord, thought Liz, as Clare froze and the smile slipped from her face. Liz hadn’t seen her like this since she’d found out that Mike and Frankie had bought Skye a brand-new car for her eighteenth birthday, while she’d inherited Jen’s ancient Volvo which stank of fish.

‘Skye is going to join The Seaside Gourmet Girls?’ Clare said in a low voice. ‘You’ve replaced Mum with Skye?’

‘No, darling,’ Liz exclaimed, horrified. ‘It’s not like that.’

‘It bloody well sounds like it.’ Clare folded her arms.

‘The summer has suddenly become very busy and I can’t manage by myself. I needed someone who I could trust and Skye needed a job.’

‘You could have asked me! I’ve worked for you and Mum before, remember? I know what I’m doing. I’d have been a much better choice.’

‘No offence taken,’ Skye mumbled, turning her back on the conversation to make the tea.

Liz groaned; this wasn’t going at all well. ‘You’re not here to work, you’re on holiday. With a baby. Ivy can’t be anywhere near clients’ kitchens. It would invalidate our insurance.’

Crikey, that was a thought. Did she even have valid professional indemnity insurance anymore? Another job for the list. Liz was feeling more flustered by the second.

‘You didn’t even mention you needed help,’ said Clare, sadly. ‘Or that you were really busy. I had no idea.’

Liz’s throat tightened. She’d needed help for a long time, not necessarily with the business, but with life in general. She’d been too ashamed to admit how badly she was coping, when everyone around her had their own issues to deal with.

‘I’m sorry,’ she said wearily. ‘It’s all come to a head recently.’

‘Maybe I should leave,’ said Skye. ‘I don’t want to cause any trouble.’

‘Please stay,’ Liz pleaded. ‘I can’t run the business by myself and even if I could, I don’t want to. If you leave now, I’ll have to cancel the bookings we’ve taken, and I can’t afford to do that.’

‘It’s fine,’ said Clare with a sigh. ‘Ivy and I will go. Skye is obviously needed and we’ll just be in the way. The last thing you need is more guests.’