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Gloria nodded and smiled. Her smile was dazzling, changing her entire face. For the first time, Kate noticed Gloria was actually rather beautiful, in a plump English rose sort of way. It was impossible to guess her age.
“I slept very well, thank you. It’s a lovely mattress you’ve got up there.”
“Thanks. Have you been out for a swim?” asked Kate, signalling to the orange bag.
“Well, sort of. I was scattering my mother’s ashes. She wanted them scattered at sea, but as I get terribly sea sick, swimming seemed the least bad option.” There was that dazzling smile again.
“Goodness, I’m so sorry, that must have been a hard thing to do.”
“Not as hard as I was expecting. It was rather cathartic.”
“Oh, well, that’s, um, good? Can I get you anything?”
“Actually, I feel in need of a drink. A drink drink. Is there a good pub nearby?”
“Yes, there is, practically opposite. They’ve got several rooms there, so you should be able to find somewhere quiet.”
“Thank you, but I’m not sure I really want somewhere quiet. I don’t suppose you’d like to join me?”
Gloria’s hands twisted in front of her, and Kate wondered if she was feeling shy. Going for drinks with guests wasn’t what she’d planned, if anything she’d hoped to keep them at arm’s length. But then again, after what Gloria had been through that morning, surely one couldn’t hurt. “Yes, OK, why not? Are you ready now?”
“I’ll just pop upstairs for a shower if that’s OK? I have seaweed and goodness knows what else clinging to me.”
“A shower sounds necessary, then. Just give me a shout when you’re ready.”
“Will do.”
Half an hour later, there was a knock on Kate’s bedroom door. Gloria stood there, looking like a different person from the bedraggled woman who’d walked in earlier. She was wearing a cashmere dress that skimmed her ankles, a leather jacket and pointy black ankle boots. Her silver hair was swept back in a stylish chignon, and her lips were coated in shimmering pink.
“Wow, you look amazing! I feel pretty under-dressed.”
“Oh don’t worry, you look fine. I had to get out of those awful joggers, I felt such a slob.”
Kate pointed to her ripped jeans, scuffed boots, and bobbly jumper. “I think I might be letting the side down,” said Kate. Gloria laughed and hoisted a handbag onto her shoulder, indicating they should be off.
Gloria insisted on buying the drinks and arrived at their table with a bottle of wine. “I thought we may as well get a bottle. Unless you’ve got somewhere you need to be later?”
“No, nowhere.”
“What is it you do, work wise, I mean?”
“Currently not much. I run the Airbnb, but I’ve not lived in the house long and I’m still trying to figure out what to do.”
“Have you had many guests so far?”
“You’re my second. I’ve not got many bookings as it’s low season.”
“That can’t keep you very busy. I’d go mad if I had too much thinking time.”
“What do you do?”
“I’m CEO of a logistics firm.”
“Wow.”
“Ha, it’s not as exciting as it sounds, but it keeps me out of trouble.”
Kate felt suddenly inferior, not just in clothing, but life in general. “Shall we have a toast to your mum?”
