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Theidea of playing gooseberry withLucieand her husband didn’t appeal. ‘Iwould have loved to butIneed to get back.Workto do.Itook this afternoon off.’Shelicked at a dribble of ice cream running down her wrist.
‘Don’tblame you.’Lucielifted her face to the sun. ‘Grabit while you can,Isay.I’vehad no viewings today.Slavedover a hot computer in the office and not seen the light of day.Still, not for much longer.’
‘Why’sthat?Haveyou got another job?’
Lucieshook her head. ‘I’vedecidedI’mgoing to be a full-time student.Myfirst year’s been impossible trying to work and study, even only working part-time at the estate agents.IfeelI’vemissed out on the full student experience.ComeOctober,I’llbe a full-time student-union-card-carryingEnglishLiteraturesecond-year student.’
Daisywas surprised; she knewLucieandJamiedidn’t have a huge income. ‘Goodfor you.Howare you going to manage, for moneyImean?’
‘Don’tyou start.I’vehadMumgoing on at me ever sinceItold her.’Sheshrugged. ‘I’llpick up the odd bar shift or a bit ofwaitressing.I’llwant something to do to keep me occupied whenJamie’son a call or out training.’
‘Jamiedoes a fantastic job volunteering with theRNLI.’
‘Hedoes but it’s no fun being the one waiting at home when he’s out on a shout.I’llneed some kind of job to keep me busy to stop me worrying.Studyduring the day, behind a bar at night.It’llbe okay.’
Daisyput her unsticky hand on her arm. ‘Nothingdramatic lately?’
LastDecemberthe crew had been called out to a stranded yacht during a fierce storm onChristmasEve.Fora while it had been touch and go.
‘ThankGod, no.Notsince that storm.’Lucieshivered. ‘Don’twant to go through another evening waiting like that.Itwas a bad night.Ididn’t think he was coming home.Iwas so gladIhadHonorandJago’smum to keep me company.Weall kept one another busy.Mademe realise though, thatJamie’sout there doing what he really wants to do,needsto do, so thought it was timeIdid the same.’
‘Whatwill you do with your degree?’
Luciegrinned, flicking chestnut hair off her freckled face. ‘Haven’tgot that far yet.Mightcome picking your brains about teaching.Iknow it wasn’t for you butImight like it.’
‘Youdo that.Ithink it’s a fantastic plan.You’vegot to chase your dreams.’
‘Youonly live once, don’t you?’
Ridiculously,Daisyfelt her eyes fill. ‘True.Gofor it, cuz.’
‘Iaim to.’Luciepeered atDaisy’sback. ‘Ooh,Daiz, you want to get some aftersun on those shoulders.They’reever so pink.’
Daisygrimaced. ‘Tellme about it.FirstthingI’lldo whenIget home.’
Luciewent to go but turned and said, ‘Daiz, don’t be stranger.Comeout one night and celebrate my release from years of glorious servitude atBerry-Francis.’
Daisygiggled. ‘You’veonly been there for ten years.’
‘Exactly.AndwithEllieCatesbyas my boss!Ishould get a medal for bravery.’Luciepulled a face. ‘Seriouslythough, be good to have a drink and a catch-up one night.I’vehardly seen anything of you lately.’
‘Iwill,’Daisypromised. ‘IfIdon’t,I’llsee you atHonorandJago’swedding first.’
Theysaid their goodbyes andDaisywalked slowly along the promenade, deep in thought.Shewas pleased forLucie.Thegirl had a brain and needed to stretch it.Full-time university life would suit her.Someoneelse who was sorting out her life.Gettingher priorities ordered.Maybeshe should try harder to do the same?Todo that, though, she’d need to decide what her priorities actually were.Shovingthe last of her cone into her mouth, by now soggy with chocolate ice cream, she collided with a man coming the other way.
‘I’mso sorry,’ he said. ‘Thelow sun was in my eyes.IhopeIhaven’t trodden on your toes?’
‘Hello,Rick.’
‘Daisy!Justthe personImost wanted to see!’
Chapter Twenty
‘Y
ouwanted to see me?’Daisywas embarrassed.Shewas conscious she was hardly looking her best, hot and sweaty in scruffy denim cut-offs and a barely there spaghetti-strapped crop top.Theirlast meeting when she was seen crying her heart out was still fresh in her mind.Itwould be wonderful if, just once,Rickcaught her looking sleek and in control.
‘I’vejust picked up the keys toTheOldSchoolKitchen!’
