‘Well, I’ll absolutely paint you a picture of Charlie,’ Frankie replied, trying to recalibrate her workload as she said the words. There was only a fortnight to go before Christmas, and she already had quite a lot to get through before then, but there was no way she was about to turn down this offer from Jeanie, even if it meant having to work through the night in order to finish. ‘He sounds brilliant – it would be my pleasure. Paula has all my details, so just as soon as you can get those pictures to me, I’ll make a start,’ she promised.
Jeanie smiled. A rather suspicious, grudging sort of smile, admittedly, but all the same to Frankie it felt like the bright summer sun coming out, right there, on that grey December day, heralding a truce. ‘Lovely,’ said Jeanie, before coming over all brisk and businesslike in the next second. ‘Right! Well, if you’ll excuse me, I’d better get the kettle on. Time to sober up Harry’s sisters, before they fall over on the dance floor. Tea won’t make itself!’ She was about to bustle away again, but hesitated on the verge of departure as if something had just occurred to her. ‘Would you like a cup, love?’ she added after a moment.
It was the smallest of gestures, just the tiniest of things, and yet it felt so much bigger than the mere offer of a drink. ‘I’d love one, please,’ said Frankie, smiling back at Jeanie.
There! Was that the world applauding? Was that the ice finally cracking and thawing, a new rosy dawn on the horizon? Why, yes – yes, it was, and at that moment it seemed as if the whole family felt it, and were celebrating in their own way.
Across the room, Dave and Bunny were kissing under a sprig of mistletoe. Robyn and her children were making up a silly dance routine together and laughing breathlessly. Paula gave a squeak as she glanced at a text from the office, saying that a client had just put in a huge offer on one of her vendors’ houses, and threw her arms around Matt. Stephen and Eddie started a conga with some of the aunts. Even John went to join in.
And Jeanie said to Frankie, ‘Right you are then’ and marched off to the kitchen, looking oddly pleased with herself.
Seeing all of this, Harry Mortimer winked across at his younger daughter and decided it was definitely time to pop open some celebratory champagne.
Acknowledgements
Love and thanks to Lizzy Kremer, Caroline Hogg, Anna Bond, Mel Four, Stuart Dwyer, Kate Tolley, Sarah Arratoon and the whole Pan Mac team. You’re all superstars.
Thanks to Amanda Crutchley who patiently talked me through family law, and to Janette Pearson for answering my piano-related questions – any mistakes within the novel are most definitely my own.
Cocktails all round for the SWANs, my funny, clever, brilliant author colleagues – it’s always such a pleasure to see you.
All the love to Martin, Hannah, Tom and Holly for being the best people I know.
And thanks to you for picking up this book. I really hope you enjoyed it.
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BY THE SAME AUTHOR
Novels
Any Way You Want Me
Over You
Hens Reunited
The Beach Café
Summer with My Sister
Me and Mr Jones
One Night in Italy
The Year of Taking Chances
Summer at Shell Cottage
The Secrets of Happiness
The House of New Beginnings
On a Beautiful Day
Novellas
A Baby at the Beach Café
Ebook novellas
Christmas at the Beach Café
Christmas Gifts at the Beach Café
First published 2019 by Macmillan
This electronic edition published 2018 by Macmillan
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ISBN 978-1-5098-5113-3
Copyright © Lucy Diamond 2019
Cover illustration by Clover Robin
Cover design: Melissa Four / Pan Macmillan Art Department
The right of Lucy Diamond to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
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