Read Summer at the Star and Sixpence for Free Online Page B

said, sighing. ‘Before I made a great big fool of myself.’
    The sparkle faded from Kathryn’s eyes. ‘Ah, the wedding anniversary. What happened?’
    Feeling like she’d rather crawl under the table than relive the embarrassment, Nessie gave her friend a brief rundown of events. ‘So I think I’m wasting my time,’ she
finished. ‘Owen obviously still carries a torch for Eliza and I can’t compete with her. More than that, I don’t want to.’
    Kathryn opened up the cake box and bit glumly into a doughnut. ‘I do love my brother but there are times when I could cheerfully thump him.’
    ‘Kathryn!’ Nessie exclaimed, half shocked, half amused. ‘It’s hardly his fault. If anything it’s mine, for rushing things.’
    The other woman chewed for a moment. ‘How many times have you and Owen gone out now?’
    ‘Twice,’ Nessie said. ‘Not counting the film last Friday.’
    ‘You’ve been on two dates,’ Kathryn repeated. ‘In six months. And how many times have you kissed?’
    ‘Once,’ Nessie admitted, feeling her cheeks turn pink. Kathryn was her friend but she was also Owen’s sister. It felt weird discussing this with her.
    ‘Once,’ Kathryn said solemnly, ‘initiated by you. That’s not rushing things. People have got married faster.’
    Nessie shuddered. ‘And that’s the other thing. Technically, I’m still married to Patrick. I’m not sure I should be kissing anyone.’
    ‘Don’t give me that rubbish, Vanessa Blake,’ Kathryn said, shaking a finger at her. ‘Sam says Patrick is ancient history, whether you’ve got a piece of paper that
says so or not. Just like Eliza is history. Owen might not want to face up to that fact but it’s time he did.’
    Nessie fiddled with her teaspoon. ‘You can’t make him move on if he’s not ready.’
    Kathryn sighed. ‘I know. But I also know I’ve never seen him happier than he has been these last six months. So you’ll forgive me if I seem to be pushing the two of you
together. I don’t mean to meddle, I just think he deserves a bit of happiness, that’s all. And from what Sam says, you do too.’
    Nessie thought back to Sunday, when Owen had mentioned how much Eliza had loved the bluebells. He’d looked so sad and alone. ‘You’re right,’ she said, swallowing hard.
‘But maybe I’m not the one to give it to him.’
    ‘Rubbish,’ Kathryn snorted. ‘I’ve seen how you two are with each other. Do you think I’d be going to all this trouble if I didn’t think you were the
one?’ She leaned forward, her expression suddenly serious. ‘Listen, I’m going to tell you something I’ve never told another soul. I know it seems like Owen and Eliza had the
perfect marriage but things were pretty rocky between them just before she got sick. I don’t think they’d have gone the distance if – well – if circumstances had been
different.’
    ‘But they weren’t different,’ Nessie said gently. ‘And Eliza is always going to be there. If Owen’s not ready to let go then I’m better off knowing now,
before I make an even bigger fool of myself.’
    Kathryn’s shoulders sagged. ‘Don’t give up hope, that’s all. He’ll realise that for himself, if he’s got any sense.’
    Nessie managed a strained smile and reached for the cake box. ‘Best not to hold my breath, though, right?’
    ‘Maybe,’ Kathryn admitted.
    Nessie breathed a heartfelt sigh of relief when the builders packed up the last of their things later on Friday afternoon. She and Sam spent the weekend clearing the worst of
the dust from the attic rooms ready for the decorator to start early on Monday morning. And although she wouldn’t admit it to anyone except herself, Nessie was glad of the excuse to stay
upstairs, out of sight. She hadn’t seen Owen since the weekend, although she’d heard from Franny that he’d contributed a vital answer to their narrow victory over Purdon Warriors
at the Three Horseshoes the night before. She wasn’t sure