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First published in Great Britain in ebook format in 2017 by HarperCollinsPublishers
Copyright © Cressida McLaughlin 2017
Cover design © HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd 2017
Cover illustration © Alice Stevenson
Cressida McLaughlin asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.
A catalogue copy of this book is available from the British Library.
This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the authorâs imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.
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Ebook Edition © December 2017 ISBN: 9780008273361
Version: 2018-09-24
The atmosphere at the table inside the Riverside Inn was almost as frosty as the early December night. Summer sipped her pint, trying to stay calm, feeling the tension radiating off Claire, sitting beside her. As much as she tried, she couldnât help glancing at her phone, calculating the minutes that Mason and Tania had been gone.
Mason and Tania.
Summer had never expected Tania to come back into Masonâs life. Until today, she had been a figure rooted firmly in the past, a woman of almost mythical status. She forced herself to move her phone away from her, unable to stop the sigh from escaping.
Claire put her hand over Summerâs. Summer felt a flash of anger but pushed it back down.
âI am so, so sorry, Sum,â Claire said. âI didnât realize sheâd be here. She assured me, when she organized the moorings for us, that she would be gone for the whole month. She said specifically that she didnât want to cause an atmosphere, so I have no idea what sheâs playing at!â
The remorse on Claireâs usually cheerful face changed it completely, and Summerâs anger began to fade, replaced by worry at the thought that Tania had misled Claire on purpose. âI know itâs not your fault,â she said quietly. âBut that doesnât make it any easier.â
Claire took a sip of wine. âOf course it doesnât. God, I had such high hopes for this trip. When I found out we had the opportunity to come to Little Venice for a week, so close to Christmas, and that there would be enough visitor moorings for all of us, I jumped at the chance. And I couldnât imagine being here without you and the canal boat café. I know itâs been over a year since we were roving together, and that I manage fine with my band of brothers, but this was too special to miss. And I was going to tell you that Tania had sorted out the moorings for us, but as sheâd promised she wouldnât be here, I didnât think it mattered. Especially when you told me Mason was reluctant to come â I didnât want to put him off either.â
Theyâd spent the last fortnight travelling the British waterways from Willowbeck, Summer and Masonâs picturesque fenland village home, after Claire had invited them to join in with the impromptu festive market in London, three weeks before Christmas. Mason had been thrown by the short notice, but after a day or so heâd relented, and Summer had been delighted that sheâd have him, and their dogs Latte and Archie, on board her café boat Madeleine for five whole weeks. Their excitement upon arriving in Little Venice earlier that day had turned to shock when Tania had been waiting to greet them in the pub.
âIâm sure they wonât be gone long,â Summer said, trying to reassure herself more than anyone. Mason had told Tania he was happy to speak to her, and Tania had suggested a late-night coffee shop around the corner. Theyâd been gone fourteen minutes. âWhen did you catch up with her again?â
Claire sighed. âWe lost touch, years ago, after the whole Mason thing happened. But we were down here this spring, just for an overnight, and she came on my boat. Sheâd recognized it from before, of course, told me she was living here now, had a permanent mooring in Little Venice â I remember thinking she must have sold her soul to be able to afford it. It was a shock to see her, I can tell you.â
âYou and me both,â Summer murmured, taking a slow sip of her beer.