Summer of Love Read Free Page B

set away, they headed back to Fiona’s house. As they approached, Sian said, ‘I don’t suppose you could tell me your mad thing now? I’m dying of curiosity.’
    ‘Well, we can’t have you dying, although really I’d prefer to tell you with a paper bag over my head. And not a word to Jody.’ Fiona plunged on. ‘It’s all your landlady’s fault. She put me up to it.’
    ‘But what is it?’
    ‘Internet dating,’ said Fiona. ‘There, I’ve said it. And look, there’s Jody.’

Chapter Two

    An orange people carrier drew up and parked. The door opened and a young woman wearing shorts and a stripy top jumped out. She was tanned, freckled and looked very fit. She reminded Sian of a tennis player.
    ‘Hi, Fiona! So kind of you to ask us. I’ll just release Annabelle.’ She slid open the side door and began fiddling with straps. By the time Fiona, Sian and Rory had reached them there was a small girl on the ground, scowling at them from under dark black brows.
    She had bare feet, long curly black hair that tumbled down her back, pink pedal-pushers and a matching T-shirt. Sian thought she looked like a gypsy queen and quite magnificent.
    Jody held out her hand to Sian. ‘You must be Sian. Jody. And this little princess is Annabelle.’ Jody looked at Rory and said, ‘Don’t worry, she’s better with boys than girls. She’s got two older brothers and apart from liking pink, thinks girly things are silly.’
    Rory looked up at Jody and smiled, responding to her warmth and relaxed attitude.
    ‘Fiona’s got a train,’ said Annabelle, proud of her greater knowledge.
    ‘Why don’t you two go and find it?’ suggested Fiona. ‘The gate’s open, you can go in.’
    Bustling importantly, Annabelle led the way, with a willing Rory following.
    ‘She’s a heartbreaker in the making,’ said Fiona as the adults followed more slowly.
    ‘Don’t say that!’ said Jody. ‘She gives me enough trouble when the boys have sleepovers. She harasses their friends in a most embarrassing way.’ Jody looked at Sian apologetically. ‘You must tell me if she’s too much for Rory. And you must come over soon. We live in a mess but it’s a massive house so we seem to be sleepover central.’
    Sian smiled, feeling immensely grateful to Fiona, first for knowing someone who seemed so much fun and secondly for introducing them. ‘It sounds like heaven. We live in a fairly small house but we’re still up for the odd sleepover.’
    As she followed Fiona and Jody through the big gate into the yard, which gave on to an open-sided barn, now being invaded by Rory and the Gypsy Queen, Sian couldn’t help wondering about what Fiona had confided.
    Fiona was obviously a pillar of the local community. She was probably chairman of the WI and certainly did church flowers. The idea of her internet dating seemed bonkers! But fun. Sian acknowledged, going into the house of her mother’s dreams, that the thought was definitely fun.
    The kitchen was huge, with some sort of range cooker up one end and a table up the other. An island unit and various cupboards, a dresser and a desk took up the rest of the space. A long shelf above the window that looked out on to a charming garden held huge majolica plates and jugs. It was either designed by an expert or was a wonderful accident, but the result was delightful.
    ‘This is lovely!’ said Sian. ‘What a perfect room!’
    ‘Oh, do you like it? I sometimes think it’s a bit of a shambles but the thought of sorting it out just makes me feel weak. Now, you two go and sit down and I’ll make tea.’
    Jody and Sian were seated at the table when Annabelle and Rory came in. Annabelle was obviously about to ask for a drink when she caught her mother’s eye and didn’t.
    Fiona, apparently fluent in small-child-speak, said, ‘Would you two like a drink? Apple juice? Annabelle, can you show Rory how to work the ice machine?’
    ‘What an amazing fridge,’ said Sian, watching Annabelle and Rory fill