Summer at the Star and Sixpence by Holly Hepburn Page A

got over her.’
    Nessie’s heart started to beat a little faster as she stooped to collect another glass. Did that mean what she thought it meant? ‘I’ve always thought that was an odd thing to
say, when someone you love dies,’ she said slowly. ‘Because you never really get
over
losing a loved one, do you? You come to terms with it, eventually, and you might get used to
their absence but you’re never the same person you were before. It’ll always affect you, one way or another.’
    He glanced sideways at her. ‘You’re right. Losing Eliza did change me. It made me more afraid, for one thing, scared of something happening to Luke. Frightened to take
risks.’
    ‘I can understand that,’ Nessie said quietly. ‘It’s a perfectly natural reaction.’
    ‘But it’s no way to live your life,’ Owen replied. ‘And what I’ve realised since – well, since last week, is that I don’t want fear to rule me any more.
I’m going to take more chances and see where they take me. Do you know what I mean?’
    Nessie thought again of the envelope on her bed. In a way, she was doing exactly the same thing. What had Ruby called it? Reinventing herself. ‘Yes,’ she said. ‘I think I
do.’
    They reached the entrance of the pub. Owen stopped in a puddle of light from the door and turned to Nessie. ‘So I guess what I’m trying to say is, maybe we could take a few chances
together?’
    Nessie smiled. It wasn’t a heady declaration of love but it was a start. ‘I think that sounds like a plan, Owen.’
    ‘What time did Sam say she’d be back?’
    Joss looked tired and stressed, Nessie thought. Sam had been in too much of a hurry to tell him she was going, leaving it to her sister to break the news, and Nessie knew it had bothered him.
Then she’d made matters worse by failing to contact him all day. Nessie hadn’t known how much to say, so she’d kept to the same story she’d given Kathryn and Owen, that Sam
had some urgent business in London to deal with. The trouble was, Joss was much harder to fob off than everyone else. Sam’s behaviour had been out of character for weeks and her sudden
departure had set alarm bells ringing.
    ‘It’s not Nick Borrowdale, is it?’ he’d asked as evening fell, and Nessie had struggled to answer because Nick was involved and she didn’t want to lie. In the end,
she’d settled for a half-truth.
    ‘Sam did mention his name but it was only in passing. It’s not him she’s gone to see.’
    Now she gave him a sympathetic smile. ‘She’ll be back around ten-thirty, depending on traffic. Look, why don’t you call it a night? Go and have a drink, enjoy what’s left
of the party. I can manage here.’
    He shook his head. ‘I want to see Sam when she arrives. I want to know what’s going on.’
    Ah, Nessie thought unhappily as he went to serve a customer, but is Sam going to want to see you?

Chapter Ten
    The fireworks went off just after ten-thirty. Sam could see them exploding into the darkened sky as she drove into the village. In some ways it worked in her favour because it
meant hardly anyone was in the Star and Sixpence when she walked in, they were all outside watching the sky, including most of the bar staff. And in other ways it wasn’t so good, because
there was nothing to stop Joss from demanding to know where she’d been, before she’d even sat down.
    ‘Let me get you a drink,’ Nessie said, firing a warning glance his way. ‘You must be shattered.’
    ‘God, yes,’ Sam said. ‘Make it a double.’
    She kicked off her shoes and stretched into one of the leather armchairs in front of the unlit fire, resting her head against the back of the chair and closing her eyes. She was bone weary, too
exhausted to have to explain herself to Joss, who she could sense was pacing the bar like a caged tiger. She didn’t open her eyes again until Nessie returned with a large vodka and tonic, and
then she lifted the glass to her lips and drained it.