“It’s so good to see you too! Wow! Is . . .” The next words get stuck in my throat. Is Noah here? is what I want to ask, but I don’t want to seem ungrateful about seeing her and Bella.
“Unfortunately, no,” says Sadie Lee, guessing my question and tilting her head in apology.
“Oh,” I say. I can’t help the disappointment that settles on my shoulders.
“I take it you haven’t heard from him either?”
I shake my head.
She sighs. “That boy . . . He’ll get in touch when he’s ready.”
When I realize she means that they haven’t heard from him either, fear grips my heart. “Is he OK?” I ask.
She nods. “He left a message with his new management giving an emergency contact number if anything really terrible happens, along with a request to respect his wish for a creative break. Noah’s always been a free spirit, able to sort things out on his own, and he needs his privacy. I know him too well—if we go hunting for him, or keep checking up on him with messages and emails, he’ll run further from the situation, whatever situation that may be. Giving him space is exactly what he needs, so we need to give it to him. Still . . . I’m glad that we get to see each other.”
“Me too.”
Mum waltzes in from the kitchen with an “Oh good, you’re back! Surprise, Penny darling!”
“It’s the best surprise ever!”
Then Mum turns to Sadie Lee. “Have you had a chance to tell her yet?”
“Tell me what?” I ask, instantly intrigued.
Sadie Lee laughs. “Not yet! But there’s no time like the present. Our visit isn’t just a vacation to see you and your family, nice though that is. Your mom and I have decided to do another event together.”
“Oh really?” I clap my hands together in delight. “Is it down here in Brighton?”
Mum shakes her head. “Not this time. It’s even better. Remember that wedding up in Scotland?”
“The one over half-term?” I ask. It’s the biggest budget event that Mum has been asked to do so far this year—almost as big as the last-minute New York wedding at Christmas where I first met Noah. Because it’s over half-term, Elliot, Alex, and I are here to join in as helping hands. It’s going to be my first time in Scotland, and already Elliot is picking out the perfect outfits for us to wear at the evening ball—with a touch of tartan, natch.
“Exactly. Sadie Lee has agreed to do the catering, so she and Bella are going to join us!”
My eyes dart from Mum to Sadie Lee. “That’s amazing news!” I say. Sadie Lee is a world-class caterer, who’s made her name particularly with her incredible pastries. (But even her grilled cheese sandwiches are the best—there’s nothing she can’t make super tasty.) Combined with Mum’s awesome party-planning skills, the two of them together are a force to be reckoned with.
“But, we have a lot to prepare, so I’m going to be sweeping Sadie Lee off to the shop straight after breakfast. Can you look after Bella this afternoon?”
“Yay! Yay! Yay!” Bella jumps up and down, tugging on my dungarees in time to each word.
“Of course!” I say with a big smile. “We’ll have a great time, won’t we, Bells?”
Dad’s voice interrupts before Bella can answer. “Who’s ready for pancakes?”
“Me!” she squeals, and rushes off towards the kitchen. It’s only when Bella’s left the room that it really hits me. They’re actually here ! My heart feels so full, it’s about to explode. As if breaking up with Noah wasn’t bad enough, it also hurt not to see his family either. I’d grown to love them too. Bella and Noah have the same warm, deep brown eyes, and having Bella here is a huge reminder that Noah isn’t. Even though it makes my heart ache a little, I’m glad they still feel comfortable enough to remain friends with us.
Thinking of friends makes my mind jump suddenly to my bestie.
“Mum, do you mind if I go see Elliot? He’ll have been cooped up with his parents while I’ve been away because Alex is out of town . . .” And I have to fill him in on my crazy Saturday. He will absolutely fall to pieces when he finds out about Callum. I hope he will be proud of me for taking a step in the direction away from Brooklyn Boy.
“Have you eaten already?”
“Yup! I had a sandwich on the train.”
“Then sure! Just be back before eleven. Your dad can look after Bella until then.”
I give her a kiss on the cheek and then hug Sadie Lee tightly. I head back out of the front door and jump across the steps to the front of Elliot’s house.
“. . . Maybe if you listened a bit more!”
“Me? Listen? You don’t even let me get a word in EDGEWAYS!”
My finger hovers over the bell as the angry words drift through the door towards me. I cringe. Elliot’s mum and dad are fighting again. I take a step back and look up at the highest window to see if I can signal to Elliot somehow, without interrupting his parents.
It turns out I don’t have to. The door swings open and a red-faced Elliot barrels out, almost knocking me back. “Elliot!” I cry. His head shoots up, then—when he sees it’s me—he throws his arms round me.
“Get me out of here?” he whispers in my ear.
I grab his hand and together we hurry down the steps. I know exactly where to go.
Chapter Nine