Sadie leaned into her, relief coursing through her. She’d hoped Cat would be as thrilled as she was but she hadn’t known for sure how her best friend would react; it would mean more upheaval for the shop and yet more changes in routine. But although the baby hadn’t been planned, she and Adam couldn’t be happier. ‘They’re both over the moon,’ she told Cat, stepping back. ‘Although Lissy has somehow got the idea that it’s going to be a dinosaur-human hybrid, so I’m managing her expectations.’
Cat laughed. ‘That sounds like Lissy. And how are you feeling?’ She shook her head in wonderment. ‘I can believe you didn’t tell me. I can’t believe I didn’t guess.’
‘I’m sure you would have, if you’d still been working here every day,’ Sadie admitted. ‘Delilah worked it out straight away and I had to swear her to secrecy. I think she might have known even before I did.’
‘Not much gets past Delilah,’ Cat said. She gave Sadie a marvelling look. ‘I swear you are actually glowing with happiness. You’ve come a long way in a year.’
‘We both have,’ Sadie said, smiling as she gazed at the brightly lit shop around them. ‘Has it really been a year? It’s flown by so fast.’
‘I know,’ Cat agreed. ‘It doesn’t seem like five minutes since Smart Cookies first opened and now look at us – we’ve got employees and regular customers and a really bright future.’
Sadie gripped her best friend’s hand and squeezed. ‘Thanks for making our dream come true, Cat. I couldn’t have done this without you.’
‘Stop that right now,’ Cat said, squeezing back. ‘I couldn’t have done any of it without you.’
‘I wonder what the next year will bring,’ Sadie said, reaching into the basket and taking out a biscuit to nibble.
Cat grinned. ‘Lots of broken nights and smelly nappies for you,’ she teased.
‘And lots of praise and rave reviews for you,’ Sadie said. She pulled a wry face. ‘Want to swap?’
‘Not a chance,’ Cat said, laughing. ‘But I don’t mind babysitting every once in a while.’
Sadie gave her warning look. ‘Be careful, I might hold you to that.’
‘Please do,’ Cat said. ‘In fact, if you don’t I might have to insist.’
Sadie felt her expression sober. ‘Thanks for being so supportive. I know maternity leave wasn’t part of our plans.’
‘Oh, shush,’ Cat said, pulling her into another heartfelt hug. ‘If you’re happy, I’m happy. As long as I get to keep my position as favourite auntie?’
‘Of course,’ Sadie said, smiling once more. ‘Even so, thank you. It means a lot.’
Cat smiled back. ‘No problem. What are best friends for, after all?’
The End
Acknowledgements
My first thank you goes to Jo Williamson of Antony Harwood Ltd, my guiding star for ten incredible years now. Milky Ways and Galaxy bars to the wondrously patient Emma Capron, the amazing SJ Virtue and everyone on the Books and the City team for helping my stories to shine. Much love to Kate Harrison, Miranda Dickinson, Rowan Coleman, Julie Cohen and Cally Taylor, whose brilliance lights up everything. I also owe a big thank you to Juliet Stallwood Cakes, whose Instagram feed is a source of constant biscuity inspiration, and to the South East Herts Bee Keeping Association (Michelle Whittaker and Dave Canham) for sharing their bee expertise and allowing me to visit an apiary. As always, thanks to T and E for twinkling so brightly. And last of all, thanks to all my readers – I hope you've enjoyed visiting Castle Court.
Also by Holly Hepburn
Snowdrops at the Star and Sixpence
Valentine’s Day at the Star and Sixpence
Summer at the Star and Sixpence
Autumn at the Star and Sixpence
Christmas at the Star and Sixpence
*
Brief Encounter at the Picture House by the Sea
Dirty Dancing at the Picture House by the Sea
Some Like it Hot at the Picture House by the Sea
*
Snowy Nights at Castle Court
Stormy Weather at Castle Court
Frosty Mornings at Castle Court
First published in Great Britain by Simon & Schuster UK Ltd, 2018
A CBS Company
Copyright © Tamsyn Murray, 2018
The right of Tamsyn Murray to be identified as author of this work has been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988.
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A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
eBook ISBN: 978-1-4711-7201-4
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either a product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual people living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental.