‘I couldn’t smell anything to begin with,’ Olly said, passing her the last pair of black leather shoes. ‘Luckily, your shop is well away from the worst of the damage. The clothes shops from the first floor are in a right mess. They’re going to have to dump all their stock. The insurance claim is going to be massive.’
‘Is there any news on the bloke who reported the fire?’ She knitted her fine eyebrows together in confusion, wondering where her sister had gone, or if she was keeping out of the way in her room.
‘What, Frank Bellows? Nope, they still can’t get him to say what he was doing there so late at night. He insists he didn’t see anything suspicious. I was wondering if it was some sort of protest against the company takeover that probably went wrong. He’s been there for years, after all, and won’t take kindly to any changes.’
Paige sat down. ‘Poor man.’ She shook the thought from her head. ‘I’m glad I’ll be off to Spain next week, and away from all this chaos.’
‘Buying again so soon?’
She nodded. ‘I emailed off the latest designs to my supplier. Can you believe it’s three months since I last went? You know how I have to time my trips to coincide with the university holidays,’ she added without thinking.
Olly visibly brightened. ‘Does that mean Clemmie will soon be back from uni to look after everything?’
‘Um, yes,’ Paige said, wishing he would stop looking so hopeful. Then, unable to keep it from him any longer, she took a deep breath. ‘In fact, she’s already here.’ There. She had done it. There was no going back now. Clem might want to kill her, but right now she didn’t care. The startled look on Olly’s face made her want to give him a hug.
‘Already?’ His thick blond eyebrows knitted together in a frown. ‘Why didn’t you tell me before?’
Paige chewed her lower lip trying to think up a plausible answer. ‘Because she asked me not to,’ she admitted, relieved to be telling her friend the truth. ‘Clem’s insisting she’s not going back, which is why my parents came over to the house the other morning.’
‘I thought it a little dramatic for them to race over because of the fire. I mean it’s not like you were hurt,’ he added thoughtfully. ‘So, has she mentioned me at all?’
‘’Fraid not.’ Paige shook her head, furious with her sister for treating someone as decent as Olly in such a shabby way.
‘She hasn’t said anything to you? What, nothing?’
‘Sorry.’ She stroked his arm gently, wishing she could take away some of his hurt. ‘Don’t worry, I’m sure she will do when she’s ready.’
‘Yes, but when will that be? I still don’t have a clue why she dumped me. One minute everything was great between us, and the next.’ He slammed his fist down on the counter top, causing the merchandise to shudder. ‘Sorry.’
‘It’s fine. I can understand how frustrating this must be for you, but I’ve no idea what happened either.’
‘I want to be angry with her, but I can’t help feeling something is wrong. I’m worried for her. This is so out of character.’ He raked both hands through his messy hair.
Paige thought so too, but didn’t like to add to his concern. ‘Let’s not get all worked up. Clem just needs a little time and at least we know where she is while she’s doing it.’
He seemed to accept this. ‘True, I just hope she doesn’t take too long, I’m going mad waiting, and it’ll be worse now I know she’s right next door. Somehow it was easier when I thought she was away.’
Great, thought Paige, not the effect she was hoping to have. She was also worried about Clem’s reasons for finishing with Olly. They seemed so perfectly matched and had obviously been very happy the last time she’d seen them together. Something was very wrong, and she needed to discover what it could be in order to be able to help her sister in any way.
Paige was relieved when the day she was leaving for Spain finally arrived. Inviting her sister to the shop to go through everything, she told her that she could have two of the six smoke-damaged pairs.
‘Two pairs?’ Clem shrieked with excitement, grabbing the emerald green thigh-high boots and putting them on. ‘I’ve had a passion for these since you first showed me the sketches.’
‘You’d be having a third pair, if they weren’t too small for you,’ Paige said, thinking how well the colour suited Clem’s skin tone. ‘They look gorgeous with your long legs. You’re so lucky.’
‘Why, because of the boots, or my legs?’ Clem said, smiling for the first time since she had returned from university.
‘Because of your legs.’ Paige pulled a face. ‘Stop showing off, you know how I hate my short ones.’
‘They’re hardly short, just shorter than mine.’ Clem took off the boots and tried on the other pair Paige had given her. ‘These are gorgeous. Thanks, Sis.’
‘My pleasure,’ Paige said, determining it was now time to broach the subject of Olly. ‘Clem,’ she said, tidying up the boots scattered on her lounge floor.
‘How’s Olly?’ Clem asked interrupting her as she studied her reflection in the full-length mirror. ‘Is he still working upstairs at De Greys?’
‘He is.’ Paige nodded. ‘Why, were you thinking of having a chat with him?’
Clem groaned. ‘I don’t want to, but I know I owe him some sort of explanation.’
Me too, thought Paige. ‘He’s confused about why you finished with him. And I can’t say I blame him.’
‘I know. I promise I’ll talk to him soon,’ she said, frowning. ‘Not yet though.’
‘Please make it soon. It’s putting me in a very awkward position.’
‘I will,’ she said. ‘Does he know I’ll be working here while you’re in Spain?’
Paige nodded. ‘So, unless he avoids you, you’re bound to bump into him at some point.’
‘Great,’ Clem said, sounding anything but happy at the thought.
Paige chewed her lower lip. ‘Maybe I should postpone this trip for a few weeks?’
‘No, you won’t.’ Clem shook her head. ‘And don’t look at me like that, I’ll be fine. You go and have a productive trip. Bring back some fab footwear.’
Paige didn’t like leaving her sister in this frame of mind, especially as she still had no idea what was wrong. She had no choice though. She needed to sort out her designs for the forthcoming season. ‘I’ll see you on Saturday morning. Try to behave while I’m away.’
‘Yes,’ Clem said, giving her a hug. ‘I have the keys right here and memorized the security codes. I know what I’m doing. Now bugger off.’
Chapter Thirteen
Paige couldn’t believe it was already early June and the last night of her trip. Her feet ached from walking around the large warehouses where she’d been taken to inspect the leather her supplier was proposing to use in her next designs. She turned on her mobile to check for any messages from Olly. She had phoned Clem each day and been relieved to hear that as far as they were concerned, the shop was selling everything at a speedy rate.
‘I think it has something to do with the ghoulishness in the customers.’ Clem told her. ‘Every last one of them asks about the fire and is trying to find out any gossip about what happened.’
‘I don’t mind what reason they have for coming in to the shop,’ Paige said. ‘As long as they buy something while they’re there.’
‘Just you make sure we have enough stock,’ Clem laughed. ‘We’re starting to run a bit low, and there isn’t too much left in the storeroom to bring out to replace everything I’m selling.’
Paige was sure her supplier would send her order on time. He always did, she thought with relief as she swiped the tip of her finger across the screen to open her phone and retrieve her messages. The first was from Sebastian.
‘Dinner? Will collect you, Sat @ 8. Seb.’
Paige’s heart immediately thumped a little faster. Then thinking how confident he must be that she would accept his invitation, she couldn’t help feeling a little annoyed. She sat and thought for a mo
ment. She was going to have to get used to having him around at De Greys, so maybe it wasn’t such a bad idea to go out with him and at least talk? She pressed her keypad, ‘OK, where?’ she typed.
Her phone bleeped almost immediately, making her jump. ‘Wherever u like.’
Paige had no idea where to suggest. ‘Will leave it up 2 u. C u Sat. P.’
‘Saturday it is.’
Paige pushed her reservations about Seb to the back of her mind. She was determined to enjoy herself, justifying their meal out together by telling herself that if nothing else, maybe one prospective client might approach her to ask where she had bought her footwear. Paige pushed the thought that she was kidding herself out of her mind, as soon as it popped in there.
‘It’s been great,’ Clem assured her. Paige noticed as Clem placed her case behind the counter that her sister was still wearing her green boots with aplomb.
‘I’ve bought your perfume,’ Paige said, handing her sister a box of Jo Malone’s Pomegranate Noir.
‘Thanks, Sis.’ Clem took the black-edged box from Paige, gave her a hug, and put it into her bag.
Paige took out the small brown envelope holding her sister’s wages for the week and handed it to her. ‘Clem, this is also for you. Why don’t you pack up and go home. I’ll stay here and close up the shop.’
‘I will, but only if you’re sure. Aren’t you shattered after your flights home?’
‘Not really. I’m used to travelling. Anyway I won’t be long,’ she said, looking forward to spending a little time in her shop.
‘Great thanks. I don’t need telling twice.’ Clem pulled on her jacket. ‘It’s been exhausting this week. I don’t know how you keep this up month in and month out.’
‘Necessity.’ Paige said, smiling as she took her place behind the counter and began clicking the mouse to start working through her sales list.
Satisfied with her checks, she locked up the shop, but could not shake off the feeling that something was amiss.
‘Olly,’ she murmured. Always impatient to fill her in on any gossip she may have missed, he never failed to contact her as soon as she returned from a trip. She sent him a message asking him to come and see her. Five minutes later, and she still had not heard from him.
Paige decided to make her way home without him. He always let her know if he wanted a lift anyway, so maybe he was simply staying away from the shop to avoid Clem. Despite her best intentions, she knew it was completely out of character for him. She pushed her worries about Olly to the back of her mind, although it would be comforting to have a quick chat with him before going out and know he was OK. Olly must have his reasons for keeping away. She checked her watch and gasped. She needed to start getting ready for her date with Sebastian.
Not knowing where he was taking her was a bit of a clothes problem. What should she wear? She didn’t want to put on jeans, and appear as if she hadn’t bothered, or a dress and look like she had taken this offer of dinner too seriously.
‘Bugger,’ she grumbled, throwing down a red cotton dress. ‘Why can’t I ever find anything decent to wear?’
Paige ran a bath. Now, that should calm me down, she thought, watching mandarin and basil fragranced bubbles cover the surface of the water. Pinning up her dark hair, she stepped in and lay back.
‘You look lovely,’ said Sebastian as he watched her open her front door.
‘Thank you.’ Paige said, glad she had decided to wear a pair of tailored navy trousers and a red silk top she had originally bought to wear on her honeymoon. She stepped outside, locking the door behind her. ‘So, where have you decided to take me?’
‘I’ve booked a table at the Pink Pots, unless you’d rather try somewhere else?’
‘No, I like the sound of the Pink Pots,’ Paige said, as he sat down next to her and started the engine. ‘I’ve not been there before, but I’ve heard great things about the food and the atmosphere.’
‘It’s run by a friend of mine. Well, she’s more of a business partner. She’s spent years running restaurants for other people, and decided to make a go of her own place. I’m sure she’ll do well. She deserves to.’
‘I think it’s good when friends can support each other’s ventures,’ she said.
He couldn’t mistake that jibe and didn’t blame her for it. ‘Have you ever thought of branching out and leasing an entire shop, rather than limit your sales to an area in a department store?’ He slowed down to let another car pass by in the narrow lane, and glanced at her as he waited for her to answer.
Paige looked confused. ‘I’d love to, but I still need to build up some collateral first.’
‘They’re your own designs, aren’t they?’
‘They are,’ she said, looking flattered that he would know this about her. ‘I’ve been commissioning Spanish contacts to make my drawings into the shoes and boots I’ve been selling for the past two years, but I still can’t help feeling a bit of a fraud, as if I’m only impersonating a designer.’
‘You’re no fraud, Paige,’ he said, admiring her honesty. ‘I’m not a connoisseur of women’s shoes, but they look great to me. You appear to do a roaring trade, so they must be what the customers are after.’
‘Thank you. They’re beginning to sell well. You’re right, I’d love my own shop someday, but it’ll have to wait a bit longer, especially now I’ve had this set back.’
‘It doesn’t have to be a negative change, you know.’
‘I agree, but I wouldn’t be able to afford a larger shop than the space I’m renting now.’ She relaxed further into her seat and looked away from him out of the side window.
She obviously didn’t intend to continue discussing the possibility of her moving from De Greys. Maybe now wasn’t the time to push the subject. After all, he mused, it wasn’t as if he’d decided if she would have to move yet. Maybe he’d be able to find a way for Heaven in Heels to stay in the store, and then all this anxiety on both sides would have been for nothing.
He took her hand in his. ‘Paige,’ he said, wanting things to be better between them.
‘No, Sebastian.’ She pulled away. ‘Don’t say anything. We both know we can’t carry on like we did in Italy.’ She glanced back at him the sadness in her green eyes unmistakeable.
‘I don’t see why it has to be like this,’ he said keeping his voice level, even though he wanted to shout at her in frustration ‘And I’m sorry you feel so adamant.’
‘I believe you’re a good man at heart,’ she said. ‘And maybe, if our circumstances had been different, we could have been able to carry on seeing each other.’
‘Be a couple?’ He sighed heavily at the thought of never being with her again.
‘Yes, but I think that after tonight, it would be best if we had a clean break from each other. It’s probably the best way forward for both of us.’
‘Maybe that’s the case for you, but I don’t happen to agree.’ He tried to hide his frustration.
‘Can you think of another way to resolve our differences then?’
Sebastian pulled into the restaurant car park next to the beach, and brought the car to a halt. ‘It’s not in my nature to give up on something I believe in,’ he said to her as he turned off the ignition and unclasped his seat belt. ‘I will find a way to make this work for us both.’
Paige waited for him to open her door. ‘I can’t see how,’ she said as he took her hand and helped her outside. The smell of the hot sand in the warm summer air was soothing.
‘You’re here,’ shouted Sara. He could never get over how such a petite woman could have such a loud voice. ‘What do you think?’ she asked, her hands outstretched.
‘If you want me to comment on the doll-sized dress you’re barely wearing, I’m not going to.’ He laughed.
‘Spoilsport. You’re looking as dashing as ever.’ She gave Sebastian a peck on the cheek before holding out her hand towards Paige. ‘Hi, I’m Sara. I hope you’ll have a wonderful evening at The Pink Pots, even though you’re
with this reprobate.’
‘I’m sure we will,’ Paige said.
Sebastian leaned his head closer to Paige. ‘She’s joking,’ he whispered.
‘I’m not.’ Sara winked at Paige. ‘I’ve reserved our best table for you.’
‘I expect nothing less.’ Seb placed a hand on Paige’s back, ushering her through a granite archway.
‘This is amazing,’ Paige said, staring at the driftwood framed paintings and windowsills topped with oddly shaped shells, as they walked past. ‘Are they yours?’
‘Some of them are. All the furniture, flooring and decorations are made from reclaimed wood,’ Sara explained, showing them through the busy room to a window side table, close to a roaring fire. ‘We have so many young artists living over here and I like to support them, as I’ve been supported.’ She smiled at Sebastian. ‘Thank you, again.’
‘Stop it.’ He wished she didn’t feel the need to be so grateful all the time. ‘You know I wouldn’t back you if I didn’t think you’d be successful.’
‘He’s not lying either.’ Sara widened her eyes at Paige.
‘I can believe that,’ she said, sitting down opposite him.
Sara handed them each a menu and walked away. ‘It’s wonderful here, don’t you think?’ Sebastian asked, determined to warm the atmosphere between them both.
Paige nodded. She seemed entranced by the orange and golden sunset lighting up the entire bay through the picture window next to her. ‘I love it when those rocks are lit up by the moon.’
‘I thought you’d enjoy this view.’ Seb agreed. ‘I’m so often too busy to notice the natural beauty we have around us in Jersey.’
Sara reappeared before Paige replied, and placed two champagne glasses on the table in front of her guests and an ice bucket perched on steel legs next to Seb.
‘We didn’t order this,’ he said glancing at the chilled bottle of Laurent Perrier Rosé.
‘No, I know, but it’s your first visit here, and without you, I wouldn’t be doing what I love most,’ Sara insisted, opening the bottle with expertise. ‘It’s the least I can do.’
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