I smiled. "Yeah, OK."

“This afternoon, actually." She looked shifty. Then she grinned. "When I came back from painting, I sent him a text. Told him it was over."

My mouth dropped. I blinked in surprise. “Really? Oh good. Good, Cele, I'm glad!"

I wanted to say, Thank goodness. He was never right for you, never treated you properly, always left you depressed and upset, but I knew these things came back to haunt one. What was it girls said to each other in these circumstances which showed solidarity and boosted confidence but didn't entirely decimate the ex? Oh yes. I wrinkled my nose and looked thoughtful as we sat down to eat, perching on stools opposite one another at the bar.

"You could do better."

She smiled and raised her glass. Twinkled at me across it. “Thanks. I fully intend to."

Chapter 10

Babs sauntered down to the cottage the following morning. She'd clearly added us to her morning routine of surf, little tryst with Roger, shower, and then breakfast with the girls in their sunny back garden.

Her eyes were bright with mischief as she came through the back garden from the dunes. She sat down at the table, crossing her skinny brown legs in her shorts. Piggy jumped up on her lap.

"I say," she said, helping herself to a croissant, "you'll never guess what happened yesterday. You missed all the drama."

"Oh?" I buttered my toast. “The livid conservationist?"

She shot me an astonished look. "Yes! How did you know?"

"I met him on his way up to the house. He wasn't particularly amused then."

"I should say not. And, my dears, I can't tell you how impressive he was. Strode into the yard where we were all still hanging around, eyes flashing — he's got marvelous chocolatey brown ones — and really tore everyone off a strip. And not just about the riding, either. Apparently Hugo's company is holding back on filtration equipment and giving more money to shareholders instead, which is why the leakage here is so bad. He really gave it both barrels. And of course I know he's right because Roger's been worried about the shareholders getting greedy, not that he's got anything to do with the water these days."

"Was Roger there?"

"No, just Hugo."

"What did he say?"