BooksBarbecue
Back The Cottage Save as PDF
Chapters (82)
  1. Cover
  2. Dedication
  3. ONE
  4. TWO
  5. THREE
  6. FOUR
  7. FIVE
  8. SIX
  9. SEVEN
  10. EIGHT
  11. NINE
  12. TEN
  13. ELEVEN
  14. TWELVE
  15. THIRTEEN
  16. FOURTEEN
  17. FIFTEEN
  18. SIXTEEN
  19. SEVENTEEN
  20. EIGHTEEN
  21. NINETEEN
  22. TWENTY
  23. TWENTY-ONE
  24. TWENTY-TWO
  25. TWENTY-THREE
  26. TWENTY-FOUR
  27. TWENTY-FIVE
  28. TWENTY-SIX
  29. TWENTY-SEVEN
  30. TWENTY-EIGHT
  31. TWENTY-NINE
  32. THIRTY
  33. THIRTY-ONE
  34. THIRTY-TWO
  35. THIRTY-THREE
  36. THIRTY-FOUR
  37. THIRTY-FIVE
  38. THIRTY-SIX
  39. THIRTY-SEVEN
  40. THIRTY-EIGHT
  41. THIRTY-NINE
  42. FORTY
  43. FORTY-ONE
  44. FORTY-TWO
  45. FORTY-THREE
  46. FORTY-FOUR
  47. FORTY-FIVE
  48. FORTY-SIX
  49. FORTY-SEVEN
  50. FORTY-EIGHT
  51. FORTY-NINE
  52. FIFTY
  53. FIFTY-ONE
  54. FIFTY-TWO
  55. FIFTY-THREE
  56. FIFTY-FOUR
  57. FIFTY-FIVE
  58. FIFTY-SIX
  59. FIFTY-SEVEN
  60. FIFTY-EIGHT
  61. FIFTY-NINE
  62. SIXTY
  63. SIXTY-ONE
  64. SIXTY-TWO
  65. SIXTY-THREE
  66. SIXTY-FOUR
  67. SIXTY-FIVE
  68. SIXTY-SIX
  69. SIXTY-SEVEN
  70. SIXTY-EIGHT
  71. SIXTY-NINE
  72. SEVENTY
  73. SEVENTY-ONE
  74. SEVENTY-TWO
  75. SEVENTY-THREE
  76. SEVENTY-FOUR
  77. Suggested topics for reading-group discussion
  78. Keep Reading …
  79. Lisa Stone also writes under the name of Cathy Glass.Don’t miss her latest book …
  80. About the Author
  81. Books by Lisa Stone
  82. About the Publisher

In one box she found another white bootee that matched the one Tinder had brought to her. It was still partially wrapped in tissue paper, together with a small white outfit belonging to a baby or doll. Jan had no idea why Camile would have these and it was none of her business. She carefully rewrapped the bootees and outfit in the tissue paper and was about to return the parcel to the box when she saw a photograph album further down. She knew straight away she shouldn’t open it; it was personal and wrong of her to pry. But curiosity quickly got the better of her and one little peep wouldn’t hurt. Camile need never know.

Jan carefully lifted out the glossy, light-grey, professionally bound album. It was commemorative, the type that could be created online by uploading digital photographs of a wedding, party, holiday or similar event. On the front was a picture of a golden sun setting over a deep-blue sea, and beneath was the title Our Last Holiday, with a date three years before. Even more curious, Jan opened the first page and immediately saw whose holiday it had been. Camile and Chris looked back at her from a Caribbean island. How perfectly matched they were. With similar hair colouring, high cheekbones and open smiles, they made the ideal couple. Jan felt a pang of envy and wondered why they’d broken up.

She turned the pages. Photographs of Camile in her bikini on a sun lounger by the pool. Chris coming out of the sea dripping wet from a swim and laughing. He had a strong, muscular body. The two of them eating at a restaurant, climbing a mountain, sight-seeing – either taken by someone they’d asked or with a selfie stick.

As Jan continued to turn the pages it became increasingly obvious that they’d had a wonderful time and had been very much in love. So why had it been their last holiday? What had gone so badly wrong to end their relationship? Chris had admitted he’d had a relationship with Camile but had been vague. Jan had formed the impression it had been a casual relationship, but these photographs said otherwise.

She felt deflated. Camile was an attractive, confident woman who had a successful career. Chris had clearly doted on her. True, he was taking her out tonight, but she couldn’t be anything but second best. He had seen her as a lonely singleton who, having spent too much time alone, was imagining things. In short, he’d felt sorry for her, nothing more. He was probably now regretting ever asking her out.