‘Take him out, that’s all I’m saying,’ Edie said, passing around the worktable towards Rachel with her empty glass to reach for the wine bottle again. ‘Where would the harm be? I’ve seen the way you look at him when you think no one’s watching, Rachel. I don’t blame you, either. He’s charming and funny and… well, hot. So why not just go for it?’

Rachel was trying to think of an answer that wouldn’t give herself away. Toby had spent time in the bookshop every day since he’d arrived in the village a fortnight hence, and every time she saw him come through the door, something about him made her glad he was there. It was ridiculous and she’d tried to hide it, but that had become increasingly difficult as the days had gone by, not least because Rachel had begun to suspect that the attraction was mutual. A couple of times she had glanced up from ringing in whatever books he’d decided to buy to find him looking quickly away, as if afraid of being caught watching her. Several times she’d thought he was on the verge of asking her out, but had changed his mind even as he’d opened his mouth to do so.

Rachel had been relieved, despite the brief flash of disappointment that had flooded her heart each time the invite had not come. It was better this way, she insisted to herself. Her life was fine the way it was, and hadn’t it been tough enough to find that level? Why risk it?

‘He’s here to work,’ she said mildly. ‘I don’t want to interfere with that. Besides, he’s only been here five minutes!’

‘Pfft,’ was Edie’s response, and then came a brittle clatter and a yelp.

Rachel turned in time to see the glass go flying, impacting with the tiled ceramic floor with a tremendous crash that spewed lethal shards and wine everywhere.

‘Are you okay?’ Rachel asked, stepping around the mess and going to the sink to grab one of the artist’s cleaning rags.

‘I’m fine,’ Edie said, clearly irritated with herself. ‘Just slipped out of my hand. Damn.’

They cleared up and Edie went to get another glass. Rachel noticed that what she came back with was a stemless tumbler.

‘Getting clumsy in my old age,’ her friend muttered as she poured herself a fresh drink. ‘Next thing you know I’ll be drinking out of a plastic sippy cup.’

‘Well, as long as you can still drink…’

Both women laughed, Edie’s resolving into a sigh. She took her glass and went to pull another print. ‘Have you done anything about that girl yet?’ she asked. ‘What’s her name – Gilly? I noticed she was in the shop again today.’

‘I’m trying to get her to open up,’ Rachel said.

‘Rachel,’ Edie said with gentle reproach.

‘What?’ Rachel asked. ‘She insists that she’s an adult, and that she’s fine. If I push, or demand that she get help, or call the authorities, she’s going to do a runner, Edie, and I don’t want that. At least here I know she’s safe.’