‘You could at least pretend to be pleased to hear from me,’ her sister grumbled. ‘Or have you forgotten about me already now you’ve moved to Timbuktu?’
‘Sorry, Bel, I’m getting a bit worried about Adam and Millie – they’ve been out since I got back from town. They should be back by now.’
Annabel laughed. ‘Grace, you’re such a worry wart. Adam’s probably chatting over a fencepost somewhere. You know he has to show Millie off to everyone. Stop panicking. Now, tell me when you’re coming back – you can’t become a country bumpkin forever. I miss you too much.’
Grace smiled at that. ‘You still don’t believe that I’ve moved away, do you? Come and see us, Bel. You never know, you might like it here.’
‘So you’re planning on staying then?’
‘Yes,’ Grace said, as emphatically as she could manage. She had never felt the need to pretend to Annabel before, but she was determined to give this move a chance. In truth, she missed her sister terribly, knew the feeling was mutual, and was afraid that Annabel would exploit any opportunity she saw to encourage them back to London.
‘Grace? Are you listening to me?’
She tuned back in to the voice on the other end of the line.
‘Sorry, what were you saying?’
‘I was asking you to tell me just what Yorkshire has that London doesn’t?’
‘Well, fresh air, for a start? And you can move without someone knocking you over and then swearing at you.’
‘Okay, okay,’ Annabel acquiesced. ‘Well, at least I don’t have to see you and Adam wandering around with soppy grins on your faces quite so often. It can get pretty sickening after a while, you know.’
Grace ignored the jibe. ‘Come for a visit, Bel – we’ve got a pub!’
‘Hmmm. I guess I might have to if you won’t come back. London misses you, though. I miss you.’
‘You shouldn’t have helped me pack everything up then.’
‘I know, I’m my own worst enemy.’
Grace smiled again distractedly as Annabel chattered away, getting up to gaze once more through the kitchen window. All was quiet. She walked slowly to the front of the cottage and glanced out into the dusky garden.