‘Three days of solid sunshine will do that to a person.’ Penny adjusted her phone so Darby could see more of the poolside setting. ‘Look at this view, Darbs. It’s absolutely gorgeous here.’
‘I hate you,’ Darby settled back in her chair. ‘It’s grey and miserable here, and I’m sitting in my dressing gown surrounded by the aftermath of yesterday’s kitchen demolition.’
‘Kitchen demolition?’ Penny’s voice crackled slightly through the connection. ‘What kitchen demolition? You’ve gone quiet for a couple of days and now you’re talking about demolishing things? You are on a roll.’
‘I finally snapped and removed all those orange cupboards. Six of them, all gone in one hit. My kitchen looks like a building site, but at least it’s no longer orange.’
‘Blimey, Darbs! You actually did it? After five years of threatening to tackle those cupboards, you finally went through with it. Who even are you?’ The video call pixelated for a moment, Penny’s face froze mid-expression before it stabilised again.
‘I did indeed. My entire body aches as if I’ve been hit by a truck.’
‘I can’t believe you did that on your own,’ Penny picked up a very tropical-looking drink. ‘Please tell me you didn’t try to shift all that by yourself.’
Darby felt her cheeks warm. ‘Well, actually, I had some help with the final bit.’
Penny immediately frowned and narrowed her eyes. She leaned closer to her phone screen. ‘Help? What sort of help? You’ve got that look on your face.’
‘What look?’
‘That look you get when you’re trying not to tell me something important. I’ve known you for twenty-five years, and I know all your faces and the voices. Come on, spill.’
Darby took a sip of her tea. ‘Well, err, actually, I do have some news.’
‘I knew it!’
‘I went to the pub yesterday. With a man.’
Penny’s voice was incredulous. ‘I’m sorry, what did you just say? The connection’s a bit dodgy here.’
‘I said I went to the pub yesterday. With a man. For a drink.’
‘An actual man? Like, a romantic-type situation?’ Penny’s voice was getting higher with each question, and she was now sitting bolt upright on her sun lounger.
‘Yes, an actual man. His name’s Archie, he’s a building restoration specialist, and he helped me move the last of the cupboard doors.’
‘I’m so surprised, I’m speechless.’ Penny’s phone wobbled, giving Darby glimpses of palm trees and poolside tiles. ‘You haven’t been out with anyone in forever. How do I not know about this? Who is he?’
‘You know that listed farmhouse down the lane here and the right of way with that old stone wall? He’s working on that, or at least his company is. It’s a long story. I was taking out the cupboards and he was out there with a gadget.’
‘Convenient.’
‘He helped me with the timber and then suggested we grab a drink. It was very casual.’
‘Darby, you went to a pub with someone. This is headline stuff. What does he look like? What did you talk about? Do you fancy him?’
I’m in lust.
‘He’s nice. Quite attractive and I may have found him somewhat appealing.’
‘You’re practically glowing just talking about him. Crikey! Are you smitten?
‘I am not smitten. I barely know the man.’
‘But you like him.’
Darby paused, considering how much to admit to her oldest and really, only, friend. ‘I suppose...’
‘This is fab.’
