Blowing It (30 page)

Lottie took a deep breath. ‘The Cresswells – they came round to look at the house a couple of weeks ago. They want to buy it, they’ve offered just under the asking price but they’ve got a lot to sort out so they really need to hang on till this time next year,
which
obviously suits us. So … Manda and Ilex, if you like, you’ll be able to have your wedding party here.’

‘Oh, yes!’ Manda squealed. ‘We’d love that!’ She looked at Ilex, suddenly unsure. ‘At least I think we would, wouldn’t we?’

‘Fine by me.’ Ilex grinned. ‘I definitely didn’t fancy some anonymous hotel.’

‘And why have you got to ring … him back?’ Clover asked. That confirmed it, Lottie thought. She couldn’t even use Harry’s name.

‘Because we still have one more thing to tell him. Mac and I made an offer on the Major’s old house on the green and it’s been accepted. We just need to tell him for definite about whether to go right ahead with it. What do you all think?’

Much later, when they’d all returned to their various homes and Sorrel and Gaz had gone to the pub to join their friends for yet another evening of post-exam celebrating, Lottie and Mac wandered down past the east long border and into the orchard to lock up the chickens for the night.

‘So … next year’s Burning Man, then?’ Lottie suggested as they went through the orchard gate.

‘We can start there, make an itinerary … be a bit more organized about it than we have been.’

Mac stopped by the pets’ graveyard and pulled a piece of ivy off the last wolfhound’s gravestone.
‘And
when we get back … I was just wondering about getting another dog.’

‘Not another wolfhound?’

‘No. That would be going backwards. Time to move on, I think.’

THE END

About the Author

Judy Astley has been writing novels since 1990, following several years as a dressmaker, illustrator, painter and parent.
Blowing It
was inspired by her inability to be sensible with money. Being a high-maintenance blonde with a serious shopping habit (frocks, books, plants and music) uses up all potential pension-funds and Judy has unfortunately failed to make any plans for her own fast-approaching dotage except to request that her ashes be scattered in the Designers Guild fabric showroom.

Judy has two grown-up daughters and the world’s best-ever grandson and lives with her equally profligate husband in SW London and Cornwall.

For more information on Judy Astley and her books, see her website at
www.judyastley.com

Also by Judy Astley

JUST FOR THE SUMMER

PLEASANT VICES

SEVEN FOR A SECRET

MUDDY WATERS

EVERY GOOD GIRL

THE RIGHT THING

EXCESS BAGGAGE

NO PLACE FOR A MAN

UNCHAINED MELANIE

AWAY FROM IT ALL

SIZE MATTERS

ALL INCLUSIVE

and published by Black Swan

TRANSWORLD PUBLISHERS
61–63 Uxbridge Road, London W5 5SA
www.transworldbooks.co.uk

Transworld is part of the Penguin Random House group of companies
whose addresses can be found at
global.penguinrandomhouse.com

First published in Great Britain by Bantam Press
an imprint of Transworld Publishers
Bantam Press edition published 2006
Black Swan edition published 2007
Copyright © Judy Astley 2006

Judy Astley has asserted her right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work.

This book is a work of fiction and, except in the case of historical fact, any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

A CIP catalogue record for this book
is available from the British Library.

Version 1.0 Epub ISBN 9781409085447
ISBN 9780552773201

This ebook is copyright material and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed, leased, licensed or publicly performed or used in any way except as specifically permitted in writing by the publishers, as allowed under the terms and conditions under which it was purchased or as strictly permitted by applicable copyright law. Any unauthorized distribution or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the author’s and publisher’s rights and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly.

3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4