Page 50 of Happy Days Ahead in the Cornish Village

‘I don’t think she even noticed you weren’t holding it any more.’ Ginny laughed, looking down at Cindy. ‘You’re right though, she was perfect at coming back as soon as you called her name.’

‘Aw, clever girl, Cindy.’ Jay smiled. ‘How did you fall? Are you hurt anywhere else?’

‘No, no, just my stupid ankle.’ Megan tried and failed to cover a wince as she attempted to put weight on it. ‘I don’t really know what I did. I think I just tripped over my own foot.’ She shrugged, the red tinge of embarrassment flushing across her cheeks.

‘We’ve all done it.’ Jay shook his head.

‘We sure have.’ Ginny held out her hand. ‘Here, give me Cindy’s lead and I’ll take these three in while you put your foot up.’

‘Thanks.’ Megan passed it to her and watched as Ginny walked on ahead.

Jay frowned. ‘Are you sure you’re not hurt anywhere else?’

‘No, I really am okay. Just a little embarrassed that I’ve managed to injure myself by stupidly tripping over my own foot.’ She waited as he opened the door before taking hold of her by the waist again and helping her up the step. ‘Thank you.’

Flora rushed out from behind the counter as soon as she saw them. ‘Oh, what have you done, lovely?’ she asked. ‘Ginny said you were hurt.’

Megan shook her head. She really didn’t need all this fuss. It was just a twisted ankle.

‘I’ve just sprained my ankle. It’s only a little sprain.’

‘Oh dear.’ Flora pulled out the stool from behind the counter and indicated it to her. ‘Why don’t you go back to the bed and breakfast and rest it for the day?’

Back to the B and B? Megan bit down on her bottom lip as Jay helped her to the stool.

‘No, no, I’ll rest it here.’

‘That’s a good idea. I’ll go and get my car. I can drive you.’ Jay, seemingly ignoring her refusal, made his way towards the door.

‘I said no. I don’t want to go back. I’ll be perfectly fine here.’ Her tone was harsher than she’d intended and she shook her head. ‘Sorry, I didn’t mean to snap, but I’ll stay here all the same. I can get on with the paperwork and I have everything I need. It makes more sense.’

‘Well, I don’t know. Won’t it be best back in your room? You’ll be more comfortable.’ Jay furrowed his brow, concern flooding his features.

‘I’ll be more than comfortable here, but thank you.’ Gripping the edge of the counter, Megan stood up, forcing a smile, trying desperately to downplay how much it really hurt. She couldn’t have Jay insisting on taking her back to the B and B. If he did, then they’d all find out she didn’t actually have anywhere to go.

‘Okay, sorry. I didn’t mean to try to tell you what to do.’ Jay ran his hand across the back of his neck.

‘Hey, don’t apologise. Thank you for looking out for me.’

Briefly touching his forearm, she hobbled into the kitchen. All she wanted to do was to curl up in a comfy bed and with the thought of having to spend another sleepless night trying to fall asleep in her car at the forefront of her mind, it was all she could do to keep the tears at bay.

19

Shoving the car into first, Megan flicked the windscreen wipers on and watched as they smudged last night’s excuse for a rain shower from the glass. It hadn’t so much as rained as sprinkled. And she’d been awake the whole time. She gritted her teeth as she lowered her foot to the accelerator. If anything, the sprain felt worse today, probably due to the fact she hadn’t been able to lift it up all night, but she was coping. Just about anyway, and she certainly couldn’t let anyone back at Wagging Tails see how much pain she was in. She couldn’t face sitting in her car all day if Flora told her to have the day off. And even worse, she couldn’t have one of them insisting on driving her back to the B and B. No, she’d cope. She had to.

Before pulling out of the lay-by, she glanced at the backseat. She might try to sleep there tonight instead of scrunching herself in the front passenger seat, she just didn’t like the thought of not being able to drive off quickly if something happened or even to sit up and pretend she was just resting if another car pulled in.

But she couldn’t carry on like this. She was doubtful if she’d even got two hours of sleep last night because of her throbbing ankle – and five hours every two nights wasn’t sustainable. She had to try something. Tonight, she’d try the backseat, and failing that, by the end of the week she’d likely become so tired that she’d be able to sleep standing up, anyway.

Megan turned into Wagging Tails, relieved to see only Ginny’s car parked. Even the Wagging Tails van had gone, meaning that either Flora or both Flora and Ginny were out. And even if Ginny hadn’t gone with Flora, she’d be walking Ralph. Great, she’d be able to actually go and get cleaned up.

She smiled. A fresh pair of clothes would be perfect, and she’d shove her dirty stuff in the washing machine too.

Scraping her hair back into a ponytail, Megan grimaced at herself in the mirror before running her fingers across her hair, pulling out wispy strands. That was better. The grease was a little more disguised now. She looked behind her at the shower they used to wash the dogs. If only she’d arrived a little earlier, she may have been brave enough to wash her hair under that without the fear someone would come in and see what she was doing.

She packed her make-up bag back into her tote bag and picked up her dirty clothes, wrapping them in a towel. Never mind, she felt a million times better after a wash and a freshen up, plus she’d be able to pop her dirty stuff into the washing machine.

It wouldn’t be forever. One of the potential employers she’d contacted yesterday might call her back and offer her an interview despite her lack of experience. She opened the door to the reception area just as her mobile rang, punctuating the silence in the room.

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