Page 11 of Falling in Love at Pennycress Inn

‘Don’t call me that.’ Her voice came out in a harsh whisper.

‘Sorry, Nicola…’ She could almost picture his condescending face as he spoke. ‘Yes, we had an agreement, but that was one we made when we were together. We’re not together anymore.’

Taking a sharp breath in, Nicola tried her best not to shout down the phone. ‘Of course, we’re not together anymore. I caught you cheating! Do you think I don’t know we’re not together? But the fact still stands that you owe me money. If you’re not going to carry on paying for my car in order to repay me, then you’ll just have to give me the rest now so I can buy a little run-around.’

‘I won’t be doing that.’ His voice was so quiet, Nicola had to strain to hear him.

‘I’m sorry?’

‘I won’t be paying you the rest. I simply can’t afford it.’

‘You won’t…? You’ve got to pay me. You owe me! I paid that stupid debt of yours off! What? Do you think you can just walk away and not repay me?’

‘It’s not what I want, but I simply can’t. I don’t have the money, Nic. Sorry, Nicola. I just don’t have it.’ His voice wavered, uncertainty creeping into his tone.

‘Sure you do. You’ve got your wage coming in – and I know how much you earn, by the way – and you’ve got your…’ She caught herself just in time and swallowed her words before continuing. ‘You’ve got Kerry’s wage coming in, too. You’ve got the money. And besides, you owe me!’

‘Kerry says it wouldn’t stand up in court. Our circumstances have dramatically changed.’

Kerry says. Of course, Kerry would say. If he wasn’t paying her back, then she had more money for the holidays he was always bragging about on social media.

‘We had an agreement.’

‘Look, what’s done is done. You chose to pay off my debt and I’m choosing to stop paying for your car.’ His voice was cold, all uncertainty replaced by defiance.

‘Nathan…’ Her voice was shaking. She could hear it. She took another deep breath in, trying to compose herself before she could attempt to talk some sense into him. Opening her mouth to speak, she stopped as she heard a woman’s voice in the background on Nathan’s end. Kerry. She was there. Nathan was essentially her puppet.

‘I’ve got to go. I’m sorry, but my decision has been made.’

‘But…’

Too late. The line was dead, and the porch was silent apart from her ragged breaths.

Lowering her phone to the narrow table, she placed her hands on either side and dropped her head. What was she going to do? How could he just terminate the contract on the car? And refuse to pay her back? He owed her money.

And she didn’t have a car.

The shrill ringtone of her mobile pierced the silence, and she snatched it up. Maybe he’d changed his mind and was ringing to apologise? Maybe it had been some cruel, late April fools? ‘Hello?’

‘Hey, Nic.’ Jill’s sing-songy voice floated down the line. ‘I was just ringing to see how you got on at Little Mead Farm?’

Little Mead? Ugh. She’d promised Jill she’d go up there after work. Her plan had been to jump straight into the car and get it over and done with.

Mustering up all the energy she had left, she steadied her voice, trying her best to sound normal. ‘Something came up. I’ll pop by there in a bit.’

‘I can go if you need me…’ Jill’s sentence was cut off by one of her children shouting in the background.

‘But you promised me you’d stay at ballet and watch tonight!’

‘It’s fine.’ Nicola jumped in. ‘No problem. I’m actually on my way out now.’ The last thing she wanted was to have to cope with another impossible man, but what could she do? A promise was a promise, and she certainly didn’t want to ruin Jill and her children’s plans.

‘Are you sure? I feel so bad asking you.’ Jill’s voice became muffled as she covered the mouthpiece and spoke to the child next to her.

‘I’m literally walking out of the door now.’ Picking up her keys, Nicola jangled them before stepping outside and closing the door.

‘Oh, you are? Great. Thanks so much, Nic. You’re a total star.’ Relief flooded Jill’s voice.

‘Like I said, no problem.’ What was the problem was how she was going to get to the damn farm. With no car, and it being three miles away, it would take her ages to walk. Then she remembered the bike. When her mum had moved out of Pennycress Inn, she’d insisted on Nicola having her old teenage bike back, just in case. Maybe her mum had foreseen what an absolute heartless person Nathan really was and had just this situation in mind. Well, perhaps not exactly this situation…

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