Page 156 of Rough Around the Hedges

“Only if you’re paying,” she trilled.

“I just keep getting roped into things tonight.” His voice was rough, but there was a tiny smile on his face.

“Don’t be so grumpy,” Susan continued. “Let’s help these kids sort it out. Our Rose deserves happiness. And it sounds like we can get married at the allotments and say our vows over Rose’s plot after all!”

I tucked the envelope under my arm and looked at Shaun. “You might have to fill me in on what’s happened here tonight.”

“I’ll jump in your car,” he replied with a sigh. “It might take a while.”

“Did you find her?”

I shook my head as Mum put a steaming cup of coffee on the table in front of me. “No, but we have a plan.”

“Are you sure they’re actually going to help you? Isadora did help her plan her getaway.” She paused, sitting opposite me. “Then again, I’d have done the same, you blithering bloody idiot. I knew you were emotionally constipated, but I didn’t realise just how stupid you were.”

“Yes, yes, so you keep saying.” I pulled the mug towards me, wrapping my hands around it. “I messed up. I should have told her I wasn’t selling the land. I know that.”

“At least you’re self-aware.” She sipped her tea. “What’s your plan, then? Is there anything I can do?”

I rubbed my sore head. George was a terrible influence when whiskey was involved, and since he’d agreed to help me, I was obligated to celebrate his engagement to Susan.

Or so he said.

He was a terribly difficult man to argue with.

I was beginning to think that particular trait was in the water here.

“No, I think we’ve got it. Isadora has access to her work calendar, and she said Rose cleared it at some point last night. She’s pretty sure she’ll be at the allotment all day. That was Susan’s plan, so she’s going to let us know when she’s there so we can corner her.”

Mum stared at me for a moment, then raised her eyebrow. “Have you ever cornered a cat, son?”

“Why would I corner a cat?”

“Why would you corner Rose? She’s definitely going to scratch.”

I shrugged. I deserved it. “It’s the only way she’ll talk to me. I’m pretty sure she never wants to see me again after what she thinks I’ve done, and she’s too stubborn to actually sit down and listen to me. It’s the only choice we have.”

It’d been hard enough to get her to the cottage the other night, and she hadn’t been half as angry at me as she was right now.

“You could just tell her you’re not selling it and be done with it.”

“That’s not—” I stopped, sighing. “It’s about time we were truthful with each other, don’t you think?”

Both of her eyebrows shot up this time. “Are you going to tell her you love her?”

I reached into my pocket and pulled out what was in there: a strip of plasters.

“Are those for when she socks you in the face and tells you to piss off?”

“Exactly that,” I replied. “It’s a fifty-fifty chance. George is betting on me getting a beating. I owe him twenty quid if she hits me even once, no matter how she does it.”

“Do you think she won’t?”

“Oh, no, she’s absolutely going to throw something at me to escape me, but the man just got engaged and I couldn’t bring myself to burst his bubble.” I shrugged, tucking the plasters away. “These are just in case.”

“I don’t know. She’s not that violent.”

“Mother, she threw a dildo at me not long ago.”

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