Page 62 of The Village Cafe in the Loire

There was a silence. ‘Amber didn’t mention to you…?’

‘She mentioned his name. She never said… I don’t know exactly what’s happened between them, no.’ Had Amber dated Rufus? Had a crush on him? All Amber could remember was that her friend had described him as a bit of an idiot.

Hannah was silent again. ‘Well,’ she said at last, ‘I’m surprised you didn’t know about the bullying.’

‘Bullying?’

‘Yes. Rufus has been targeting Amber for the last few weeks. Making her life a misery. And on top of all the stress she was already under, it was the straw that broke the camel’s back.’

Becky felt cold. If it had come to this, why had Amber never said anything? Surely she would be the first person Amber would reach out to ordinarily?

‘Oh God. What a bastard. But I don’t understand. You said she was stressed? I mean, I saw her recently and she seemed… fine.’

Hannah snorted. ‘Well, safe to say she wasn’t. Amber’s been under enormous pressure for months. She always struggled a bit with the rent for that fancy flat of yours, I suppose you know that? And with all the threats from Rufus, she was terrified of losing her job too. She started doing overtime, applying for extra work. And I suppose it all became a bit… much.’

‘Oh God, Poor Amber. Why didn’t she tell me?’

Hannah sighed. ‘Well, she tried. But you were so stressed yourself. And it’s harder than you’d imagine, admitting that you have financial problems. There’s pride.’

Becky’s face felt hot. ‘And she’s… it was a stress thing? A panic attack?’

‘No. Worse than that I’m afraid. Pain. Some unusual cardiac activity.’ Hannah reeled off these facts as if reading them from notes. ‘They want to run tests. Think it’s related to the build-up of cortisol. From stress.’

The last word sounded pointed. Becky opened her mouth to defend herself. She was hardly responsible for her friend’s stress levels after all. But then Hannah was worried. A worried parent. She was entitled to snap a little.

‘I just wish she’d told me,’ Becky said. ‘About Rufus, about the money.’

‘I think…’ Hannah said carefully, ‘Rebecca, I think she was probably embarrassed.’

‘Embarrassed?’

A silence. ‘Well, things aren’t perhaps as easy for her as they are for you. Financially. Her job… it’s good, but she has a lot of debt from uni. And the flat… well, she was worried about covering the rent from the start… But you were so enthusiastic.’

‘Why didn’t she say?’

Another silence. ‘It might be hard for you to understand. You have your mother. And now this inheritance in France. It’s very different for you.’

‘But…’

‘I’m not saying you did anything intentional. Lord knows when I was your age, I was 100 per cent occupied with my own life. I didn’t have time for anyone around me,’ Hannah said in a gentler tone.

‘I’ll come home. I’ll fly back today.’

‘You’d do that?’

‘Of course! She’s my best friend. I…’ Becky found tears in her eyes. She reached up and gently pulled the dressing from her eye. It would be fine. ‘How long are they keeping her in for?’

‘They said a few more days. They’re not happy with some of her readings. But as I say, she’s not in any immediate danger.’

This wasn’t as reassuring as Hannah might have supposed it would be.

‘What about her work?’

‘Rebecca! Her work isn’t important right now.’

‘I know. I mean – is someone investigating this Rufus bastard? Are they being OK? Paying her?’

‘She’s quit. The day before the incident. Something happened. I’m not sure what. And it was the tip of the iceberg. But I think… I think threats were made. About references. And the poor girl got into a state, wondering how she’d pay the rent, how she’d… survive.’

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