Page 77 of The Allotment on Willow Tree Lane

‘Why would anyone complain about that?’

‘I don’t know,’ she sobbed. ‘I thought it was a good idea.’

‘It was. I wouldn’t have signed off on it if I thought it wasn’t. What did Mrs Nash say, exactly?’

‘Someone accused me of using the kids as free labour.’

‘That’s ridiculous. Mrs Nash should have checked with me first. I would have put her straight. In fact, I’ll go do that now.’

‘Thank you, but I already explained. It’s all sorted.’

‘She still should have come to me first. I’m your line manager. If she had, this nonsense could have been avoided.’

‘Please don’t say anything. It’s fine, honestly.’

‘It’s not fine. Look at you, you’re upset. Why don’t you go home, take the rest of the day off?’

‘What about my classes?’

‘Don’t worry about those. Just get off home. You can’t teach in this state.’

Ceri had to admit he was right. She couldn’t seem to stop crying. It was as though being summoned to the principal’s office had poked a hole in the dam she had constructed on her way to work this morning, and now that it had been breached the flood of her emotions threatened to overwhelm her.

With tears streaming down her face, Ceri cried all the way home.

Someone was knocking on the door, but Ceri ignored it. She didn’t want to speak to anyone. She didn’t want to see anyone. She just wanted to be left alone.

She was tempted to go to bed and hide under the duvet for the rest of the day, but all the crying she’d done had made her thirsty, so she heaved herself off the sofa, catching sight of herself in the mirror above the fireplace as she did so, and winced.

It wasn’t pretty. Her face was alarmingly pale, her eyes were red and the dark circles underneath them reminded her of bruises, which was apt, because she felt as though she’d been punched. Her chest hurt, her heart ached, and she felt sick.

Damon would be in London by now. He would have seen the rose she had left him. What had he made of it?

Nothing, probably.

Had he woken Sadie with a kiss? Had they made languid love? Or had it been hot and frantic?

Ceri let out a low moan of anguish.

Unable to stop herself, she checked her phone and saw a message from him.

Missing you already. Love you XXX

The stab to her heart as she read it made her gasp, and she didn’t know what to think. Why was he continuing to string her along? Or did he mean what he said? If so, what was all that about with Sadie?What the hell was he playing at?

Fresh tears fell and she brushed them away. Maybe he did intend to return to Foxmore after all, else why would he have sent her such a message?

Ceri had never felt so confused, or so alone. She desperately wanted to talk it over with someone, but who? Could she betray Damon’s confidence and let her brother in on the secret? Huw wouldn’t tell anyone. Except for Rowena… she was his wife, after all.

And that, Ceri thought, is how secrets get out.

Thinking about her sister-in-law must have conjured her up, because the knock came again, and although Ceri didn’t answer it, a few moments later two faces appeared at the window, hands cupped around their eyes as they peered inside.

Ceri let out a sigh of resignation and opened the door.

‘We were on our way to the allotment and we saw your car,’ Rowena said. She nudged her daughter. ‘Say hello to Aunty Ceri.’

‘Hello, Aunty Ceri,’ Nia chorused.

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