Page 20 of Best Mistake Ever
Huh. I’m not sure where that thought came from. I hope I’ve not been breathing in invisible floating spores from a patch of magic mushrooms nearby.
Ahh, but it’s so wonderfully peaceful here.
I’m suddenly aware that I’m feeling something completely new.
I think it’s contentment.
Now I know what I’m doing with this job, I’m loving being on my feet all day and outside in the fresh air for a lot of it. It’s very different from my usual day-to-day experience of being tied to my desk in the office staring at words on a screen.
I remind myself, for the umpteenth time today, not to get too attached to this place, or this role. It’s unlikely I’ll ever be able to visit here again once I hand the reins back over to Dee. It might put her position in jeopardy again if Jonah even has an inkling that he’s been duped by us.
I push away a shiver of disquiet. I’m doing this to help Dee out, I remind myself. And it’s not like we’re trying to trick something out of Jonah. He may be an arrogant, taciturn grump but I don’t wish him any ill.
And I do feel bad about lying to him.
I’m distracted by the sound of my mobile ringing. Sitting up, I pull it out of my pocket and check the screen. My heart flips when I see that it’s Dee calling me.
Uh oh, what now?
‘Hi, Dee? Is everything okay?’ I ask, the moment I connect the call.
‘Hiya, Bea. Er, yes, all good here. How’s everything going there?’
‘Yeah, fine. Busy. Was there something you need?’ I’m acutely aware of the impatience in my voice, but I don’t have the brain space for chitchat with my sister right now.
‘Er, no, not really. Just wanted to check in.’
‘Oh. Okay. Well, everything’s going to plan here. Don’t worry.’
‘As if I’d worry with you in charge,’ she scoffs.
Is that a twang of bitterness I hear in her voice? Nah, she must just be fed up with sitting around in my flat. I hope she’s not making a nuisance of herself and bothering Jem when he’s trying to work.
‘So, the funniest thing happened yesterday,’ Dee says.
My stomach does a slow roll. Uh oh, this sounds like it has the potential to turn into something I’m not going to want to hear.
‘Really? What?’ I ask hesitantly, screwing up my face in readiness for the next disaster.
‘Well, I was really bored and still in a lot of pain with my ankle, but I thought I might be able to help Jem out in the office with some basic things like looking at emails, you know?’
My heart sinks as I immediately start to worry about the new way Dee has found to annoy the crap out of my business partner.
‘Dee, you need to leave Jem alone. You can’t go distracting him. He’s really busy at the moment, especially as I’m not there to take up the slack because I’m here doing your job for you,’I whisper into my phone, hoping to goodness that Jonah isn’t about to burst out of the trees and confront me after overhearing my conversation.
I get up and look around me, but luckily the place seems deserted.
‘Yes, I know that, Bea. That’s why I was trying to help and not just sit around like a useless lump.’
I feel a surge of guilt at the hurt in her voice. ‘Okay, sorry. So, what’s the funny story?’ I ask.
‘It’s just that I took some of those painkillers that Mum used to take for her bad back, so I could concentrate…’
Oh, no, this couldn’t be good. Those were strong meds and ones Dee really shouldn’t be messing with.
‘And it was weird because they made me act a bit wild!’ She giggles after saying this.
I can only imagine what that means.
