Page 46 of The Secrets of Dragonfly Lodge
‘It’s been a pleasure. Your grandma’s been very hospitable. I slept in your bed, Livy, I hope you don’t mind. It was very comfy.’ She’d already changed the linen.
‘I don’t mind,’ Livy sighed, a tiny princess robed in her throw.
‘Well,’ Stef said brightly. ‘I’ll leave you all to get on. Goodbye, Nancy.’
Nancy thanked her profusely and made her promise to visit the following day. When Stef went to pick up her case Aaron followed her out to the hall.
‘I really am immensely grateful,’ he said quietly, his arm reaching past her to open the door. ‘I can’t think what I’d have done without you, in fact.’
She looked up at him and smiled. ‘I’ve loved it.’ They were standing so close in the narrow space, she could see the sun from the fanlight glint on the hairs of his rough-shaven jaw. As she moved past, she became aware of his soapy scent. On the doorstep, she paused. ‘Oh, one thing. The cat has gone missing. I let her out last night. I hope it’s not my fault.’
‘We’ll have a look,’ he said. ‘The poor mog’s so old anything could have happened.’
‘Yes, I hope she’s all right.’ They looked at each other and a distressing thought struck her.
‘You don’t think the letter writer…’
‘No, surely not,’ Aaron murmured. ‘But I hope Tabitha hasn’t…’
‘Me, too,’ she said swiftly. ‘It’s the last thing Nancy needs.’
‘I’ll keep an eye out.’
She turned to go.
‘Stef…’ Aaron said hesitantly. ‘May I ring you later? I thought if things were peaceful here, perhaps we might meet for a drink at the Ilex Tree this evening. If you’re free, that is?’
Stef stared out at the brooding sky. Did she want to have a drink with Aaron? She bit her lip. Not if he was going to berate her for betraying Nancy’s secrets.
‘I just thought it would be nice.’ His smile was uncertain. ‘To say thank you.’
‘All right.’ She grinned.
‘Maybe seven-thirty. I’ll text to confirm.’
There was no sign of Aaron inside or out when Stef arrived at the pub that evening. The pub garden felt a bit cool after the recent rain, so she went back inside, smiled at the barman and sat down at a table with comfortable chairs in a sheltered nook to wait, glad of a moment to collect her thoughts.
How different one’s mood could make a place. Last time, the old-fashioned oak panelling and the horse brasses decorating the walls had hardly registered. Tonight, the place hummed with conversation and felt friendly and welcoming. She was just wondering whether to order a drink when Aaron arrived. He saw her wave from her corner and with a look of relief came at once to join her.
‘Apologies,’ he sighed, sitting down. ‘Lauren the carer was late and then… well, everything took longer than I thought.’
‘I can imagine. Don’t worry. How’s Livy?’
‘Upset about the cat.’
‘Still missing?’ Stef was concerned. ‘I can’t help thinking it’s my fault. Maybe I shouldn’t have let her out.’
‘She’s usually free to go in and out at night, so don’t blame yourself, please. I expect she’ll turn up. One way or the other.’
‘It really couldn’t be the letter writer, could it?’
‘I very much hope not,’ he said feelingly. ‘I’ve reported the letter to the police, by the way. Emailed them a photograph of it. Who knows what they’ll do, if anything.’ His facewas grim, but he made an effort to cheer up. ‘Now, what’ll you have?’
Aaron stepped over to the bar, where he chatted amiably with the barman. She found herself viewing him as a stranger might, seeing a slim, averagely attractive, youngish man in dark jeans, a navy linen jacket and polished boots and with a scruff of dark hair. But he was more than that, she decided. She liked his quiet laugh, the way he used his hands as he spoke to the barman.
At Nancy’s talk in the visitors’ centre, she’d seen him tense with concentration and ever since either frowning angrily as he defended Nancy or miserably anxious after his grandmother’s accident. Which one was the real Aaron? All of them, probably.
‘What are you smiling at?’ he said as he returned, bearing two foaming beer glasses and a large packet of crisps.
