Page 124 of All Wrapped Up
‘I do,’ I told her. ‘And it’s all thanks to you, Molly. Thank you.’
‘If you weren’t ready,’ she told me, ‘you wouldn’t be going to do it, which means that, actually, it’s all down to you.’
Once Molly had gone Pixie and I set off for the barn again. It was getting late, but a corner had been turned and I had no desire to wait a moment longer before I reset my compass on a hopefully new and exciting path.
‘Damn,’ I muttered, as I pulled on to the drive and my headlights picked out the back of Ash’s truckandthe one belonging to the woman who had been there before.
My heart didn’t feel quite so light when I spotted her hugging Ash on the doorstep. I realised that it was the same woman he’d embraced at Skylark Farm and probably in the shower, too.
‘Do you think they’ve noticed us?’ I asked Pixie and she barked in confirmation. ‘You’re right and I’m not bottling it now,’ I forthrightly added, then parked and turned off the engine.
While I had been manoeuvring, the woman had walked over, so I had no choice but to open the window because she clearly wanted to say something.
‘Hi,’ I said.
‘Lost again?’ she smiled.
‘Something like that.’
‘No, you’re not,’ she laughed. ‘You’re Clemmie, aren’t you?’
‘Yes,’ I confirmed, looking briefly at her. ‘Yes, I am.’
She was very pretty.
‘I’m Lottie,’ she then told me. ‘Will’s partner.’
I looked at her again, more sharply that time.
‘You know, Ash’s boss?’ She frowned, probably thinking I didn’t know who Will was.
‘You’re Will’s partner?’ I asked, feeling even more confused, but her next words explained everything.
‘Yes,’ she said. ‘We’re in the process of having the bathroom at Cuckoo Cottage remodelled and it’s a total nightmare, so we’ve been showering here while it’s being sorted.’
I felt my face flush crimson. ‘Oh, right.’ I swallowed. ‘I see.’
‘You’ve just finished a renovation, haven’t you?’ she carried on. ‘So, you know what it’s like. Builders, plumbers and electricians, they promise it’ll be a five-day job and five months later you’re still living in a building site! We could use the glamping facilities, but it’s a bit chilly at this time of year.’
I knew she had vintage caravans to rent on her land and some railway carriages, too, so there were obviously camping style facilities available but as she said, hardly warm to wash in now the summer had long since passed.
‘Come on, Lottie!’ I heard Will shout and I realised he wasin the driving seat of his truck. ‘Otherwise, we’ll miss our reservation in town.’
‘I’d better go,’ Lottie smiled. ‘We’ve got dinner plans and I need to drop my truck at the garage first. It’s nice to meet you at last.’
‘Likewise,’ I said, feeling like an utter fool.
‘Do try and talk Ash out of leaving, won’t you?’ she said, as a parting shot.
‘Leaving?’ I gasped and Will honked the truck horn, making us both jump.
‘Yes, he’s on about moving back to Bakewell. Will is devastated.’
I waited until Will, who waved as he went by, and then Lottie had gone, then unclipped Pixie from her harness and climbed out. Ash was still in the open doorway and I felt awkward crossing the drive and walking up the path with him watching me.
‘You met Lottie, then?’ he asked, when I was close enough to hear him.
‘Yes,’ I said. ‘I’d seen her before, but not to talk to.’
