Page 61 of All Wrapped Up
She was the loveliest gift Ash could have given me and I hoped my spur-of-the-moment gesture of thanks hadn’t upset or offended him because receiving her had been the perfect end to an incredibly successful day, both for the festival and myself. My life had been utterly transformed since Lizzie had arrived in my garden, and thoughts of her led me to also consider the final few minutes of my time in the town…
Ash, who was still looking a little flushed, and I had called into The Cherry Tree Café for some sweet treats to bring home and while I was looking at Lizzie’s dresser of pretty things – all now arranged in autumn colours – and out of sight of the counter, I had overheard a conversation that made me feel even happier that I could call him my friend.
‘You and Clemmie have turned out to be the perfect pairingfor getting this festival off the ground,’ I listened to Lizzie brightly say.
‘I can’t take any of the credit,’ Ash responded. ‘It’s literally all down to her. I haven’t done a thing yet.’
‘I thought you judged the shop windows together,’ Joanne then joined in.
‘Well, yes,’ Ash conceded, ‘we did that, but pulling it together and getting everyone organised behind the scenes, has been all Clemmie’s work. It must have taken her hours and I know she’s keeping everything online constantly up to date, too.’
That had been the moment my ears had really pricked up, but thankfully, Lizzie didn’t make some crack about me being skilled in that department. However, Joanne’s subsequent change in direction was more disconcerting than if Lizzie had.
‘It’s amazing to think that just a month ago none of us had ever even laid eyes on her, isn’t it?’ she said ponderously.
‘And yet she’d been living in the area for a year and a half,’ Lizzie joined in.
‘Perhaps she had her reasons for keeping to herself,’ Ash said, sounding guarded.
‘Not now though,’ laughed Joanne. ‘She’s a fully paid-up member of the Wynbridge community now.’
‘More than fully paid-up since I roped her into organising the festival,’ Lizzie pointed out with a laugh. ‘I just need to pop to the kitchen for a quick word with Jemma.’
Clearly, she wasn’t curious about the time I had spent alone since arriving in the Fens, but unfortunately, the same could not be said of Joanne.
‘Lizzie’s right about that,’ she agreed. ‘I suppose you’ve got to know Clemmie, better than any of us, haven’t you, Ash?’
‘What makes you say that?’ he queried. ‘I’ve already told you I’ve barely been involved with the festival yet.’
‘But your relationship with her isn’t only about the festival, is it?’ Joanne pointed out. ‘You gave her Pixie, didn’t you? You wouldn’t have done that if she was a stranger, would you?’
‘Well, no,’ he had no choice but to agree, ‘I suppose not.’
Joanne was quiet for a moment, but then couldn’t seem to resist carrying on.
‘You know,’ she said, in a confidential tone, ‘I can’t help thinking that Clemmie must have left her heart wherever she lived before.’
My mouth fell open.
‘Ow!’ Ash loudly said, which made me close it again with a snap.
‘What?’ Joanne tutted and I imagined he’d made her jump.
‘You’ve just given me whiplash, Joanne,’ he complained. ‘You’re totally transparent, do you know that?’
‘I’m just curious, is all,’ she said, sounding defensive. ‘I don’t like to think of Clemmie holed up all on her own with a broken heart—’
‘You don’t know that she has a broken heart.’
‘Well, maybe not,’ Joanne carried on, ‘and I know you probably think I’m being nosey—’
‘Aren’t you?’
‘No,’ she insisted and given the sudden seriousness of her tone, I wasn’t certain she was only saying it like that to try and get herself out of trouble, ‘and I promise I’m not trying to interfere, either. I know you’re both happily single, and even though I think you look really great together, I truly have set aside any former hopes I had of playing Cupid.’
‘Well, that’s a relief,’ Ash puffed and I wondered if he’d given any thought as to how we looked together in the sense Joanne meant, because I hadn’t.
‘But I still hate the thought of her living alone for so long,’ Joanne continued. ‘We all know that’s not what Wynbridge is about. No one who lives around here should be… excluded.’
