Page 62 of All Wrapped Up
‘Even if they purposefully choose to exclude themselves?’
‘Is that what Clemmie did?’ Joanne gasped. ‘Did she move here with the intention of hiding away?’
‘Clearly not, given that she’s got the festival up and running,’ Ash pointed out mildly.
In spite of his faux pas, he sounded as cool as a cucumber, but my heart was racing.
‘But she was hereagesbefore Lizzie roped her into that—’
‘Look,’ Ash interrupted, finally losing patience. ‘I know you think you mean well, Joanne, but not everyone’s the same as you. Not everyone has to be involved in everything and know everyone else’s business, and, if I were you, I’d keep out of Clemmie’s.’
‘Oh,’ said Joanne. ‘I see.’
She sounded genuinely hurt and even though I felt a tiny bit sorry for her because deep down I still had the impression that there was more going on with her than anyone else realised and that was probably why she was still using other people’s lives as a distraction from whatever might have gone awry in hers, I was really more focused on feeling grateful that Ash was protecting me.
‘I know you’re feeling bored without Aiden and that you’re just killing time here until you join him—’
‘No, that’s not it—’ Joanne tried to interrupt, sounding even more upset, but Ash didn’t give her the opportunity to elaborate.
‘But if I were you,’ he cut across her, ‘I’d focus on your work with Lizzie or perhaps find someone who doesn’t mind the attention and leave Clemmie to herself before your persistent prying makes her give up the festival for good.’
‘She wouldn’t give it up?’ Joanne gasped. ‘Would she?’
‘She might.’
‘Lizzie would kill me if that happened! And I genuinely only really want to know that Clemmie’s all right.’
‘As far as I know,’ Ash said seriously, ‘Clemmie is absolutely fine, but she won’t be if she finds out you’re still snooping on her. I mean it, Joanne, if you carry on like this, you can kiss the festival goodbye.’
Knowing the reason behind my move to the Fens, Ash was clearly worried that Joanne’s intense inquisitiveness was going to deeply upset me and I felt truly touched to hear him further protect me so intently.
‘I honestly never meant to cause trouble,’ Joanne said, sounding genuinely contrite and upset again. ‘I’m just curious as to why she’s been a lone wolf for so long.’
I was again struck by the thought that there was something in her tone that suggested her interest in my circumstances originated from more than being nosey for the sake of it.
‘Well,’ Ash pressed home crossly, not picking up on what I had possibly deduced, ‘don’t be. If Clemmie has anything she wants to say about that, then I’m sure she’ll tell us in her own time.’
I picked that as my moment to make my presence felt.
‘Have you decided which cake you fancy, Ash?’ I asked breezily, as I walked around the tables and into view.
‘I think it’s going to be cakes, plural, rather than just one,’he said, turning his attention to the counter. ‘Because these all look amazing.’
I insisted on paying for the selection we picked out, citing it as a thank you for my fairy, but really it was a thank you for the forthright way he had looked out for me and, in the process, hopefully put a stop to Joanne’s interest in my past, whatever her motive for wanting to know about it.
That said, if at some point the opportunity arose, I was definitely going to seize the chance to ask her about her future plans because I was becoming increasingly certain that they might have some bearing on her continuing curiosity.
I slept late the following morning and by the time I had seen to Pixie and made myself a mug of coffee, Mum had already called twice.
‘I was all set to give up on you,’ were the words she greeted me with, when I was eventually sorted and ready to call back. ‘How did the festival launch go?’
‘Well,’ I said, picking up my coffee, ‘you’ve seen the photos.’
I’d sent her and Dad reams and reams as I picked out those more general ones I’d taken of the town to share on the Wynbridge community and festival pages online, so they could see for themselves just how perfectly the square had been dressed to celebrate the changing season.
‘We have,’ Mum nodded, ‘and it looked absolutely stunning. Was the launch well attended?’
I hadn’t taken all that many photos with people in them, so that was a fair question.
