Page 10 of All Wrapped Up
‘Yes.’ Lizzie nodded. ‘Try Clemmie. She could be just the person you’re looking for.’
‘You’re Clemmie?’ the woman, who had now served the drinks, asked. ‘You’re the person who has renovated Rowan Cottage?’
‘Yes,’ I tentatively said, turning to look at her. ‘Yes, I am.’
‘I’m Jemma,’ she beamed. ‘Lizzie has talked of nothing but you since you showed her around the cottage on Sunday.’
I felt my tummy twist when she said that and hoped Lizzie hadn’t said too much.
‘Has she not?’ I nervously asked.
‘She’s gone on and on,’ laughed the third woman. ‘I’m Joanne, by the way.’
‘The assistant I mentioned,’ Lizzie elaborated for my benefit. ‘Who, before long, I’m going to have to try and replace as she’s moving overseas to join her partner.’
‘Well, I’m sorry about that,’ Joanne said with a smile that I didn’t think quite reached her eyes. ‘And I hope you won’t forget me as soon as I’ve gone. I hope I’ve made as much of an impression on you as Clemmie already has.’
‘Have I made an impression?’ I swallowed, as my tummy knotted even tighter.
It suddenly felt like there were a lot more people in the café than there actually was and they all seemed to be staring at me.
‘I’ll say!’ Joanne laughed.
‘Lizzie has completely fallen in love with your place. She’s said the inside is cottagecore perfection.’ Jemma grinned. ‘And now apparently, you’re making the garden look just as lovely, too. I haven’t been that way for a while, but I’m tempted to do a drive-by.’
Given that I knew she was also an AutumnEverything fan, I hoped she wouldn’t ask to come in if she realised I was at home.
‘You live on your own, Clemmie, don’t you?’ Lizzie then asked me to clarify.
‘Er, yes.’ I swallowed, as I started to flail under the bombardment of attention, but also felt grateful that Jemma hadn’t mentioned my Insta account. ‘Yes, I do.’
‘There you are then, Ash,’ Lizzie said, giving him another poke. ‘You can ask Clemmie, can’t you? She’s probably a far more suitable candidate than any of us.’
My eyes flicked to the guy’s face again. He was still staring and looked as red as I felt. He opened his mouth a second time, but no further words came out and I self-consciously shifted from one foot to the other. So much for my low-key trip into town.
‘I’ll take the table by the window,’ I said to Jemma, then forced my legs to carry me towards it.
‘Ash is the new vet in town,’ Joanne said, immediately following me over.
‘Not that new,’ he corrected mildly.
Joanne ignored him.
‘And he’s got a homeless hound he’s trying to find a place for,’ she added.
‘Oh,’ I said, as I settled myself into the seat. ‘I see. Well, I’m not really a dog person.’
‘But this one is a very special case,’ Lizzie carried on. ‘Why don’t you tell Clemmie about her, Ash?’
‘No, it’s okay,’ he said, shoving his hands into his trouser pockets. ‘She really needs to go to someone I know.’
I wasn’t sure whether I felt offended by his refusal to share or not.
‘She’s grieving,’ Lizzie then announced loudly, which stopped me wondering but made me feel light-headed.
‘How…’ I stammered. ‘How did you—?’
‘By which she means,’ Joanne interrupted, ‘the poor little dog isactuallygrieving. Her owner died a few weeks ago and no one in her family is willing to take her on.’
