Page 33 of Saved By Love at Christmas
“Hey, love. No tears now. What’s happened is in the past. Marie has given you the opportunity to show how amazingly talented you are.”
I swiped at a stray tear. “Yes, and I love her for it. Ben wants my help with his home too.” I couldn’t wait to get started on his designs.
Grandad took our mugs and put them on a small table in the hall. Then he rested his hands on my shoulders. His eyes, almost the same colour as mine, watched me with love and pride. I thought I was going to cry again.
“This is a new start for you, Ruby. Others will see the magic you create in these hotels, and then everyone will be vying for your services.”
“You really think so?” I asked with hope in my voice.
“Yes, I do. Now you need to believe in yourself and it’ll all work out fine.”
Knowing I had the support of this amazing man, I realised I could do anything. I wouldn’t allow Jamie’s vicious words to ruin my future. He was in my past and I was free of him. Finally.
CHAPTER11
BEN
I waited until Marie had picked up Ruby before I drove over to visit Tom. Last night, I hadn’t been able to sleep. I stressed over whether the damage to our cars was connected. Then I reflected on the person in the woods the night Fred barked at them. They’d run off super quick. Now I was becoming suspicious that Jamie was here. If it was him, I hoped he didn’t know where my sister lived.
When I arrived, I could see festive decorations in the windows. I grinned. Those two were like the proverbial kids at Christmas. I could only imagine what it was like inside. I rang the bell and waited for Tom to answer.
“Hello, son. Ruby’s out with your sister.”
“I know. I came to see you. Can you pop outside for a minute?”
He grabbed a jacket and followed me over to where our cars were parked. Tom had a garage, but like most of us, it was used more as a storeroom.
“I see your car has scratches on it.” I indicated to his car.
“Yes. It happened at the supermarket the other day. I don’t think it was made by a car. More like someone deliberately did it.” He scratched his head.
I beckoned him to follow me to my car. “I didn’t want to discuss this in front of Ruby, but look.” I pointed to the almost identical scratches on my car.
His expression turned troubled. “When did this happen?”
“I’m not certain, but I think it was outside my home. One of my colleagues pointed it out when I arrived at work. Let’s go inside.”
We headed for the kitchen, and Tom, true to form, put the kettle on. He was silent, the worry lines drawing his brows together. This man had been through so much stress, and now I was adding to it.
I nodded my thanks when he put a mug in front of me. “Look, Tom, it might just be a coincidence.”
I went on to tell him about the man I saw in the woods. He listened, his brows drawing even closer together.
“I don’t think it’s a coincidence at all, Ben. As soon as I saw the scratches, my thoughts went straight to that man. It’s the type of vindictive thing he’d do. Funnily enough,” he said as he got up and grabbed a small notebook book from under a pile of tea towels in one of the drawers. “I documented the date and time, and when Ruby wasn’t looking, I took a picture of the damage.”
“I’ve done the same, and the incident with the person in the woods.”
We sipped our tea in silence, both troubled by this latest turn of events. He put his mug on the table with a thud, making me jump.
“You think it’s definitely him, don’t you.” It was a statement rather than a question.
I clasped my hands around my mug and faced him. “Yes. I hate to say this, but it’s way too much of a coincidence that both cars have been damaged in the same way.”
He ran a hand across his forehead, a deep breath coming from him. “We must tell Ruby. I don’t know how she’ll deal with this. That man has mentally scarred her already. What’s this going to do to our girl?”
As much as I wanted to have a massive freak-out, I needed to be strong. “Do you want me to tell her? I could do it when she stays with me if you like.”
“I don’t want her to think I’m a coward by not telling her.”
