Page 33 of A Forever Home at Honey Bee Croft

‘Something else?’ I prompted when she didn’t speak.

‘Yes, it’s… erm… Are you going to lose your job?’

I tensed. ‘Why would you ask that?’

‘Greg knows someone who works at your place. He said there was a big announcement about a takeover and that there’ll be redundancies.’

‘Yes to the takeover, but there’s been no announcement about redundancies.’

‘But there will be some?’

‘Nobody knows. It’s all speculation.’

‘But speculation comes from somewhere, so that must mean?—’

‘Speculation is speculation,’ I said, determined not to give her any ammunition against me. ‘It comes when nobody knows so they start making guesses and sometimes those guesses seem plausible enough to get presented as the truth.’

‘So you’re not about to lose your job?’

‘Hopefully not, but no job is ever safe. If there are redundancies and I’m one of them, you don’t need to worry. I won’t be looking for a child maintenance reduction.’

‘You think I only care about the money?’ She sounded hurt at the suggestion.

‘Can you blame me?’ I didn’t need to clarify that she’d continually fought me for payment increases over and above what would be considered reasonable. She’d know exactly what I meant.

Tilly folded her arms and bit her lip – her telltale sign that she knew she was in the wrong and was squirming about it.

‘Whatever happens, Imogen won’t be left without,’ I said, my voice softer. ‘I’ll let you know if I hear anything. See you on Saturday.’

Tilly didn’t say anything, but she stepped away from the car which I took as a sign that I was free to go. I suppose it was naïve of me to think that news of the takeover wouldn’t reach her.

As I drove away, I hoped she didn’t get to hear that I’d missed out on a promotion as I really didn’t want her to know that. Or did I? Maybe it would be good for her to know that I’d been trying for years to secure that promotion so that I could spend more time with our daughter. What if part of her awkwardness was a misguided belief that I didn’t care that much because, if I did care, I’d have done something about it? What if she thought that me no longer chasing her via my solicitor was further evidence of that uninterest? Tilly’s mind worked in mysterious ways and, ridiculous as all that sounded to my logical brain, I wouldn’t put it past her to connect the dots in that way. Well, I’d prove her wrong. If my job was at risk, I’d take the cheque and run. If it wasn’t, I’d still leave. Amber and Sal both believed something would present itself, but I couldn’t sit around waiting for that to happen. I’d trawl the online job boards, look at the local college prospectus and ask around as there had to be stacks of opportunities out there that I’d never have thought of myself. And after what had happened earlier in the garden centre – even though I’d messed it up – it couldn’t hurt to engage in a little more manifesting. Things were going to change andIwas going to make that happen.

12

POPPY

Mr Rugby Physique had been right about the chicken teriyaki. I’d had it for dinner in front of an episode ofDarrington Detectsand it had been delicious. I’d just finished eating when a text arrived.

From Wilf

Hope you’re enjoying your break so far. No sign of Damon but Benji’s been a great guard dog

He’d accompanied the message with a gorgeous photo of Benji sitting on my doorstep, his pig beside him, his nose in the air as though sniffing out the enemy, which really tickled me. I replied with my thanks.

When the episode ended, I stopped the DVD, took my plate into the kitchen and flicked the kettle on. Mary had said she’d stop by to say hello and, just as the kettle finished boiling, a car pulled onto the drive and an elderly lady got out.

‘Do you want to come in for a drink?’ I asked after we’d greeted each other at the door.

‘Only if I’m not disturbing your evening.’

‘I’m not doing anything special – just relaxing in front of the telly. And I’ve just boiled the kettle.’

Mary requested tea and went through to the lounge while I made the drinks. When I returned with two mugs, she was standing by the coffee table with the DVD boxset in her hand.

‘You likeDarrington Detects?’ she asked, smiling warmly at me before placing the case back on the table and joining me on the sofa.

‘Iloveit. My mum has always been a huge fan of Cole Crawford and she got me hooked, but this is my favourite series. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve watched each episode.’

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