Page 12 of Hooked On The One That Got Away
Maeve was not to be deterred. ‘Down to his fit fighting weight, you mean? Or emaciated like he’s had a serious illness or drug habit? Which could explain his long absence.’
‘He’s lost some of his boyishness,’ Willow replied. ‘Got some bone structure in his face.’
‘Has he now?’
Willow squirmed with discomfort under Maeve’s knowing smile. Time to shut this down.
‘He’s still the Charlie who left me without a word,’ she said, firmly. ‘And who’s now a spin doctor for a company that’sdeliberatelypolluting our waterways.’
Willow whispered this last bit. She’d told Maeve everything over the phone but that didn’t mean she wanted the whole of the Oak and Whale to know. Any of these people could be agents for the water company. If what Harvey said was right, then they’d stop at nothing to shut down adverse publicity. Including, Harvey had darkly hinted, threatening people.
‘So, you won’t be giving him a chance to explain?’ Maeve was really digging in, damn her.
‘No!’
Willow forgot to whisper. The barman looked over to check everything was all right. Maeve gave him the thumbs up, which provoked a wry grin.
‘Actually, heiscute,’ said Maeve. ‘Probably not skint either. Should I focus my attention away from the fiddler?’
But Willow was dwelling on Maeve’s previous comment, which bothered her more each time she thought about it.
‘WhyshouldI let Charlie explain?’ she said, crossly. ‘Up until now, you’ve insisted that he behaved like an arse, and I should forget all about him!’
‘True,’ admitted Maeve. ‘But that was when he was god knows where, and now he’s back. Andwantingto explain.’
Willow remained tight-lipped. This wasn’tfairof Maeve. She had norightto do a complete about-face.
‘And let’s be frank,’ Maeve went on. ‘The fact you moped about him for a whole entire year means you still have feelings for him, don’t you?’
Willow couldn’t decide what was worse: Maeve suddenly taking Charlie’s side, or Maeve being right.
‘Look, I completely understand why you’re angry with him, and you have every right to be,’ said Maeve. ‘And I’m not suggesting you let him off easy – he owes you the biggest and best explanation in the world, the Kohinoor Diamond of explanations, atleasta hundred flawless carats of grovel. But …’
Maeve paused, frowned a little. Willow could tell she was serious about this.
‘I wouldn’t want you to lose the chance to find happiness again.’
For a moment, Willow felt like all the breath had been punched out of her. This was too much. She had to leave. Where was her phone, her bag–?
‘No, please don’t go.’ Maeve put a hand on her arm. ‘I was my usual full-frontal and I had no right to be. I’m sorry.’
Maeve’s sincerity was genuine; Willow knew her friend. Her breathing calmed and she sat back down. No point in running, anyway, her anxieties would only follow her.
‘I don’t condone for a minute what Charlie did to you,’ said Maeve. ‘But I knew you both for yonks, and you were terrific together. And I can’t evenbeginto guess what caused Charlie’s act of insanity, but – well, maybe it would give you closure to find out?’
Luckily, before Willow could answer, the barman arrived to clear their empty glasses.
‘Get you anything else?’ He spoke to Maeve, Willow observed, not to both of them.
‘Where’s Geillis tonight?’ Maeve asked, after placing their order.
The barman met her eye. ‘Coven.’
Maeve started to laugh and stopped. ‘You’re serious, aren’t you?’
The barman half-smiled. One of his earrings was shaped like a horned goat. Willow found herself hoping he was a Capricorn.
‘She’ll be back tomorrow,’ he said.
