Page 49 of Forgive Me Not
‘Ted?’ Andrea stood up.
‘Sorry. I’m sorry for calling so late. But…’ he looked at Emma and Stig, ‘the police have been questioning me all day
‘I heard about last night,’ Andrea said. ‘Is everyone all right? I’m so glad you got out.’
‘Yes. Thanks to Emma and her friends.’
‘Coffee?’ said Bligh.
‘I don’t want to disturb you. I’ve just come to say… Well, the police and fire officers wanted to know if there was anyone with a grievance against me.’ He stared at Stig.
Chapter 17
No one said anything for a moment.
‘Milk?’ asked Bligh.
‘Please. And you’d better make that two sugars.’
‘Take a seat,’ said Andrea and motioned to the rocking chair.
‘Bligh popped into the Badger Inn at lunchtime – you’re staying there?’ asked Andrea, sitting down again. Stig stood up to give Emma his seat, but she insisted on sitting on the ground.
‘Polly and Alan have been really decent,’ said Ted. ‘I tried to pay but they wouldn’t hear of it. We’ve got a family room. Neighbours offered to put us up, but there’s more space at the pub. My son’s contract in Scotland finishes at the end of the week. Then we can all move into his. He wanted to drive back straight away, but we’ve reassured him the kids are okay. His place is only ten miles away, so I can commute back to the shop for as long as I have to – but right at the moment, it suits me to be on hand.’ He sighed. ‘Although God knows how long it will take before I’m up and running again. The way business has waned, I did wonder if it’s worth it. But that shop is all I’ve ever known, and I’ll be darned if I let that supermarket win.’
‘So what was the cause of the fire? Do you know yet?’ asked Emma. Surely Ted couldn’t believe that the rough sleepers had been responsible.
Bligh came out and handed Ted a coffee.
‘Initially the police suspected it might have been arson. They wanted to know if I could think of anyone who’d want to harm my family.’ Ted shrugged. ‘I’m a businessman. In debt. I’ve had to make unpopular decisions with suppliers and competitors to stay afloat. And… well…’ He cleared his throat. ‘The whole village knows about my plan to move the homeless on. It didn’t take long for the police to hear about that and ask about my opponents.’
Andrea glanced at Emma and a look of surprise crossed her face. Emma caught her eye. Perhaps she’d been expecting a burst of expletives at the mere idea that Stig could have been involved.
‘But they’re the very people who saved your lives,’ said Bligh, red in the face. ‘Emma included.’
‘And I just wanted Stig and Emma to know that I told the police in no uncertain terms that the rough sleepers weren’t to blame. I wanted to come and thank you again, Emma – and everyone else. I wouldn’t be able to sleep tonight unless I’d done that. I looked for you, Stig. I couldn’t find the woman with the wacky haircut either, but I managed to say a proper thanks to most of the others.’ His voice wavered. ‘If it wasn’t for you…’
‘Best not to think about the what ifs,’ said Andrea gently. ‘So whatwasthe cause?’
‘A faulty tumble dryer, they think. I’ve been busy with the insurers all day. I’ll have to start getting quotes for the building work.’
‘My dad was a painter and decorator,’ said Stig. ‘If you need a hand with anything, I’m happy to help.’
Ted put down his drink and stared. ‘After everything I’ve said?’
‘Let’s just say I know a thing or two about stress.’
Ted nodded. ‘It must be hard constantly wondering where your next meal is coming from and trying to keep safe. I’ve never really thought about it before. And it didn’t feel right, last night, the village pulling together to give my family a bed when the heroes would be sleeping on the pavement.’
‘No, not so much my life now,’ said Stig. ‘All I meant was… I’ve seen how you and the other shop owners are struggling to make ends meet. When I was a teacher, the pressure was enormous. I couldn’t see a way out. I just wanted to quit and take on a simple nine-to-five job, but I had a mortgage to pay, bills and debts, so there was no way I could leave for a position that paid less. The stress made me behave in ways I wouldn’t normally.’
‘Tell me about it,’ said Andrea. ‘Last year I thought the gas company would cut us off. I was always making payments late. It’s the constant worry, isn’t it? Eating away at your perspective. Sometimes it’s as if the world’s a spinning top – I just wanted to get off for a few seconds. I still feel like that now.’ She glanced at the brochures.
‘That’s just how I felt, what with growing class sizes, the close monitoring from Ofsted and a sixty-hour week… I just couldn’t take it any more.’
Andrea picked up a holiday brochure for Japan. ‘I’d have been sorely tempted to take off – with Bligh’s blessing – if it wasn’t for Mum.’
Ted leant forward. ‘I went to the doctor’s a couple of weeks ago. My blood pressure’s sky high.’
