Page 56 of Forgive Me Not
‘I’m not sure. She didn’t say much.’
Emma made her excuses to leave. She needed to clear her head. Bligh offered to drive her home, but she chose to walk instead. Stig was still inside with Andrea, and right now, Emma couldn’t face her sister.
As she walked down Broadgrass Hill, she looked at the village ahead. Lights began to come on in the houses. As she passed the butcher’s, barbecue smoke filled the air. She heard laughter and the clink of glasses. She wiped the back of her neck, which was sweaty from the summer air. With swollen eyes she stumbled into the pet shop. Phil was still up, at the kitchen table.
He pushed a piece of paper towards her. ‘So, what do you think?’ he said without looking up. ‘Rubbish, isn’t it?’
It was an advert for him to look after pets during the holidays.
‘I like the way you’ve listed the rates in bold letters. It would put me off if I had to ask someone I knew what their prices were – I’d then feel kind of obliged. And the sketch of that dog is great.’
‘You’re not taking the piss?’
‘No. Promise.’ She tore off a square of kitchen roll. ‘Let me know if you need a hand asking shopkeepers to pin them up in their windows.’ She blew her nose.
Phil looked up. ‘What’s wrong? Hay fever? Or aren’t you as tough as you like us all to think?’
She slumped at the table. Leant on her elbows. Rested her chin on her fists.
‘The old Emma came out to play tonight. Even though she wasn’t drinking, it wasn’t a pretty sight.’
He paused. ‘Ginger biscuit?’
Her chin quivered and all she could do was nod.
He stood up, switched on the kettle and passed her the tin.
Chapter 20
Emma overslept the next morning. Did Joe really think she’d tried to trap him? Why was Bligh so upset? Would Andrea have preferred to have known about the pregnancy at the time?
Determined to catch Joe, she skipped her morning routines, pulling on a pair of shorts and an old T-shirt from the day before. Without even brushing her hair, she rushed out of the pet shop. Stig was sitting on the pavement reading.
He looked up. ‘You okay?’
‘I’ve been better.’ She sighed and knelt down. ‘But what about your eye?’
‘My whole face was numb by the time Andrea let me remove the bag of peas. She said I could sleep over in the barn, but…’
‘You should have. The Duchess would have loved that.’
He stared at the page. Gently she nudged his shoulder and he looked up.
‘I guess I’m not used to people being nice. It doesn’t feel right, accepting her hospitality. I mean, I could be anyone. She should be more careful.’
‘And the very fact that you think that proves that you’re worthy of a bed for the night. She’s not exactly offering you a room at the Ritz.’
They both smiled.
‘Speak later, yes? I’ve got to hurry. I want to catch Joe at the Badger Inn.’ Emma stood up and smoothed down her hair.
‘I saw Bligh leaving there earlier this morning when me and my girl went for a walk. I was going to say hello but sensed he needed a bit of space.’
Emma’s brow knotted.
‘He pounded his fist into the palm of his other hand before getting in his car and speeding up Broadgrass Hill.’
Emma headed off to the pub. She pushed the door open and entered. A couple of guests were eating breakfast. Alan was wiping down tables. Polly stood at the coffee machine. Emma hesitated before approaching the bar. The room smelt of fried bacon and detergent.
