Page 38 of Secrets and Seashells at Rainbow Bay
Benji pours the tea and we settle down opposite each other on the sofas.
‘So where have you been?’ I ask him. ‘I tried calling you several times, but you didn’t reply. I was starting to get a bit worried.’ I try to ask this in the lightest, breeziest way I can. But the truth is I’d been more than a little concerned, and I had to admit a little hurt by his lack of contact.
‘Holiday,’ Benji says. ‘I always switch my phone off and leave it at home when I’m away, otherwise I never get a break. The joys of being self-employed.’
‘But what if you need to contact someone? Or someone needs to contact you? Like family, I mean,’ I add, in case he thinks I mean me.
‘I have this!’ Benji says, pulling a phone from his pocket. ‘It’s a spare. I only give the number to close friends and family.’
‘Oh . . . I see. Good idea.’
‘I’ll giveyouthe number if you like?’ Benji says, sensing my disappointment.
‘Oh no . . . I didn’t mean you to think—’
‘Amelia, it’s fine. We’re friends, aren’t we?’
I nod.
‘And I do feel partly responsible for forcing you to come and live here.’
‘You didn’t force me.’
‘Persuaded then.’
‘Helped me come to an informed decision.’
Benji grins. ‘Fair play. So why were you trying to call me? Something wrong?’
‘No, not at all. Well, not now there’s not. It was when Tom turned up here unannounced. I just wanted you to verify who he was.’
Benji looks confused. ‘Tom?’
‘Tom Barber – he restores antiques?’
‘Oh Tom! Is he here, then? I didn’t know if he’d come.’
‘Yes, he’s here; he turned up the same day I arrived, actually. Bit of a shock having to decide whether to hire a new member of staff on the spot.’
‘But you did?’
‘I gave him a trial – which he passed with flying colours, I’m pleased to say. I can’t imagine the place without him now.’
Benji smiles knowingly. ‘I thought he might impress you.’
‘So how do you two know each other? I don’t think Tom has actually ever told me?’
‘I know Tom through one of his siblings – Jo. We used to date.’
‘Ah, I see.’
‘That was a good few years ago now, though,’ Benji says, looking thoughtful. ‘I hadn’t seen Tom for ages when we bumped into each other in a bar. He said he was looking for work so I immediately thought of you. He’s very good, you know.’
‘Yes, I’ve seen him in action already. He’s very thorough.’
Benji grins. ‘Oh, have you?’
‘Not like that!’ I insist, feeling heat spread all the way from my neck to my face. I’m surprised by his comment; the Benji I’d known before had been a little more prim than this. Perhaps I’m seeing the real Benji now that he is ‘off duty’; he seems much more relaxed, and he has an air of mischief about him.
