Page 47 of Barging In
Clem stepped back and gave her a playful nudge with her shoulder, a nudge that made Victoria’s breath hitch.
“That comment yesterday about you not quite being fifty: total failure on your part to mention it was only a few hours away.”
Victoria shrugged. “I try not to dwell on it.” She picked up some cut sandwiches and took them to the other side of the island to arrange them on a platter.
“What? It’s something to celebrate! Fifty is a huge milestone. A whole half-century,” Clem teased.
“Yes! Thank you for the reminder,” Victoria said dryly.
At that, Clem fell into silence, but Victoria noticed something shift in her face, a flicker in her eyes. Her mouth was poised to say something, but she didn’t speak. Victoria had seen it before.
“What do you want to say?” she prompted.
Clem looked up. “Oh, erm, just that… I won’t tell anyone. In case you worried that I would. You know, about what I saw.”
Victoria paused. It hadn’t occurred to her that Clem would say anything, and anyway, who would she tell?
“I wasn’t worried.”
“Oh, good,” Clem said, relief audible in her tone. “So… do you have family coming?”
“Family!” Victoria let out a long breath. “No. My brother emigrated to Canada, and my parents live in the Lake District. We all lead very separate lives.”
“That’s sad.”
Victoria twitched her shoulders. “Is it?”
She’d made peace with her solitude a long time ago. When it came down to it, Jasper was the only person in her corner, not Drew. A long time had passed since he had been that to her — or since she had thought he was. All he did now was make her feel more alone.
“Yes, it is,” Clem insisted. “My parents annoy me sometimes — well, Mum mostly — but I wouldn’t be without her. Did you have a falling-out?”
“No, not exactly. I grew weary of carrying the weightof other people’s expectations. As I got older, I realised I didn’t have to.”
“Oh.”
Concerned that Clem’s intense gaze might coax more out than she was ready to give, Victoria turned her attention back to the last sandwich and asked, “Have you eaten?”
“I had some banana bread before I opened up.”
“You can’t live off cake,” Victoria chided, “as tempting as it might be. Here.” She cut the ham sandwich in two and handed Clem one half. “I don’t want you passing out on me.”
Clem gave a small smile as she accepted the offering. “Thanks.”
Victoria tucked into the other half and watched as Clem attacked hers like a feral goat — albeit a rather charming one.
With energy levels restored and everything laid out on silver platters, wrapped in cling film, and packed into the fridge, their work was complete.
“Is Max looking after Florence for you?”
Clem nodded. “He’s a lifesaver. He’ll close up as soon as things quieten down.”
“Thank him from me. And thank you, again, for swooping in and rescuing me. I’m not sure what I would’ve done without you — or if I really deserve it.”
Clem tilted her head, a faint smile playing at the corners of her mouth.“Help often comes from the places we least expect.”
“It seems so.” Victoria met her gaze, the hint of a blush rising to her cheeks.
“And for the record,” Clem said, leaning in slightly, her voice lower, “I only swoop when the cause is absolutely necessary and deserving.”
