Page 50 of Barging In
“Nope,” Clem said with a firm shake of the head.
“Come on. I’ll see you out. I need a breath of fresh air.”
Victoria led them into the courtyard, which was quiet except for the babble of the fountain. The warm afternoon sun was casting long shadows over the uneven cobbles. She often imagined how it must have felt to stand here one hundred and fifty years ago, when the factory was busy with industry. The air would have been heavy with coal smoke and oil, the clatter of machines spilling from the windows. Horse-drawn carts would have rattled over the cobbles, ferrying crates of finished corsets to waiting boats as foremen shouted orders. It would have been alive — unlike now.
“Thanks again,” she said softly, turning to Clem. “For everything.”
“I was happy I could help. I’ll see you later.”
“You most certainly will,” Victoria said with a smile as Clem backed away.
Disappointment hit her as she then turned and crossedthe courtyard. What had she expected? Another wink? A glance back? The absence of both made Victoria feel strangely hollow.
As she drove home, she had to remind herself it was her fiftieth birthday — a milestone, as Clem had said, and one she’d dreaded for a long time. All she could think about now was the woman who’d turned up to help and made sure everything ran smoothly. Clem hadn’t known it was her birthday or just how important the party really was to her; regardless, she’d shown up. That stirred something in Victoria she hadn’t expected, a feeling she wasn’t sure she wanted to let go of.
CHAPTER 14
Victoria checked her watch for the umpteenth time. Where the hell was Drew? Her phone buzzed on the arm of her chair, and she lunged for it.
Running late, meet you there.
She threw it back down. Not even an apology or so much as a ‘happy birthday’.Arsehole. How much effort did it take to at least pretend you gave a shit? Not that pretending would make her feel any better, but it would have been better than ignoring her.
What was she supposed to do now? Walk in heels? Call a taxi? That would take forever on a Saturday night. She could drive and get a lift back with Drew… if he ever showed up.
Her eye landed on Florence next door. Victoria had noticed the narrowboat still moored in her trading spot just before she left the wharf, so she’d assumed Clem would stay there for the party. Now that she saw the boat just beyond her back garden, she wondered — Could she catch a ride with Clem?
The thought struck then that Clem might have decidedagainst going. It hit Victoria harder than she liked. She realised she was counting on seeing Clem again. Spending most of the day with her didn’t feel like enough. She was light and funny — the complete opposite of how heavy and serious everything else in Victoria’s life had felt lately.
Maybe Clem had left Florence and walked to the wharf. In which case, there’d be no chance at a lift. Victoria rolled her eyes at all the possibilities buzzing around in her head. There was only one way to find out. She picked her phone back up and slipped it into her purse. Giving one last glance at the mirror to check her hair and makeup, she headed next door, where she took the side path of the neighbouring house through the garden and out the gate at the bottom, which led onto the jetty.
“Clem! Are you there?” she called towards the narrowboat
A bang, followed by a “Fuck!” gave Victoria her answer.
Clem emerged onto Florence’s stern, clutching her head. Her eyes widened immediately. “Wow! You look… stunning.”
Victoria looked down at her black, knee-length sheath dress and tightened her champagne-coloured blazer around it. She had bought the outfit especially for tonight.
“Thank you. So do you,” Victoria replied, taking in Clem’s white maxi dress and denim jacket. Having only seen her in jeans and jumpers, it threw her for a moment. The feminine look suited her. “Are you okay?”
“I’ll live. Whether on a narrowboat or not, time will tell. I’m not very spatially aware,” Clem said with a rueful smile as she rubbed her head. “It’s nothing that won’t mend — like the rest of my bumps and bruises.”
Victoria gave her a sympathetic smile. “Are you heading to the wharf?”
“Yes. You invited me to a party, remember?”
“Oh, yes… I just meant?—”
“You thought I’d change my mind?” Clem asked, arching an eyebrow.
“Ha,” Victoria replied, recalling those as Clem’s exact words from earlier, when she’d been fretting she wouldn’t show up to help. She should start trusting the woman a little more. “I find myself in need of a lift.”
“Then climb aboard. I was about to leave.”
Victoria took the hand Clem offered and stepped onto the boat.
“How come I have the pleasure of escorting you?” Clem asked.
