Page 38 of Barging In
“Did you have that coffee?” Clem asked.
“I did; it helped, I think. That scrumpy certainly hit the right spot.”
“It doesn’t take much.”
“Your friend Max seems nice,” Victoria said, hoping to get some clarification on what exactly Max was to Clem. Not that it mattered, of course; she was simply wondering.
“He is.”
Well, that seemed to confirm they were only friends.
“Jasper will be all over him when he finds out he brews it,” she said.
“Is he seeing anyone?” Clem asked.
“Jasper? Not that I know of, but if you’re interested, I hate to break it to you: He’s as gay as Eurovision.”
“Not for me.” Clem chuckled. “Men arenotmy thing. Never found a need for them.”
“Oh.”Oh — why did she say that?What was someone meant to say to that? Victoria suddenly felt jittery, like adrenaline was coursing through her. She was beginning to regret mixing scrumpy with coffee.
“I was asking for Max,” Clem explained. “He’s had eyes for Jasper for a long time, apparently.”
“Then he already holds the key to Jasper’s heart,” Victoria said, trying to focus and forget about Clem’s sexuality. It didn’t matter to her that Clem liked women. “He needs a man. He’s been single too long.”
“Where is Jasper, anyway? Can’t he help you prepare for tomorrow?”
“He’s at a conference in London, not back until tomorrow afternoon. I’ve put him in charge of decorating the café and setting everything up.”
They lapsed into a comfortable silence. The fields rolledpast, soon giving way to buildings as they crossed a bridge over the canal leading into town. The nearest supermarket was on the far side, and rush hour had them queuing in traffic. The stillness, though it served to calm her, was beginning to feel a little awkward, so Victoria decided to break it.
“Where do you get all your supplies from?”
“I get deliveries to my parents’ house.”
“Oh, of course,” Victoria said. She’d noticed the van but assumed it was just general groceries for Clem. “Makes sense.” Not wanting the conversation to fizzle out, she added, “Can I ask how you knew it was us — Christine, I should say — who tried to get you moved?”
“It seems my dad is friends with the landowner, who also seems to own that stretch of the canal.”
“Ah. Mr Armitage,” Victoria said as the traffic moved.
“Yes. He was straight on the phone to my dad and quite happy to spill the beans.”
“Is that how you got yourself the best trading spot?” Victoria asked, glancing at Clem as her mouth opened in mock offence.
“I wouldn’t know anything about that — or whatisthe best spot.”
Victoria grinned. “Okay, I believe you.”
“But, for what it’s worth, I am sorry about Christine. If I had any part in her firing.”
“Thank you, but it’s no real loss. Yes, she’s put me in a difficult position with what she did to you, but she’s been a pain in my backside for a while. Her departure would have happened sooner or later. I insisted she remove those reviews, but you might have noticed she hasn’t. I did add a comment, though. I hope it helps.”
“I saw. Thank you; it means a lot.”
Victoria smiled as she reversed into a parking space. “It was the least I could do.”
As she applied the handbrake, Clem fidgeted in her seat and then turned to face her. “For what it’s worth, my mum told the builders no one was living next door.”
