Page 99 of The Life Daisy Devlin Designed
She also tried phoning Brian back. The first time his phone rang out, the second time it went straight to voicemail. Finally, she gave up pretending to work, and told Fionn to take the rest of the afternoon off, before closing early to go home.
She figured it might help to talk things over with James. No matter what was going on between them, he knew her well enough to understand how she’d feel about Laura.
She let herself in, slipped off her shoes, and walked into the kitchen, stopping dead at the scene in front of her. Alma was in James’ arms. Again! Only this time, she seemed to have buried her head under his arm. For a brief moment Daisy wondered whether she was actually sniffing his armpit.
“Don’t tell me, you’re buying another app!” The words tumbled out and Daisy realised how angry she sounded. Not angry enough, though. “You know what, sorry to burst in! In fact, sorry I’m home early. If I’d known, I would have stayed away and let you get on with – whatever this is!”
She was turning to go when Alma pulled out of James’ embrace.
“I will go! I cannot take all this!” She pushed past Daisy, grabbed her coat from the hall and left, banging the front door behind her.
Daisy watched her go, then turned back to glare at James. “Shecan’t take it – the nerve of her! And the nerve of you! I don’t care what you said before! I don’t believe a word, James! There’s something going on and you haven’t been honest with me.”And I haven’t been honest with you,either.
“Let it go, Daisy!” James shook his head. “I have to go after her, excuse me.”
“What?” Daisy stared at him. “What are you talking about?”
His jaw tightened. “We’ll talk when I get back, okay?” Without another word, he stepped past her.
“Maybe I won’t be here when you get back!” Daisy yelled.
Moments later, she heard the front door slam again.
Daisy collapsed into the nearest chair and burst into tears. It struck her that all this time she’d only half-believed that there was something more between James and Alma, that if she and James really worked to make things better, they’d be okay.
But none of that seemed likely anymore.
CHAPTER 45
Daisy was in bed by the time James got back. She’d been half-tempted to book into a hotel for the night, but had decided she wasn’t going to let Alma push her out of her own home.
James sneaked into the room, and Daisy felt his side of the bed sag as he sat down.
“Are you awake?” he said quietly.
For a moment, Daisy wondered whether she should pretend to be asleep, but she knew she was putting off the inevitable. She switched on her light, and wriggled into a sitting position, pulling the duvet tightly over her.
“I tried calling you.” He scrubbed a hand across his face. “Did you even have your phone on?”
Daisy’s heart seemed to have jumped to the back of her throat. This was it: they were breaking up.
“Were you just going to tell me over the phone?”
“Look, Daisy –”
“It’s fine.” She tried to wet her lips. “I know what you’re going to say.”
“I doubt it.”
“I’m not stupid.” She looked at him bleakly. “I can read the signs. Actually, I’ve been able to read them for ages, I’ve just been ignoring them.”
“The signs?” He frowned.
Anger surged through her.
“You and Alma,” she whispered furiously. “Where is she, anyway?”
“In her room,” he said patiently. “Probably in bed, it’s late.”
