Page 56 of A Brambleberry Manor Christmas
Gently, I push a strand of coppery hair away from her eyes.And I start to talk.
I tell her everything, and she listens, not interruptingonce. And when I’m finished she stares straight ahead, not even flinching whena sudden hailstorm rattles the windscreen.
‘You can ask me anything you like,’ I murmur.
She turns. ‘Can we go home now?’
‘Of course.’ My hands are trembling as I start the car andwe drive home in silence.
I park up on the road because our drive dips down slightly,and I’m worried that if it keeps on snowing at this rate, the car will getstuck.
I’m intending to go inside with Tavie, but when I turn offthe engine, she says, ‘You should go to work.’
‘Are you sure?’
She nods. ‘I want to be on my own.’
‘Okay. Well, keep warm and safe.’ I hate leaving her aloneafter this bombshell, but what else can I do? ‘Perhaps when I get back we couldhave that hot chocolate and a chat?’
She nods.
I glance out at the winter wonderland. ‘The party willdefinitely be cancelled. But Amy’s sure to have it another time,’
She gets out without replying.
‘Take care, love. And I’ll see you soon after nine, okay?But phone me any time if you want to talk.’
‘Okay. Bye.’
I sit there, watching her go into the house. I half-raise myhand to wave, but she doesn’t even turn around. She just goes inside and thedoor shuts behind her.
With a heavy heart, I set off, thinking about the nexttricky conversation on my agenda.
I knock on the door, my heart in my mouth.
How will she react, with me just turning up like this?
‘Hello.’ I attempt a smile when Flo opens the door. ‘Do youmind if we have a chat about…everything?’
‘Oh. Hi, Jenny.’ She looks stunned to see me and for asecond I think she’s not even going to invite me in. Then she steps backhurriedly. ‘Come in.’
I follow her into the living room and she asks me if I’dlike a coffee.
‘No, thanks. I need to be getting on.’
She gives me a nervous little smile. ‘Second last day today.The week’s nearly over. The Cinderella Ball tomorrow night?’
‘Yes, that’s right. Lots to do.’ I swallow. ‘Look, Flo, thething is, I wondered if you wanted to come back to work?’
She looks so amazed my heart goes out to her. She must have thoughtI was so annoyed with her I’d never want to see her again. But actually, aftermy little chat with Rhoda last night, the opposite is true.
‘Are you sure?’ she asks, wide-eyed. ‘After all the lies I toldyou?’
I shrug. ‘You really needed the job and I can understandthat level of desperation. After Harvey died, he left me with so much creditcard debt I’d have cleaned floors with a toothbrush, if it meant I could keepthe roof over our heads.’
She frowns. ‘So as well as all the deception and heartache,Harvey left you with debts as well?’
I smile grimly. ‘Oh, yes. He used to handle our joint creditcard bills himself. It wasn’t until he died that I realised he’d been runningup huge debts on various cards, wining and dining his lovers, buying them giftsand whisking them away for weekends in little country hotels while telling mehe was at a conference.’
