Page 44 of A Brambleberry Manor Christmas
The Swan Hotel is full of festive revellers, but Fen andthe girls have managed to grab two tables in the corner of the bar.
Fen sees Flo and I and stands up, introducing us to Jaz,Ellie, Primrose and Madison. ‘You already know Katja.’
Flo and I say our hellos and sit down, and we’re immediatelydrawn into the happy chatter, everyone talking about their plans for Christmas.
‘I should have invited Melanie and Constance along,’ saysFen at one point.
Flo shoots me a look that says,Thank goodness shedidn’t!And I raise my eyebrows at her in agreement. It’s nice being outwith Flo, somewhere other than work. She was so lovely yesterday when I had mycrisis in the kitchen…
Fen, having noticed the uneasy looks that passed between usat the mention of Constance, leans over and murmurs, ‘Did something happenyesterday, when Melanie and Constance were in the kitchen? Constance isn’t – um– the easiest person to get along with. Melanie says she’s changed from whenthey were at uni. She’s become harder, apparently…more focused on materialthings.’
‘And other people’s boyfriends,’ mutters Flo. ‘Jenny’s inparticular.’
‘What?’ Fen looks at me in horror. ‘Is that true, Jenny?’
I stare at her miserably, glad that everyone else ischattering away, not listening to us.
Flo groans and flashes me a guilty look. ‘Sorry. Me and mybig mouth.’
I shake my head. ‘It’s okay. I’ve kept it a secret for solong, but telling you yesterday, Flo, was like a weight rolling off myshoulders. I should have talked about it a long time ago, instead of keeping itall bottled up.’
‘Sorry, Jenny, I didn’t mean to put you on the spot,’ saysFen.
‘No, you haven’t.’ I glance around me, feeling oddly safeand secure among this little group of women. It’s clear that firm friendshipbinds them together in a lovely, warm, supportive cocoon, and that’s somethingI’d love to be a part of…I’ve really missed having close female friendships inmy life…people I can trust and confide in…
I take a deep breath. ‘Yesterday, Constance was talkingabout the man she was seeing who died last Christmas.’ I shrug sadly. ‘His namewas Harvey, and I thought he loved me. We were living together at the time ofhis heart attack.’
‘Oh, Jenny, that’s terrible.’ Fen looks appalled. ‘So yourecognised Constance, but…she doesn’t know who you are?’
I shake my head. ‘If she’d come to the funeral, as I’d heardshe was going to, she would have seen me. But she didn’t. She must have decidedagainst it.’
‘What a bloody cheek!’ says the girl called Madison, and weall turn towards her. She’s sitting next to Fen and obviously heard my tale ofwoe. She shrugs. ‘I can’t believe this Constance person would actually plan togo to her lover’s funeral, knowing thatyou’dbe there! I mean, whatnormal person would do something like that?’
Flo nods. ‘Jenny was terrified Harvey’s daughter would findout about her dad’s other woman, so she had to tell Tavie she couldn’t go tothe funeral.’ She sighs. ‘And that’s caused no end of friction between them.’
‘So your step-daughter blames you for not letting her go toher dad’s funeral?’ says Madison. ‘But no wonder there’s been friction. Youneed to tell Taviewhyyou couldn’t let her go. Then she’d understand.’
I shake my head. ‘It’s not as easy as that.’
‘Isn’t it?’
‘No, she’d be devastated.’
Madison sighs, conceding I might be right. ‘But at leastshe’d know the truth and then you could build your relationship back up fromthere?’
I smile sadly. She might be a bit forthright in her manner,but Madison is definitely talking sense.
‘Honestly, if I was you, I’d probably have told Tavie thetruth right from the start, and I’d have given her the choice of whether or notto go to the funeral.’
Fen turns to Madison and murmurs, ‘Yes, but you’renotJenny. And it’s obviously not as clear-cut a situation as you imagine it is.’
Madison shrugs good-humouredly and nods.
And I glance at her, suddenly wishing I could backtrack. Itfeels good to talk about it at last…to get other people’s perspective on thesituation…but the danger has always been that Tavie might find out. And morethan anything, I want Tavie’s lovely memories of her dad to remain intact…
‘I think you need a drink,’ grins Flo, turning to me. ‘Glassof wine?’
‘No! We’re working later, remember? I can never understandpeople who think they can drink on the job and still get the work doneefficiently.’
