Page 49 of The Wedding Cake Wish
Hudson shrugs. ‘Sorry. It’s our fault. The gate was open andwe...couldn’t resist taking a look at your beautiful gardens.But we’re going now.’ He glances apologetically at Gaynor.
‘Yes, you certainly are. This is private. And if it hadn’tbeen for mydisasterof a temporary assistant leaving the gate open, ourdefences wouldn’t have been breached.’
‘But Ididn’tleave it open,’ protests Gaynor,looking shell-shocked. ‘I really don’t know how...’
But the woman rounds on her, screeching, ‘I’m not interestedin your excuses, what-ever-your-name-is! You’re fired! I can’t have breaches ofsecurity on this scale.’ She shakes her head, turning her back on poor Gaynor, wholooks completely distraught. ‘I can’t believe this place. I thought theCotswolds were supposed to be a little piece of paradise? Paradise, my arse!Now, bugger off back the way you came.’ She flings her arm in the direction ofthe tradesman’s exit. ‘My handyman will lock the gate behind you. Ah, here heis now. Rory, did you fix that broken fence?’
My heart lurches and I glance at Hudson. His face doesn’teven flicker as we all turn to look at the man she’s beckoning over.
‘God knows how it happened,’ she’s grumbling to him. ‘But wecan’t have people wandering into the gardens without paying, through a gap inthe boundary.’
‘It’s all fixed, Stephanie,’ the blond-haired young manassures her, and my heart pings for the second time in almost as many seconds.
She’s Stephanie Holbrook?
‘I can head out for more soft drinks now if you like?’ Roryis offering. ‘With the weather forecast to be hot tomorrow, the demand will behuge.’
Stephanie Holbrook nods. ‘Soft drinks. Yes. Excellentthought, Rory. We absolutely donotwant to run out.’ She turns andglares at Gaynor. ‘At least I can trustRoryto do his job properly! Unlikesome, who’ll be joblessas of tomorrow night.’
At her jibe, Rory’s eyes harden, boring into the back of Stephanie’shead. But when she turns, his expression changes instantly into a smile, and heand Stephanie start discussing the order.
‘Are you okay?’ I walk over to Gaynor. ‘I’m so sorry ifwe’ve got you into trouble.’
She shakes her head. ‘It wasn’t your fault. And I hateworking for her anyway. The turn-over of staff here is unbelievable.’
We stop talking as Stephanie arrives back.
She slaps her forehead. ‘Shit! I forgot to give Rory thebank card. I’ll have to catch him up. Right, you two. Get out of here and I’lllock the gate behind you. Andyou.’ She points at Gaynor. ‘You can work tomorrowbecause I need all hands on deck for the opening ceremony and even a bloodyincompetent half-wit is better than nothing. But straight after the openingceremony you’ll be surplus to requirements, understand?’ She rounds on us. ‘Areyou stillhere?’
She turns and stalks off after her handyman, calling, ‘Youcan clock off now, Rory. Just get the drinks on your way in tomorrow. Here’sthe card.’
‘You’ll find a better job. One where you’re appreciated,’ Imurmur, really wanting to give Gaynor a hug because she looks so distraught.
She attempts a smile. ‘I suppose anything would be betterthan this.’
‘How long have you worked here?’ asks Hudson.
‘Stephanie took me on as temporary staff to assist with thisevent. She promised the world but she just wanted some poor fool to shout at, Ithink.’ She gives a bitter laugh. ‘And to think I was even considering movingto Surrey if she offered me a permanent job!’
‘I think you’ve had a lucky escape,’ I murmursympathetically. ‘Your boss seems to be something of a witch, Gaynor.’
In spite of everything, she laughs. ‘You’re right there.Getting sacked just couldn’t have come at a worse time, that’s all. It’s mylittle boy’s birthday next week and I promised to take him away for the weekendto a theme park. But now I’ll just be worrying about every pound I spendthere.’
‘We’d better go,’ mutters Hudson, mindful that Stephaniekeeps turning around pointedly to make sure we’re leaving.
‘Okay. See you later, Gaynor. We’ll be back for the openingceremony,’ I call, as Hudson and I start walking back to the open gate.
‘I didn’t recognise Rory from the photo Rachel showed us.Did you?’ I ask, as soon as we’re alone.
‘Not at first, but the photo wasn’t great. It’s definitelyhim, though.’ He gives a low whistle. ‘So Rory’s obviously been very busy sincehe left home.’
I nod. ‘The cheek of him,’ I murmur. ‘Managing to wangle ajob as Stephanie Holbrook’s handyman! You’d think he’d give himself awaysomehow, but he actually seems so weirdly...calm!’ Alittle shiver of dread runs through me. ‘What do you think he’s got planned?’
‘I don’t know, but my feeling is it won’t be anything good.Not for Stephanie Holbrook, anyway.’
I start hurrying over to the exit. ‘Come on. We need to goafter him and talk to him. Ask him if he’s planning to come back for thewedding and, more importantly, let everyone know he’s okay.’
Hudson nods. ‘We do.’
