Page 19 of Sun, Sea & Strawberry Shortcake
It’sentirely innocent. I know it is. It’s work...
Feeling deflated nonetheless, I stand at the window, staringout. Why didn’t Hudson just tell me what had gone wrong at work, instead of automaticallyassuming I wouldn’t be interested, or I wouldn’t understand? I know it’s stupidbeing irritated that he trusts his new assistant with the business more thanme, but it niggles and I can’t help it. Plus, I don’t trust that Joanna onelittle bit. I keep thinking about her suggesting the two ofusshouldhave lunch some time, to get to know each other. Why would she want to befriends with her boss’s girlfriend? It doesn’t make sense. Unless she wants toingratiate herself with Hudson.
A little voice in my head whispers:You’re just beingparanoid.
Across the way, two cleaners in blue tabards are emergingfrom one of the cute terrace houses opposite, and my heart sinks when I see oneof them is my cleaner from yesterday.
Great. That’s all I need. A bad-tempered cleaner coming into crash about and wreck my afternoon still further. I still haven’t quiteforgiven her for smashing my special mug.
Maybe they’ve been here already?
I glance around. The place looks clean but we haven’t beenhere long enough to make any mess. I’d quite like to have a relaxing bath butthere’s no point if she’s about to pitch up with her mop and bucket. Feeling disgruntled,I head into the kitchen to put the kettle on. And that’s when I notice, to mysurprise, a little parcel sitting there beside the teabag cannister.
It’s wrapped in pink paper and my name is written on it inblue biro.
Curious, I open the parcel.
It’s not Hudson’s writing, so who...?
I bring out a mug with a slogan on it and stare at it insurprise. Then I notice a handwritten note that’s fallen out of the package.
I’m really very sorry I broke your mug yesterday. I’veordered you a replacement online but until it arrives, I hope this one mightmake you smile. Back in to clean tomorrow! Bee?
Surprised, I read the slogan on the mug.Everythingis Absolutely, Completely Totally Under Control.
It does make me smile. It’s obviously a reference to her feelingthe very opposite yesterday. And as an apology, it’s brilliant. I brew some teain my new mug and drink it on the patio in the late afternoon sun, thinkingabout the woman called Bee – her name must be short for something – anddeciding she must really have been having a bad day. It was so nice of her tolook online and order me another mug...
Feeling energised by her generous gesture, I go out and takea wander around the village, ending up at the ruined tower I’ve read about, whereeveryone congregates to celebrate the summer solstice. I stand at the bottom ofthe grassy mound, staring up at the tower, which overlooks Port Castleton Bay. It’sdue to be renovated, apparently, but at the moment it’s unsafe. There are signsbarring the public from climbing the stone steps to the top, which I reflect isa shame because the view must be amazing. You’d be able to survey the whole ofthe village from up there...
I’m just walking down, back to the beach, when I spot afamiliar face.
Bee.
She’s holding the hand of a little girl, who looks aboutfive, and she’s spotted me, too.
‘Hi!’ I smile at her. ‘Thank you so much for my surprise gift.’
She gives a little guilty grimace. ‘I’m so sorry. I’mhonestly not usually such a grumpy bugger. This is my daughter, Jodie, by theway.’
‘It’s fine.’ I smile at blonde-haired Jodie but she juststares at me. She’s the image of her mum.
‘No, it’s not fine,’ says Bee anxiously. ‘I’ve been worryingabout it ever since.’
‘Mummy was crying,’ announces little Jodie in amatter-of-fact way. She stares solemnly up at me. Her eyes, I notice, are theexact same shade of grey as Bee’s.
Bee gives a little worried gasp and scoops her daughter up.‘I wasn’t crying, baby. When did you hear that?’
‘I got out of bed cos I was thirsty.’
‘You came through to the kitchen? I didn’t know that.’
‘The horrible monster was looking at me through the window soI ran away and hid in bed so it couldn’t see me.’ She buries her face in Bee’sshoulder, hugging her tightly round her neck.
Bee sighs, gazing at me worriedly over her daughter’sshoulder. ‘Jodie, thereareno horrible monsters here. They’re just instory books. Jodie, look at me.’
Jodie pulls away reluctantly and Bee smiles. ‘Mummy wouldn’tlet anything hurt you, you know that, don’t you? We’re quite safe in our cosy littleflat.’
‘Will you keep the door locked so the monster can’t get in?’asks Jodie.
