Page 56 of Sun, Sea & Strawberry Shortcake
What on earth’s going on?
She’s giving him both barrels by the sound of things, and asI watch, mouth hanging open, the car starts moving away, eventually roaring offalong the lane and disappearing into the distance.
Joanna storms back towards her cottage, her face full offury.
‘Are you all right?’ I call, and she looks over.
‘No, I’mnotall right,’ she snaps, but her rageseems to be turning into something else. She covers her face with her hands anddissolves into tears.
‘Hey, it’s okay.’ I hurry over to where she’s standing inher garden, trying to pretend she’s fine, dashing away the tears.
‘What happened?’
She looks down. ‘It’s that man.’
I’ve never seen her so discombobulated and stuck for words.Joanna is normally so cool and collected. But she’s actually trembling.
‘The man in the black car? Yes, I’ve been wondering abouthim, just hanging around in the lane, looking really suspicious.’
She nods. ‘Exactly. I... just went overand asked him what he was doing, parking there and blocking the lane, and hejust started shouting at me, calling me all the names under the sun.’
‘Really?’ From what I saw, Joanna was blastinghim.But maybe that was in reaction tohisoutburst?
‘I was scared, Ruby. I really was.’ She grasps my forearm.‘There’s something – I don’t know – a bitsinisterabout him. Thoseweird dark glasses...’
‘That’s what I thought,’ I agree. ‘But he’s gone now. Maybeyou’ve scared him off.’
She grunts. ‘I doubt it. He’ll be back like a bad penny. Sheshivers as if someone has walked over her grave. ‘Thanks, Ruby.’
‘What for?’
‘For calming me down?’ Her lips twist. ‘I thought I’d befine going away for some time on my own, but to be honest, I’ve felt really...lonely here?’
‘Have you?’ I stare at her in surprise.
She grins. ‘I’m actually quite glad Hudson’s needed my helpthis week. It’s kept me from dwelling on how bloody alone I actually am.’
‘Oh. But... I’m sure you don’tneedto be on your own.’ I’m struggling to know what to say to make her feel better.It’s all so new to me... Joanna beingvulnerable? ‘Imean, you must have scores of admirers who’d like to whisk you away for aromantic weekend?’
She stares at me stonily. ‘Er,no! What makes you saythat?’
‘Well, because you’re – um – very attractive and you alwayslook so fabulous...lovelyoutfits.’ As soon as it’sout of my mouth, I’m regretting it. From her sharp look, it’s clear we’re bothremembering the time I happened upon Joanna’s massive hoard of clothes with thelabels still on them...
‘I’m going in.’ She turns and stalks off in her heels andcute navy dress. Nearing the front door, she stumbles, her ankle turning over onthe crazy paving path. Her squeak of pain is so loud, a couple of birds in anearby bush rise up into the air, flapping madly.
‘See you later,’ I call, as she stomps inside and slams thedoor behind her.
CHAPTERTWENTY-SEVEN
‘I think I might have slightly misjudged Joanna,’ Iadmit later that afternoon, as Hudson and I demolish the buffet.
‘Really?’ He looks sceptical.
‘Yes. I mean, we’re never going to be best pals. But I saw adifferent side to her today.’ I shrug. ‘She admitted to me that she feelslonely, and I was thinking that could be at the root of some of her – erm –interestingbehaviour.’Including shopaholic tendencies, perhaps?
He grins. ‘Well, I’m pleased to hear it. So she’s not suchan ogre, after all?’
‘Well, I wouldn’t gothatfar. I’d say I had her downas supercilious, unfeeling and sly. But now I know she’s also human, whichsomehow makes her easier to like?’ I shrug. ‘I’m going to try and give Joannathe benefit of the doubt from now on.’
