Chapter Twenty-Five
Dagmar
D agmar brushed Zephyra’s sleek coat, enjoying the steady, repetitive rhythm. She needed something to keep her mind and body occupied because her life was unravelling, and she wasn’t sure how to stop it.
She sighed, pausing for a moment. If she closed her eyes, she could still feel James’s touch, the warmth of his embrace, the way his lips moved against hers. She’d ridden horses for as long as she remembered and was used to sore legs and hips, but the exquisite aches she had now weren’t like that. They might be around the same area, but these carried memories. She’d crammed so many into such a short time. Each memory was hot and brought pleasant little jolts to her nerve ends. A vivid contrast to the cold reality that was waiting beyond the stable doors. She was living in a dream, a blissful bubble that could burst at any second. The future of the café was on a knife edge. James had gone to work to try and sort things out, but Dagmar could tell his hopes weren’t high.
‘I wish I knew what was going to happen,’ she whispered to Zephyra, who nuzzled her shoulder. How was James going to get around his father? And could he do it quick enough to help her mum?
Her heart ached at the thought. She’d finally tasted love, a kind of love that made her feel whole. She’d never felt so cherished, so wanted, but she couldn’t celebrate it or embrace it with the café’s future hanging in the balance like this.
Zephyra tilted her head, her dark eyes watching Dagmar. ‘If only I was sure it would be ok.’
She ran her hand down Zephyra’s back. ‘I just want mum’s business to be safe,’ she murmured, her voice breaking slightly. ‘But it’s not looking good, and she really has nothing else. This is what she’s always done.’
With a final stroke of the brush, she finished with Zephyra and packed up. Her mind was a constant whizz of thoughts and doubts, and she couldn’t settle to anything. Even just the new relationship with James had given her enough to be going on with, but adding the café had pushed her to the edge. The fact she couldn’t do a thing about it and had to rely solely on James wasn’t helping. She trusted him now to do what he could, but things had got complicated.
She stepped out of the stable and walked towards the paddock. Ophelia was at the exit to the car park talking to Caitlin, Kristi, and another woman with a little girl resting on her hip. Dagmar couldn’t help doing a doubletake every time she saw Kristi. She always had on a rather wild outfit, and the woman she was with was kind of similar, tall with long black hair, heavy make-up and goth style dress. Dagmar wouldn’t swear to it, but she suspected she and Kristi were sisters.
Ophelia broke away from them with a wave and came over to Dagmar. ‘Morning,’ she said. ‘How are you?’
‘Morning. I’m fine. Who’s that with Kristi?’
‘Her sister – well, one of her sisters. Apparently, she has several – and her niece. She’s very sweet. Catilin’s going to show them around and let them chat to the horses. I hope that’s ok.’
‘Fine, yeah. As long as she keeps away from Stroman.’
‘I told her that.’ Ophelia leaned on the fence with a sigh. ‘It’s so busy around here, isn’t it? Did I see two classes scheduled in for later?’
‘Yes. It’s always the same when the summer comes around.’
Ophelia glanced back towards the others. ‘I’m thinking of allowing Caitlin to do the job here. I’m not sure that’s what Brann wants, but I don’t mind telling him it’s her life. Would you be happy if we took her on in that capacity? We could do it provisionally until she gets her exam results.’
‘I like the idea, but even when she has the results, she should do some further training like I did.’
‘I agree. Kristi is all for it and she’s already looking into courses.’
‘So just Brann to convince.’
‘Leave him to me.’ Ophelia winked with a little smile. Her eyes held Dagmar’s for a moment. ‘Tell me about you… and James.’
Dagmar’s heart skipped a beat. ‘What about him?’
‘I know you were at school together and now he comes here for his “refresher” lessons.’ She air-quoted. ‘You seemed very against teaching him, but I sense things are a bit better now.’
‘Well, yes. He’s not as bad as I thought.’
‘That’s good to hear.’ Ophelia nodded, tapping the fence. ‘I wouldn’t want you to be unhappy and he seems to be taking it all very seriously. He’s here an awful lot.’
‘Yes, he’s very focused.’
‘That’s great.’ Ophelia carried on tapping the fence, looking out over the paddock. ‘Jacinta told me a story yesterday. I know what she’s like for shovelling shit and causing drama, but I don’t like it when she gossips about friends of mine, especially if it might get them into trouble.’
A pang of anxiety struck Dagmar’s chest. She dreaded to think what Jacinta had said.
But the thought that Ophelia considered her a friend made her smile, and she felt less alone, though maybe Ophelia would be annoyed if she discovered what Dagmar had been up to with James. Would that bring the stables into disrepute?
‘What did she say?’
‘She said—’
‘Hey,’ Kristi approached them and both Ophelia and Dagmar turned to her. ‘Sorry.’ She held up her hands. ‘Am I interrupting?’
‘Not really,’ Dagmar said.
‘I was just telling Dagmar about Caitlin and the job,’ Ophelia said. ‘But I just need to convince Brann.’
Kristi snort laughed. ‘Sorry, but I don’t see you having any trouble there. You’ve got him eating out your hand.’
Ophelia glanced away, smiling. ‘Yeah. I reckon I can bring him around.’
‘I’m sure you can.’
‘And I was moaning about Jacinta for a change,’ Ophelia said.
‘She’s been telling stories about me,’ Dagmar said. ‘Ophelia was about to tell me.’
‘Well, yes.’
‘I can go,’ Kristi said.
‘I really don’t mind if you hear.’ Dagmar gave her a little smile. ‘I just want to know what she said.’ Was it the same thing she’d told James’s mum and Victoria?
‘She seems to think you and James have more than just horse riding going on.’
Kristi patted Dagmar on the arm and winked. ‘I should hope so.’
Heat bloomed in Dagmar’s cheeks.
‘Am I missing something?’ Ophelia’s eyes widened.
‘Oh my god, sorry,’ Kristi clapped her hand to her mouth. ‘Have I put my foot in it?’
‘Not exactly.’ Dagmar covered her face, and bizarrely tears pricked at the corners of her eyes.
‘Hey.’ Kristi put her arm around her. ‘It’s ok.’
‘No, it isn’t. Because he’s… Well, we can’t tell anybody anything yet.’
Ophelia stroked Dagmar’s arm. ‘Does that mean you and James…?’
‘Yes, but… Well, he promised to help my mum save her café as part of a community programme at Duchan Fayre, but if his dad finds out we’re in a relationship, he could pull the plug on it, and it might not matter anyway because my mum’s had an ultimatum from her landlord, so James might not be able to do anything fast enough.’
‘Oh, wow. I can see that’s difficult.’ Ophelia was looking at her with that searching gaze of hers. ‘But I’m sure James will do his best. If he can’t save the café, I’m sure there are other ways.’
‘Not before the end of the week.’
Kristi gave her a little squeeze. ‘The end of the week isn’t the end of the world.’
‘Exactly.’ Ophelia rubbed her chin. ‘There will be a way, I’m sure.’
Dagmar let out a long breath. ‘Will there? Even for me and James. What if his parents don’t accept me or cut him off? I’d hate to cause a family breakup.’ Forming a relationship with James was bad enough. She hadn’t even considered his parents, and she didn’t have the first clue how she would go about meeting them, let alone convincing them she was a good person, not when they clearly had their hearts set on Victoria. How could she compete with an earl’s daughter?
‘Yeah, I hear you,’ Kristi said. ‘But if he’s worth anything, he’ll find a way.’
‘I’ve met James’s parents,’ Ophelia said. ‘His mum will probably come around before his dad, but don’t think you have to impress them or anything like that. All you can do is be yourself.’
‘Totally.’ Kristi winked. ‘If they don’t like you, they can take themselves out. It’s James’s opinion that matters. I know it’s easier said than done, believe me. I’ve come up against prejudice and judgement all my life, and sometimes it gets to me; I’m not going to lie. But if you’re good enough for James, you’re good enough for them.’
Dagmar glanced between Kristi and Ophelia, and randomly, completely unexpectedly, she smiled. Even when the path looked dark, she saw two friends. It had taken her a long time to find her people and perhaps they were strange friends, all things considered, but they were friends nonetheless and that made the road ahead seem a little less daunting.