Chapter 33
‘You’re looking well,’ said Simon. ‘Country air suits you.’
What? What was happening? Was this a dream? Cami stared at him in disbelief, then at Boo, the little dog squeaking with excitement at the sight of her and wriggling in his arms.
She’d loved this man for almost three years in total. But that had been back when she’d thought he was a genuinely lovable person. Now she knew better, and seeing Boo again was the highlight of this unexpected encounter. Oh Boo, I’ve missed you so much .
‘What are you doing here?’ Had he broken up with the new girlfriend, was that it? Because he might have denied it, but of course there had to be one. Had she discovered he was a weapons-grade bastard and given him the boot? All these questions and more were swirling around in Cami’s head. If he begged her to forgive him for the terrible mistake he’d made, what would she say to him? Would she have him back for the sake of the baby?
No. No, she wouldn’t.
OK, good to know. In fact, excellent.
Another question occurred to her. ‘How did you know I was here?’
He shrugged. ‘Lizzie Rafferty’s social media. She posted a photo the other day showing off her new kaftan. Your sunglasses were on the table behind her and your swimsuit was drying on the grass.’
There was no getting away with anything these days. Well, unless you were Simon. But the ache in Cami’s heart was growing more intense by the second. Taking a step towards him, she said, ‘Can I hold her?’
‘Of course. Missed her, have you?’
Cami nodded and felt her eyes fill with tears. She might not allow herself to cry over losing Simon, but of course she’d missed Boo desperately. She held out her hand and dropped to her knees as Simon let go of the little dog. Tail wagging like crazy, Boo launched herself into her arms, emitting little bat-squeaks of pure joy. Her body squirmed like a slinky and her legs scrabbled against Cami’s swollen stomach as she snuffled and licked her cheeks.
‘I think she loves you more than she loves me,’ said Simon.
Well, snap .
But there was no need to state the obvious. Cami hugged Boo and whispered, ‘I love you.’
‘So . . . d’you want her?’
She looked up. ‘What does that mean?’
‘I can’t keep her. She has to go.’ Simon shrugged. ‘You don’t have to say yes. There’s a place called Ivy Lodge Animal Sanctuary not that far from here. If you’re not interested, I’ll drop her off there on my way home.’
Cami’s jaw went slack. Had he had some kind of brain transplant? She could just about understand that he might not want a baby. She could accept that he no longer wanted her either. But this? To be ridding himself of Boo, who’d been with him since she was a puppy? What in God’s name was wrong with him?
‘Why? What’s going on?’ She stared at him in genuine disbelief. ‘And if the sanctuary doesn’t have room for her, what then? Will you dump her out of the car window on the motorway?’
‘That’s a vile thing to say. I’m not a monster.’
He’d said that to her once before. ‘No? I think you are.’
His eyes narrowed. ‘Look, do you want her or not?’
‘Of course I want her!’ Panic and fury rose in her chest. ‘But how can I take her? I don’t have anywhere to live. Lizzie’s letting me stay here while we work on the book, but as soon as it’s done, she’ll fly home to LA and then what happens? You’re going to have to help me get a flat somewhere.’ She hated having to say it, but what other choice did she have?
‘Can’t, I’m afraid.’ Simon’s shrug was careless. ‘I’ve left my job.’
‘ What? ’
‘And the flat. I’m off to Marbella next week.’
This made no sense. ‘To work?’
He shook his head. ‘You thought I was seeing someone else? You were right. There you are, now you know. She’s everything I ever wanted. She has her own seafront villa. And enough money that I don’t have to work.’
‘How nice for you.’ Cami shook her head. She’d guessed he’d been having an affair, and here it all was.
‘You’ll be fine. You wanted a baby and you’re getting one.’ He checked his watch, then stepped forward to remove Boo from her arms. ‘You’re right, you can’t take her.’
Cami’s grip on the little dog tightened. ‘Why isn’t she going with you to Marbella?’
‘Ania doesn’t want her there. She’s allergic to dogs. It’s OK, they’ll look after her at the animal place. I’ll drop her off there now.’
Backing away, still clutching Boo to her chest, Cami croaked, ‘ No ,’ but it went unheard because Lizzie was clattering down the staircase bellowing at the top of her voice.
‘ YOU are a FUCKHEAD and a SLIMEBALL and you can fuck off out of this house RIGHT NOW.’
Simon looked scared. Holding out his hands for Boo, he said, ‘What about—’
‘OUT, OUT, GET THE FUCK OUT,’ Lizzie yelled, gesturing furiously.
He did as he was told.
‘Oh my God.’ Cami sank down onto the nearest stool, her legs trembling and the baby squirming inside her.
‘I’ve never called anyone a fuckhead before,’ said Lizzie. ‘Thought it plenty of times, of course. Quite enjoyed saying it. Are you OK?’
Cami nodded. ‘I am. But what do I do with Boo?’
The little dog licked her ear.
‘She can stay with us as long as I’m here. And we’ll think about the rest later on.’
‘Thank you.’ She was overwhelmed with gratitude. ‘I couldn’t let him just dump her at the sanctuary.’
‘Of course not. And look, sorry for eavesdropping, but when I heard the car outside and saw him get out, I couldn’t help it, I had to know what was going on.’
‘He’s got a girlfriend. A loaded one, by the sound of it.’ She already knew Simon would do his utmost to wriggle out of making payments, but that was all in the future. She couldn’t think about it now.
‘If you’re with someone for their money, you’ll earn every penny.’ Lizzie nodded sagely. ‘That’s a famous quote, and it’s true. Doesn’t stop people doing it, though, especially in Hollywood. Anyway, more fool him and his rich girlfriend. You’re sure you’re all right?’
Cami nodded and Lizzie gave her a hug, getting her cheek licked by Boo in the process.
‘You’re gorgeous,’ Lizzie told the little dog. ‘Welcome to Pine Lodge. Just one thing you need to know,’ she added sternly, ‘Don’t expect me to pick up your poos, because that’s never going to happen. Not my job.’
‘Woof,’ Boo said happily, wagging her tail.
‘You’ll never have to,’ Cami told Lizzie. ‘I promise.’
By mid afternoon on Saturday, Jed was losing patience. What had started off as a good birthday for Karina was now going downhill at a rate of knots. Having been happy with her second lot of presents after choosing them herself, she’d cracked open a bottle of Cristal at ten thirty and polished off most of it whilst the friendly hair and make-up artist had worked her magic. But then she’d wanted to pay a visit to the pub in the village before they headed into Cheltenham for the afternoon, because a fellow influencer on Instagram had said the Angel Inn was full of atmosphere and fit men. Jed wondered why she’d told him this; to make him jealous, perhaps? By this stage he was beyond caring. If anyone offered to take her off his hands, he’d be only too delighted.
Once they’d arrived at the pub, Karina had decided she liked it and refused to leave. She was soon boasting to all and sundry about who she was, showing them her TikTok feed, then being borderline rude to a fifty-something farmer who rejected her generous offer to have a selfie with him.
The baffled farmer said, ‘No, thanks, I’ll stick to cider,’ and Karina, affronted, replied, ‘Well, don’t come crawling back when you work out who I am.’
She might be looking her best, but her voice was loud and starting to slur. Jed murmured to the farmer, ‘Sorry, it’s her birthday,’ and a nearby good-looking younger guy apparently called Tristan drawled in a posh voice, ‘Oh, we know it’s her birthday. The whole of Starbourne knows that.’
‘Excuse me! Who d’you think you are?’ Swinging round on her bar stool, Karina chucked the contents of her glass at him. Sadly for her, the glass was already empty.
‘Oh dear, that was naughty.’ The posh boy smirked. ‘Now, how would you like it if I did that to you?’
‘You wouldn’t dare. I’d have you arrested.’
‘Calm down, drama queen. We’re not on your tacky TV show now.’
‘So you do recognise me.’ It was Karina’s turn to look smug.
Tristan shook his head. ‘Afraid not. Someone told me you’d been on TV and your claim to fame was marrying rich men.’
Karina turned to Jed. ‘Are you gonna sort him out or not? You can’t let him speak to me like that.’ Her left foot slipped on the horizontal bar of the stool and one of her expensive birthday shoes fell off.
This was mortifying; he’d never seen her this drunk before. Jed said, ‘Maybe we should leave.’
Karina’s lip curled. ‘What are you? A man or a mouse?’
The door to the kitchen swung open at that moment. A woman in chef’s whites stuck her head out and said to the man behind the bar, ‘Marvyn, only a couple of fish pies left, OK? And we’re down to the last apple crumble too.’
Marvyn nodded. ‘Got it.’
Karina swivelled back round and shouted, ‘What the hell ?’
Jed briefly closed his eyes; this was turning into a nightmare. He might be accustomed to dealing with out-of-control visitors to his nightclubs, but this was a quaint country pub at two thirty in the afternoon and Karina was making a complete spectacle of herself. In a fierce whisper he said, ‘Will you keep your voice down?’
‘Are you kidding me?’ She jabbed her index finger in the direction of the woman who’d emerged from the kitchen. ‘Look at her!’
The woman turned her attention to Karina. ‘Hello, love, enjoying your birthday? And don’t you look nice in that dress. The colour really suits you.’
‘I thought you were a professional hair and make-up artist!’ Karina was outraged. ‘But you’re not, are you? You work in a pub kitchen! I can’t believe I let you near my face!’