Chapter 6
Chapter Six
Bets sniffed back her tears as she opened the car door. Over the last two days, she’d tried every estate agent and rental agency in the local area and they had all said the same thing. No pets.
As she crossed the car park, she felt as if she were walking the last steps to the guillotine and it wasn’t even about her. Please, please let them find someone really lovely to take Tiggy.
Bracing herself, she pushed open the office door.
‘Hey, Bets, how are you? Have you come to visit your dog?’ Alison, the receptionist at the rescue centre, gave her a big smile.
Oh shit. Why had she decided to do this in person, instead of phoning up like a normal person?
‘Bets, are you okay?’ asked Alison.
‘Mmm.’ Bets nodded frantically because all the words she needed to say were stuck fast in her throat. Her face crumpled but she still fought hard. No, she told herself, not going to cry. Oh shit, she was going to cry.
Alison’s eyes widened and she rounded the reception desk, taking Bets’ arm. ‘Oh, sweetie. Come, take a seat. What’s happened?’
The dam broke at the other girl’s kindness and Bets sank onto the worn couch in the shabby reception area, covering her face with her hands.
‘I’m s-o s-s-orry,’ she said, hauling in stuttering breaths. ‘I c?can’t h-have…’ It was so hard to say the words. ‘T-tiggy. I c-can’t. N-not fair.’
‘Hey, hey. Take a breath. It’s okay.’
She waited it out until Bets’ storm of sobs abated.
If Bets were honest, it wasn’t just about Tiggy, it was about everything.
The breakup with Jack and the awful uncertainty of what the future held.
For the last few years, everything had been set in stone, and now it was back to chaos.
Not knowing what would happen. It was like being a child again and never quite knowing what she’d find when she arrived home.
What sort of mood her mum would be in. Whether the lights would be on.
What sort of meal she was going to have to cobble together.
Losing Jack was just the start; now all the other dominoes were starting to fall.
The reins of control were being tugged out of her hands.
She didn’t like it. She didn’t like it one bit.
And worse still, she hated being so pathetic and witless in front of someone else.
Finally she regained control and took a couple of long, slow breaths.
‘Sorry about that,’ she muttered, embarrassed by her complete meltdown.
‘Don’t worry. We see all sorts here. Can I get you a cup of tea?’
‘No, no. I’m fine. Just having a wobble. I’m really sorry but I’m not going to be able to take Tiggy after all.’ There, she’d said it. Without flinching.
‘Okay,’ said Alison. ‘I’m sorry to hear that, but knowing you, there’s a very good reason.’
Bets sucked in another long breath. ‘My circumstances have changed and it wouldn’t be fair to take her, not knowing. I’m going to have to move and I don’t know if I’ll find anywhere that will take pets. I can’t risk doing that to Tiggy.’
‘I understand. It’s a real problem. That’s why I’m still at home. Can’t find anywhere that will take me and three dogs. My mum has forbidden me to bring another rescue home, even though she loves dogs. So I know it’s not easy.’
‘Thanks. I … don’t want to do this but … it just wouldn’t be fair to Tiggy if I took her and then had to bring her back.’
‘No. It’s a shame. I’ll put her back in the system.’
Bets drove back to the village feeling wrung out and exhausted and pulled up outside her home. Her heart, which had taken quite a beating already today, cringed in her chest.
It looked like she was in for another emotional kicking, because Audrey was standing on her doorstep.
‘Hi,’ said Bets listlessly.
‘Hello, dear. Would it be all right if I came in?’
Normally this was Audrey’s opening gambit when she schmoozed her way into getting her victims to agree to some job for one of the village’s many fundraising activities.
‘I’m happy to manage the entries for the flower show again.’
‘Oh, that’s sweet of you. Actually I wanted to talk to you about something different.’
‘Right.’ Bets steeled herself. She’d been waiting for this all week.
‘I’d love a cup of tea.’
So they were going to be civilised about this, thought Bets, wishing that Audrey would come right out with it and give her notice on the barn.
‘I’ll put the kettle on,’ said Bets. ‘Go on through to the lounge.’
‘I brought a little something with me,’ said Audrey, opening a foil package to reveal Bets’ favourite millionaire’s shortbread as they walked through to the kitchen.
‘Mmm.’ The appreciative moan escaped Bets before she could stop herself. She had to remind herself that this was most likely a sweetener before Audrey delivered the bad news.
‘Oh, that paint colour is nice,’ said Audrey. ‘Doesn’t it look lovely in here? You’ve made it so homely.’
Bets raised an eyebrow. Was that Audrey’s polite reference to the mess?
Tidiness seemed to elude her, no matter how hard she tried.
Periodically she would have a big sort out and put everything away where it belonged, but it never lasted.
It had never bothered Jack, she remembered with sudden fondness.
He’d tidied in her wake, never complaining or judging, and always helped her find her car keys, purse, phone, and so on without pointing out that if she were more organised she wouldn’t lose those things so often.
Giving Audrey a despairing look, Bets said, ‘It’s okay, I know what you’ve come to say.’
Audrey gave her a kind smile. ‘Shall we sit down? Here, have a piece.’ She pushed the foil package across the table, weaving it between the scattered post, placemats and pepper grinder. ‘You look like you could do with a bit of feeding up. You’ve lost weight.’
Bets looked down at herself and frowned, remembering that her jeans had felt looser after they’d been washed this time.
‘Not deliberately,’ she said, realising that actually she had lost quite a lot of weight, but even so, she was always going to be of Amazonian stature with her height of five-foot eleven, good sturdy thighs and shoulders as broad as an Olympic swimmer’s.
She was never going to be a skinny minnie and had, in truth, never hankered to be one.
She was quite happy with her own body, thank you very much. ‘Tea or coffee?’
‘Actually I’m fine. I came to talk to you and now I’m here, it’s all a bit difficult.’
‘Audrey, I understand. Jack’s your son. This is his home. You don’t have to worry, I’ll move out. If you can give me some time to find a new place.’
Audrey let out a small inelegant snort, which was very much not an Audrey thing to do. ‘You’ll do no such thing.’
Bets stared at her. ‘You do know that Jack and I have split up.’
‘Of course I do. I love my son very much but it doesn’t mean I like him at the moment.’ She took a piece of the millionaire’s shortbread and glared at it before she took a bite. Bets had to smile; there was a reason Audrey was so trim, she was very self-disciplined.
‘Bets, dear. You’ve been part of the family for ever. This is your home and I, for one, am not going to make you leave. Jack has a home with us for as long as he needs it. There is absolutely no reason for you to move out.’
‘But…’ Hope flickered.
‘But nothing. I’m not allowing you to martyr yourself to that boy.
He’s had everything far too easy in his life.
To be honest, I’m a little cross with him.
Whereas you, well’—Audrey’s face softened and she smiled—‘you have worked very hard to get where you are. I know Geoffrey thinks you are the best student nurse he’s ever trained and worked with.
You qualified with almost full marks. You deserve to stay here. ’
Oh God, she was going to cry again.
Audrey patted her on the hand. ‘Bets, you’re a good girl and if I had a daughter, I’d want one like you. You’re a doer, you take things on the chin, you work hard and you never expect a free ride. You’ve not had anything easy. And I worry about you.’
‘Worry about me?’ Bets tried to laugh it off, but actually she was really touched that Audrey cared enough to worry. Any minute now she was going to blub. ‘That’s really kind of you, but…’
‘You’ve earned your place at the table.’
Bets frowned, not sure what Audrey meant.
Audrey tutted. ‘Bets, you’ve worked hard to get where you are, you deserve everything you have.
You don’t owe anyone anything. You didn’t ride on anyone else’s coattails.
Stop being grateful all the time. Go for what you want.
Take what you deserve. This is your home for as long as you need it.
Obviously, one day things will change, when Geoffrey and I go.
The boys inherit everything. But I’m hoping that’s a long way off. ’
Bets’ lips quivered with the effort of not crying. ‘Are y-you sure?’
‘Of course I’m sure.’ She drew herself up in her seat, the steeliness of her character obvious in her ramrod posture. ‘And I’m always right. So that’s all settled.’
‘Thank you,’ said Bets.
‘You don’t need to thank me. And I hear you’re about to have a new addition to the household.’
Bets wrinkled her nose. ‘I don’t know about that.’
‘Why not? We’re the last landlords that would object to pets.’
‘Yes, but I couldn’t leave a dog here on its own all day.’
‘Well, take her to work.’
Bets gave her a guilty look.
‘Oh. I see. Well, I can tell you, don’t even think about resigning. Geoffrey won’t have it.’
‘I don’t want to but it’s going to be awkward.’
‘Don’t you dare give up a job you love. Besides, there’s no guarantee Jack’ll be working at the practice.
Devon and Geoffrey haven’t decided yet. But even so, I’m sure you and Jack can figure things out.
It’s always better to be friends. I’m sure you’re as mad as a wet hen with him at the moment and I don’t blame you but …
these things pass. One day you’ll wonder what you ever saw in him.
’ She delivered that last statement with hopeful conviction that Bets really didn’t share.