Chapter 32
‘What the hell are you doing here?’ Bella’s embarrassment was so acute that she immediately went on the offensive. ‘I thought you weren’t coming down until next weekend?’
Noah held up his hands, looking guilty. ‘I’m sorry.
I texted to let you know I was planning on dropping by today.
I was visiting an old friend in Wellington, and the motorway’s closed after an accident, so rather than crawl all the way back to London on the A roads, with the rest of the traffic, I messaged you earlier to see if you’d mind me crashing over tonight. ’
‘I never got a message,’ Bella said mutinously. ‘Oh, shut up!’ She hurried over to the CD player and ejected the CD. Then, blushing, she saw Noah’s message on her notifications. ‘It must have just come through,’ she muttered. ‘What time did you send it?’
‘About two hours ago.’
‘Ah.’ Now it was Bella’s turn to look guilty. ‘My phone died this morning, and I hadn’t bothered to charge it until just now.’ She looked up at him. ‘Sorry.’
‘No problem.’ Noah’s smile was distinctly amused.
‘I quite enjoyed the impromptu concert. You could be a soundalike for that singer, whoever she is. I couldn’t tell the difference.
’ He reached for the CD case, but Bella was quicker.
She grabbed it and shoved the CD back into it. ‘Careful, you’ll break it.’
‘Wouldn’t matter,’ Bella said shortly. ‘No one’ll miss it.’
‘Can I see?’ Noah reached out a hand towards the CD, but Bella kept an iron grip on it.
‘I’d rather you didn’t.’
Brow crinkling, Noah looked confused. ‘Look, I’ll admit to having far worse things than that in my old collection – there was a reason I ditched most of my CDs when streaming came along.’
‘You ditched your CDs?’ Bella laughed, despite her embarrassment. ‘What happens if the world ends and there’s no more internet?’
‘When the apocalypse comes, I’ll make sure I’m hanging out here.’ Noah joined in the laughter, and Bella felt some of her embarrassment subsiding. Until Noah caught sight of the cover art of the CD case again. Looking from the CD to Bella, a silence extended between them.
‘Hang on a minute… Isabella Indigo…’ His brow furrowed again, this time in recognition. ‘Bella… are you Isabella Indigo?’
Bella gave a short, nervous shake of her head. ‘Don’t be daft! What would Isabella Indigo be doing standing in your grandpa’s kitchen?’
‘No, hang on a minute.’ Noah looked at her again. ‘You are, aren’t you? This is you.’
Bella knew the game was up. She let out a long sigh. ‘All right, all right. That was me. Not any more.’
‘I’m guessing you didn’t reach Taylor Swift levels of stardom, then, if you’re working at Mollie’s and in the pub.’ Noah’s gentle smile belied the teasing tone of his words, but Bella bristled.
‘What is it about people? If you’re not Taylor Swift, then you’re not anyone?’
‘That’s not what I meant,’ Noah replied, looking contrite. ‘It seems odd, that’s all, that, having been successful enough to have an album, this is where you are now.’
‘It’s a tough business,’ Bella said. ‘It takes a lot to break through, especially in the UK and the US. I never really conquered either, I’m afraid, but I was quite big in Sweden and Denmark once!
’ Despite her irritation, she felt a smile slip through, and Noah smiled back at her, obviously relieved.
‘So, do you sing any more?’
‘Only when there’s no one else around! Let’s just say that being dropped by your record label doesn’t do wonders for your self-esteem.’
‘But you sound great,’ Noah countered. ‘Even in the kitchen.’
‘Thanks.’
There was a pause that thankfully was broken by the ring of the doorbell.
‘That’ll be Monty,’ Bella said, relieved to be off the subject of her past music career. ‘Mollie’s bringing him and his stuff over this afternoon.’
Noah looked wary. ‘Should I make myself scarce?’
‘Why? It might help that you know him.’
‘I don’t think so!’
Bella smiled again. ‘Well, I’m happy for you to hang around, so Monty’ll have to lump it, won’t he? I’m sure he’ll be so pleased to be back in his own house that he won’t even notice us.’
‘Let’s hope so,’ Noah replied. ‘But I’m keeping my bedroom door shut tonight, in case he decides to exercise his territorial rights and smother me in my sleep!’
Bella was still grinning when she opened the door to Mollie.
‘You look like living here suits you,’ Mollie said, returning her broad smile. ‘Are you ready to take on Monty?’
‘Absolutely. I can’t wait to see how he responds to being back in his own house again.’ She took Monty’s bed, which Mollie had brought to the door, and called to Noah. ‘Can you remember where Jack used to put this?’
Noah nodded. ‘Monty liked the alcove under the stairs when he chose to sleep in it, but most of the time he ended up on Grandpa’s bed.’
‘I’ll bear that in mind,’ Bella replied, ‘so he doesn’t frighten the life out of me in the middle of the night!’
After Mollie had handed over Monty’s bowls and the rest of a bag of dried food he’d taken a shine to, it was time to bring him in.
Bella suddenly felt nervous; she’d never taken responsibility for anything other than herself.
What if she did something wrong? Shaking off those thoughts as much as she could, she braced herself for a very grumpy Monty.
She knew Monty didn’t take well to the cat carrier, having seen how pissed off he’d been when Mollie had collected him from the cottage the first time around.
Having had four months in the sanctuary, he was unlikely to be any better now.
‘Nearly there, old chap, not far to go now.’ Mollie’s soothing tones broke into Bella’s train of thought. Bella heard Monty before she saw him; he was kicking up quite a stink. Yowls were emanating from the cat carrier that illustrated the extent of Monty’s irritation.
‘Can you shut the front door, love? And there aren’t any low windows or outside doors open, are there? Even though this is his manor, you ought to keep him inside for a few days, until he acclimatises again.’
‘Will do.’ Bella watched as Mollie gently put the cat carrier down on the living room floor. Then, carefully, she undid the latches, and they all took a step back, waiting for Monty to emerge.