Chapter 7 #2
Cameron nodded. Josh had been in touch to ask for quotes on making the inside of the castle more habitable. It had been a while since anyone had lived there, but the bones were solid and he’d already established there was no structural work needed.
‘It’s at the end of the village, just follow the high street – have you been?’ Flora’s gaze shifted to Izzi.
She shook her head. ‘I’ve not explored much of the local area yet,’ she admitted. ‘I’ve not had any time. But I’ll try to walk there in my lunch break tomorrow.’
‘It’s quite a walk, lass.’ Flora frowned. ‘I’ve heard you have the keys to the castle?’ Her gaze shifted to Cameron. ‘Because you’re going to do some work for Josh? And haven’t you finished work for the day, Izzi?’
‘Yes.’ She nodded.
Cameron sighed. Firstly, because you couldn’t keep anything private in Honey Haven and secondly because it was clear Flora was matchmaking.
‘Fine,’ he rumbled. ‘I can take you after this if you like?’ he asked Izzi reluctantly.
Her face lit and he felt that thump in his chest again and wished his body could be as cynical as his mind.
‘I’d love that,’ she gushed. ‘Then I could get started making treacle scones – if you don’t mind me using your cooker again?’
‘So long as you’re not planning to elope with it,’ Cameron said dryly. She giggled and he had to catch himself before he returned her smile.
‘You’re not going to do either of those things until I’ve read your tea leaves,’ Flora said as she opened her desk drawer and ripped a blank page from the pad before putting it away.
She pushed the piece of paper towards Izzi.
‘Let’s update on the plans in a few days.
I’ll keep you posted on what’s happening.
If you write your number here, lass, I’ll add you to the WhatsApp group I’m setting up – it means I’ll be able to keep you in the loop on everything.
I’ve got Cameron’s number already.’ She grinned.
‘You can write it while I brew the tea.’ She rose from her chair and gave them both a long look.
‘Think about what you want to ask the leaves and which of you wants to go first.’ With that, she disappeared.
‘It might be best if we escaped now,’ Cameron muttered, darting his attention towards the exit.
‘You don’t believe in tea leaf readings?’ Izzi asked, turning a little in her chair so she could look at him.
‘You do?’ he asked, curious to know more about this woman. He watched as she wrote her number on the paper and found himself admiring her slim fingers, wondering how it might feel to have them wrapped around him, before he caught himself.
‘I don’t know what to believe, but I think Flora will be offended if we refuse to at least have a go. Perhaps you could ask where Sophie is, you’ve got nothing to lose?’ she suggested.
Was she really worried about Flora’s feelings or was this just a play to find out more about his life? And why couldn’t he just relax around this woman?
He puffed out a breath. ‘I don’t think a cup of PG Tips is going to tell me where Sophie or our money has gone.’ If only.
Izzi frowned. ‘Someone used to come into the bakery who offered tarot card readings. I always wanted one and she offered to do it on my birthday, but my aunt said no because she—’ She stopped as they heard footsteps outside the door, indicating Flora was returning, which was frustrating because he wanted to know more.
‘So,’ the older woman said as she entered and placed a steaming glass teapot onto the table. It was filled with tea leaves and Cameron grimaced. As a builder he’d been given all kinds of hot drinks – but none of them had looked anything like this.
He watched as she poured amber liquid into the two cups and pushed one towards Izzi and the other to him.
‘Drink it slowly. It might be obvious but don’t swallow the leaves and please think carefully about your question.
Once you’ve finished, I’ll read the cups.
’ Her gaze flickered to Cameron. ‘I’ll do it one by one in case I see something you don’t want to share. ’
‘I’ve got nothing to hide,’ Cameron said. He glanced at Izzi. ‘Do you?’
‘Well, no, but…’ She dropped her gaze.
‘All the readings I do are private, lad; otherwise, people are less inclined to open up,’ Flora said forcefully, rising from her chair and pointing towards the door.
‘Why don’t you wait in the shop – take your tea and try to focus on something you want to know the answer to while you’re drinking.
It could be anything,’ she said lightly.
‘Your romantic future, where you might end up living, whether there are any important changes on the horizon.’
‘Fine.’ He sighed and rose from his chair, then picked up the cup and saucer and carefully carried it into the shop making sure he didn’t spill any.
‘You need to let up,’ Flora whispered as she followed, taking a moment to look him squarely in the eye.
‘I know you’ve been deceived, Cameron, but I get a good feeling from the lass.
She’s trying to do a nice thing for Maud, which shows me everything I need to know about her character.
’ She paused. ‘I don’t think you’ve got anything to worry about there.
Besides, everyone’s entitled to their secrets.
We all have things we’d rather not share, don’t we? ’
Did they? He didn’t have any. But he was sure Izzi was hiding something and now he was wondering if his grandma was too.
When Cameron didn’t respond, Flora pursed her lips.
‘Think about what you want to know, lad, and perhaps for once make it about something other than that ex-partner of yours. I’m not saying you weren’t dealt a horrible hand, but we have a choice in life about how we deal with bad situations.
Sometimes, you have to let them go.’ She gave him a hard stare, then sighed before shutting the door.
Surprised, Cameron stood staring into the cup for a moment before deciding to sip. He grimaced at the bitter taste and choked when he almost swallowed a tea leaf. Then he began to pace back and forth outside the door.
What was happening in there? What was Izzi saying? Was she keeping secrets? Why had she come to Honey Haven, and what was Flora telling her now?
He could listen – just for a moment. Cameron pondered the idea. His chest felt tight, so he knew he was doing the wrong thing, but he still swigged the rest of the tea, then placed the empty cup on a nearby shelf before gently leaning his ear to the door.
He could hear murmuring, but the words were impossible to distinguish. He pressed his ear to the wood more firmly, trying to ignore the way his chest contracted and his breath caught. He heard the words ‘find’ and ‘letter’ before self-disgust made him step away.
What the hell had got into him? He turned and caught a reflection of himself in the oval mirror Flora had placed on one of the shelves behind some jewellery. He looked flustered, embarrassed and guilty.
What had he become? He was spying on a woman who’d done nothing but cook delicious meals, work hard in the café, make his dog treats and suggest ways to make his grandma happy. Izzi hadn’t cheated him yet, he barely knew her.
If anything, she’d been cheated – by an aunt who had clearly resented raising her, who’d effectively left her homeless, jobless and so alone she’d come to a place where she knew no one.
He stared into his eyes and saw shame. Unable to look at himself any longer, he turned away just as the office door swung open and Izzi walked out.
‘It’s your turn now,’ she murmured. ‘Don’t look so worried, Flora won’t bite. Just ask what you’d like to know, and she’ll tell you what she can.’ She gazed at him and his stomach lurched.
‘You know,’ he said, checking his watch, ‘I’ve realised I don’t need to know anything. Besides, I’ve got paperwork to sort, and I need to pick Cupcake up from The Hot Chocolate Hotel. If we’re going to check out the castle, I won’t have time for a reading.’
Flora appeared at Izzi’s shoulder and shook her head.
‘Aye, well, how about I read your leaves anyway?’ she said, scooping his cup from the shelf and studying the debris in the bottom.
‘That way, I can fill you in on what the future holds when I see you next. I’m sure there are things you might want to know.
’ Her eyes sparkled mischievously as her gaze darted to Izzi. ‘Have a good afternoon both.’
With that, she turned on her heels, leaving Cameron wondering if it was time to stop being so suspicious of Izzi – time he allowed himself to believe in someone again. He just wasn’t sure if he was capable.