Chapter 26
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
While the weather was dry after a recent downpour, Juliette was pruning flowers. She’d been studying the different species in the books that Sarah had loaned to her and was becoming a dab hand in the garden. Personally, it had given her so much satisfaction as well as something to do.
The garden was looking so colourful now.
Because of its maturity, plants were appearing everywhere she looked and it was becoming a riot of luscious greens interspersed with red, orange, yellow and cream.
Several rhododendron bushes were bursting with buds ready to open.
A weeping willow stood in the centre of the lawn, easily the best feature of the garden.
Wiping her brow, she looked up as someone shouted her name. She could see Sarah and Richard at the adjoining hedge. It had been a few days since she’d seen either of them. She walked over to join them.
‘How’s the gardening going?’ Richard asked as she drew level.
‘So-so, it’s quite therapeutic. I’ve been tidying up some borders.’
‘Would you join us for a glass of lemonade?’ Sarah enquired.
‘Sure.’ Juliette kept a smirk to herself. It felt like she was in an Enid Blyton novel.
She walked around to next door and joined them in the rear garden. They sat down and Sarah poured three drinks and passed one to her and then Richard.
‘Are you looking forward to the bank holiday?’ Richard asked.
‘Yes, I think Danny has something planned.’
‘Oh?’
‘It’s a surprise. He’s taking me somewhere local though, so he says.’
‘Intriguing.’
Juliette lifted her face to the sun coming through the trees. It had been a warm but muggy day.
‘I bet we’re not going to get many more evenings like these.’ Richard sighed. ‘It’s been a great summer. And how… how are you after the other day?’
‘Sorry, I’m not with you?’
‘In the woods.’
Juliette frowned, unsure what Richard was referring to. She looked at Sarah for further reference. Had Sarah seen her and told Richard, making something else up completely? A sense of dread crept through her.
Sarah baulked. ‘You really don’t remember?’
‘Remember what?’
‘You were in our woods the other morning,’ Richard told her.
Juliette paused. ‘I don’t think so.’
‘We wondered whether to tell you or not, but you gave us a fright and—’
‘What exactly happened?’ She wanted to know.
‘It was six o’clock,’ Richard replied. ‘I was at the kitchen window and I saw you. You were walking towards the woods. I raced out after you. It’s a maze in there if you go off the path.’
Juliette couldn’t speak as Richard continued.
‘I found you in the clearing. You were crying.’
‘I – no. Are you sure?’
‘We both saw you, didn’t we?’ He turned to Sarah who nodded.
‘Was I in there long?’
‘About fifteen minutes. You had nothing on your feet. Do you sleepwalk?’
‘Not that I know of, unless it’s something recent.’ Juliette wasn’t going to mention the doors she’d left open during the night, among other things.
‘Our apologies for throwing this at you,’ Sarah said. ‘But we thought you’d want to know.’
‘Yes, thanks for telling me.’ Juliette could feel her skin reddening by the second. ‘Although I’d prefer it if you didn’t mention this to Danny, if you don’t mind?’
‘Not at all.’ Richard nodded. ‘Let’s keep it between us.’
‘Obviously, I’m clearly mortified about it.
I’m on medication. I had no idea it was affecting me so much until recently.
I came off it last week though, so hopefully this will be a one-off incident!
’ Her voice went up an octave higher than she would have liked.
‘Is there anything else you need to tell me?’
‘We’ve seen you crying on several occasions, sitting on the bench you bought, but that’s to be expected.’ Sarah nodded, a half-smile on her lips.
It was all making sense now. The bench, the garden, it must have triggered something. Thank goodness Danny was coming home for good soon. She knocked back the last of the drink and put the glass down on the table. ‘I’d better be off before I shame myself any further.’
‘I’m so sorry to bring it up,’ Richard said.
‘It’s fine. But hopefully it won’t happen again.’
‘Well, I’m here if you want to chat.’ Sarah stood up sharpish, her eyes averted from Richard’s. ‘I’d better get inside. It’s nearing lunchtime.’
‘Of course.’ Now wasn’t the time to question Sarah about Richard. Now was the time to sort herself out.
Back in her home, Juliette went upstairs to her bedroom. She sat on the edge of the bed, tears pouring down her face. What was wrong with her? First the teddy bear had turned up and now she’d been walking around in her pyjamas, grieving for Emily? She couldn’t recall either of these things.
Perhaps her doctor would shed some light on it. She was due to speak to her in the morning after her recent visit. Juliette didn’t want to be put on any more tablets, not now she was trying for a baby.
‘I think it’s all getting a bit too much for Juliette when she’s alone,’ Sarah said to Richard.
Richard shrugged at the idea. ‘I think she’s doing fine.’
‘She’s grieving. It’s not entirely fair on her.’
‘And you’re telling me that because I care?’
Sarah said no more. It was pointless. Despite her playing along with his actions, Richard wouldn’t listen to her.
That was the problem with him. Once he got his claws into something he thought was a good idea, giving him a better outcome, he wouldn’t give in.
Juliette would be in for a long ride if he found out he couldn’t manipulate her too.
And there wasn’t anything Sarah could do to stop that happening.