Chapter 19 #2
‘If that’s the case, do you think Constance should hang on to them?’
That would make James happy, but at a huge cost to me. And us.
‘I dunno,’ Rick shrugged. ‘But you should take comfort in the fact that, at the end of the day, Constance is her own woman and her say will be the final one. If she still wants to sell, she will.’
I wasn’t sure if that was a comfort now. Whatever she decided had implications for both me and James, both separately and together, and not happy ones as far as I could currently see.
‘You won’t talk to anyone about any of this, will you Rick?’
‘I won’t mention it to a single soul.’
‘Promise?’ I asked.
I wanted a little extra confirmation because he’d felt no qualms about bringing up my date at the supper party.
‘This is Constance’s private business,’ he said seriously. ‘My lips are zipped. Scout’s honour.’
I couldn’t ask for a more sincere declaration than that.
Having eaten our respective dinners, Buddy and I sat in the garden as the evening slipped into night. It was much cooler thanks to the earlier storm, and I could see that the jetty was now completely dry.
Rick had told me that he’d warned Constance multiple times not to walk on it when it was damp and that he had wanted to cover it in chicken wire to give it some grip, but she hadn’t liked the thought of how that would feel underfoot.
He promised he’d now give some thought to coming up with an alternative.
I startled as my phone pinged with a succinct message from James, just as I was stifling a yawn.
‘Now heading back,’ I read aloud, but he didn’t say how he was getting back or if he was bringing Constance with him.
It was then that I wondered where his car was. I had been about to take Buddy into the apartment but thought I’d wait it out in the sunroom and leave the back door open, so I didn’t look too at home.
‘Come on, Buddy,’ I said. ‘Let’s head inside.’
I was just nodding off when I heard the garden gate open.
It sounded louder than usual, but I reasoned that was because it was almost dark and I could only hear one set of footsteps.
One set of human footsteps. Buddy had rushed off to see who it was and I could hear his claws scrabbling about on the path.
‘Hello, mate,’ James said tiredly, as he came into view and fussed his canine friend who was extremely excited to see him. ‘Hello, Buddy, my love.’
What a warm welcome and wonderful term of endearment.
‘No Constance?’ I questioned, as I stood up and stretched out my back. ‘Is she okay? Your message didn’t say…’
‘She’s fine,’ he said quickly. ‘Physically all in one piece, but mentally furious at being told she’s got to stay in overnight as it took so long before they could get to her in A and E.’
‘Oh, dear.’
‘She’s hardly ever had a night away from Fernside,’ he continued, sounding upset. He looked even more exhausted as he stared at the back of the house. ‘And she hasn’t even got her nightie.’
For a moment I thought he was going to cry and felt torn as to how to respond.
‘Anyway.’ He sniffed and the moment was gone. ‘I’m back now and she can come home as soon as the doctor, or whoever’s responsible, discharges her in the morning.’
‘That’s a relief.’
‘It is.’
‘How did you get back? I haven’t seen your car, but I guess it’s here. Did you ride with Constance in the ambulance or follow on behind?’
‘I went in the ambulance. The car’s in the garage. I had to get it under cover when I arrived as the sunroof has sprung a leak.’
‘Not great timing given the weather earlier,’ I sympathised. ‘But thank goodness it wasn’t an issue the day we met at the water meadows. Or was it?’
‘No,’ he said and his eyes met mine. ‘It was fine then, so yes, thank goodness for that.’
I felt moved to say how much I’d enjoyed our impromptu picnic in my car, but with him looking so thoroughly worn out and me knowing that my emotions were still right at the surface, I didn’t think it would be helpful to mention it.
‘So, you came back in a cab, then?’ I asked instead.
‘No, Rick gave me a lift.’
‘Rick?’
‘Um. He said he’d called in here and then came to wait for me at the hospital.’
‘That was kind of him.’
I hoped he hadn’t mentioned the woods. He had promised he wouldn’t talk about the situation, but I wasn’t sure if that included saying anything to James.
‘It was.’ James nodded without elaborating.
‘Well, I can go and pick Constance up tomorrow—’
‘That won’t be necessary,’ he interrupted. ‘But thank you.’
‘It’s no problem,’ I insisted. ‘And I’ll keep an eye on her after that, too. Maybe do a bit more cooking for her. We already share breakfast most days.’
‘That’s kind, Tilly, but there’s no need. My aunt and I will manage things between us from now on.’
Why was he being so stubborn?
‘And how are you going to do that?’ I asked. ‘Surely you’re needed back in Cambridge?’
‘But I’d rather—’
‘Look,’ I said. ‘I know everything’s weird between us now, James—’
‘Weird?’ he snorted. ‘Things are weird?’
‘You find a better word then,’ I said, feeling frustrated that the conversation had gone so far downhill so fast, ‘but let’s keep Constance front and centre, shall we? She’s going to need help and as I’m already here and you’re not going to be, I can offer it.’
‘I don’t know…’
‘Okay, fine,’ I snapped. ‘Forget it.’
He looked at me again, and I looked at him, and I wondered if my expression now was as forlorn as his.
I would imagine it must have been. After all, even though we’d both had a huge shock, I was also the one who’d had the rug with the pattern of my future printed on it pulled out from under my feet.
‘I’m sorry,’ he said, and distractedly shook his head. ‘It’s just… been a day.’
‘You’re telling me.’ I swallowed. I could feel my bottom lip starting to wobble and it took every bit of willpower I possessed not to cry.
‘Oh Tilly…’
‘Don’t,’ I said and cleared my throat. ‘It’s fine. So, shall I collect Constance or not?’
He shifted his weight from one foot to the other. ‘Yes,’ he said finally. ‘If you could bring her home, that would be helpful. We’ll talk over what to do about everything else after that.’
‘Great.’ I nodded and made for the door. ‘Let’s do that.’