Chapter 14
Pausing, Scarlett let the wrought-iron gate close behind her as she shoved her van key in her pocket before hurrying up the garden path towards Pennycress Inn.
She could still hear the tone of Tyler’s voice in her mind and couldn’t understand how he could have gone from kind and caring, from someone who had loved her, or told her that he had, to a cold, heartless stranger.
Had anything he’d told her over the last three years been true?
Huh, she now knew their relationship had been built on lies but until now, even during the past four months when she’d been desperately trying and failing to make sense of everything that had happened, she’d never once questioned his love for her.
She’d believed that part had been true, that he had been genuine about his feelings towards her.
Heck, she’d almost let herself believe that he’d only done what he had because he’d been so in love with her, that he wouldn’t have if their love hadn’t been the real deal.
That’s how he’d tried to justify himself.
Now, though, now the veil had fallen, and she was seeing everything as though for the first time.
In three-dimensional vibrant HD at that.
He’d just used her. She could have been anyone.
He’d lived for the thrill of cheating, of getting away with simply being able to lead a double life that she could literally have been anyone.
Reaching the door, she pushed it open. He might have already replaced her. Or would do in the future. He may be selling the flat, but he could buy again. Or rent. Besides, who knew if he really was selling the flat? She knew he could lie.
Covering her hand with the sleeve of her jumper, she tried again to dry the tears flooding her cheeks and bee-lined for the kitchen.
Pausing in the doorway, she looked around.
There was no one there. Hurrying back out into the hallway, she stopped.
She could hear voices coming from the sitting room.
Laura must be in there. She’d pop her head round the door and see if she could catch her attention.
Scarlett walked across to the door and inched it open before peering inside. A group of people were sitting on the sofas nearest the door, trays of cups and plates of cake filling the coffee table between them. There was no sign of Laura, though.
Mumbling ‘sorry’, she began closing the door before she heard her name being called.
‘Scarlett, isn’t it?’
Turning, she looked behind her as Miss Cooke emerged from the cloakroom, adjusting the sleeves of her pale green jacket as she did so. ‘Yes.’
‘I hadn’t realised you were Laura’s cousin when I spoke to you in the hardware store.
’ Coming towards her, Miss Cooke walked past and pushed the door to the sitting room fully open, stepping inside before turning back and continuing the conversation.
‘I trust you haven’t parked your van on the yellow lines again. ’
Scarlett frowned. ‘I hadn’t before. It had been parked completely legally. Between two other cars at that.’
‘Of course, it’s just that as Meadowfield’s mayoress, it’s my duty to make sure the village remains aesthetically pleasing. Tourists are our lifeblood, after all.’ Miss Cooke smiled as though she hadn’t just insulted Scarlett’s home.
She couldn’t do this. She couldn’t stand here and take insult after insult, not now.
Not after she’d just spoken to Tyler. She’d never be good enough for anyone, would she?
She wouldn’t be good enough for someone to want her for herself, not just for the thrill of cheating.
And she’d never be good enough for this stupid village and the mayoress standing in front of her, speaking about her van in front of all the other people here.
‘You must realise how ridiculous…’ Scarlett stopped, the words caught in her throat, and she could feel her cheeks flame with embarrassment as she realised the rest of the room had become silent, the buzz of conversation stalled as she and Miss Cooke exchanged words.
She glanced towards the group still sitting on the sofas.
She recognised Jill, who gardened for Pennycress, and Rowan of all people, but no one else.
The room was suffocating, the air thick, and she suddenly felt as though she couldn’t breathe.
Yes, she should stay and agree to Miss Cooke’s terms or else finish giving her a piece of her mind, but she couldn’t.
She just needed to get away. Get back outside.
Laura wasn’t in here, and neither was Nicola, and if she couldn’t talk to either of them, then she needed to get out.
Turning on the spot, she blindly hurried back into the hallway before pulling the front door open and running outside.
As soon as she reached the steps leading down from the decking to the front garden, she felt her legs wobble beneath her, the shock of Tyler’s phone call suddenly hitting her as she lowered herself to the step.
Keeping her eyes fixed on her van parked on the road at the bottom of the garden path, she felt the heat of tears running down her cheeks.
‘Do you mind if I sit?’
Scarlett looked up, beyond bothering to hide her tears, and nodded as she realised it was Rowan standing next to her.
He softly lowered himself to the step next to her and she was grateful that he didn’t ask if she was okay or try to tell her not to get upset over Miss Cooke’s words.
Perhaps he could tell she had already been broken when she’d pushed that door open, or perhaps he just wanted some air.
Whatever the reason, she slowly felt herself relax in his presence.
As the seconds morphed into minutes, her tears began to dry, and she cleared her throat. ‘Do you know where Laura is?’
‘She’s out with Jackson, collecting some last-minute essentials for their honeymoon, I believe.’ Rowan shifted position before holding out a blue handkerchief towards her.
Taking the hankie, Scarlett wiped it across her face before folding it into a square, smoothing the creases as she folded. Of course, Nicola had told her. That must have been the Community Hub meeting she’d gate-crashed then.
‘Nicola is about though. She might be upstairs. I can go and get her if you like?’
She shook her head. It didn’t matter. In fact, it was probably a good thing. The way she’d been feeling, she might have accidentally blurted out the whole truth. ‘No, thanks.’
‘My nan always told me I’m a good listener.’
Glancing at him, she watched as he smiled sheepishly. She shrugged. She supposed even sharing a small piece of what had happened might help, might give her an ounce of perspective. ‘Just a phone call with my ex whose guinea pig I stole.’
‘He wants Thelma back?’
‘He wants Thelma back.’ She shrugged as she repeated his words. ‘Do you know she hasn’t always been called Thelma? He called her Stinky, probably because they didn’t clean her cage out as often as she needed.’
Rowan frowned before shaking his head. ‘Aw, that’s harsh.’
‘They didn’t take care of her at all.’ Wringing her hands in her lap, she looked down at them.
‘They?’
Taking a sharp intake of breath, Scarlett froze.
She’d said ‘they’. How could she have been so careless?
If she wasn’t careful, her dirty little secret would be out and this friendship with Rowan would be over.
‘My ex, Tyler, I mean he hardly bothered with her, so why does he want her back?’ She looked across at him.
‘I don’t know, but I know one thing.’
‘Oh yes, what’s that?’ She frowned.
‘I bet she’s a lot happier being with you.’ He smiled a slow smile as he looked at her.
‘Thanks. I hope so.’ Twisting the handkerchief in her hands, she glanced back towards the door. ‘Was I really rude to Miss Cooke?’
Rowan shook his head as he followed her gaze.
‘Nope. I might not have known her for long, but one thing I’ve learned about her is that she seems to be more or less oblivious to what others might think of her.
I think her heart’s in the right place. She loves this village and will do all she can to keep Meadowfield the special place we know and love, which is likely why she keeps getting voted in as mayoress, but a few social skill lessons wouldn’t go amiss. ’
‘Ha, no, they wouldn’t.’ Scarlett gave a small laugh. ‘I take it she’s enticed you to join the Community Hub then? Or is she just holding you there at knifepoint, so she’s got a constant supply of your coffee?’
‘Something like that.’ Now it was his turn to look uneasy as he moved his gaze to the trainers he was wearing and avoided eye contact.
‘Right.’ Something like that. What was that supposed to mean and why had he suddenly started acting shifty?
She waited a few minutes to give him the chance to expand on his comment before giving up.
She was the same. She hadn’t been open with him, so why should she expect him to be with her?
‘I’d better let you get back to your meeting. Thank you for checking on me.’
This got his attention, and he chuckled as he stood up. ‘It was that obvious, hey?’
‘Yep, afraid so. You should get that refund from the spy academy.’ Letting her smile slip, she bit down on her lower lip.
Each and every time he’d seen her, some drama or other had been unfolding and it was suddenly important to her that he didn’t think she was always such an emotional clumsy wreck. ‘Rowan.’
‘Yep?’ Pausing, he looked down at her.
‘I’m not… This isn’t me.’ She waved her hand in front of her face, encompassing her puffy eyes and tear-stained cheeks. ‘Not the real me. I know it’ll be hard for you to believe after the encounters we’ve had, but I’m not usually one to cry in public or… anything.’
‘Well, there’s one thing you should know about me too…’
‘There you are! Come on, come back in, Rowan. I thought you’d disappeared on me then.’ Miss Cooke’s voice filled the cold air around them.
Scarlett watched as Rowan stood glancing from her to Miss Cooke and back again, clearly unsure whether he should leave her now she’d told him what she had. ‘I’m fine. You go.’
Giving her a small smile, he nodded before turning back towards the front door, which Miss Cooke was now holding open for him.
As the front door clicked shut behind her, Scarlett looked down the path towards the street.
The trees were mere skeletons of what they had been when she’d last visited.
A few birds were sitting in the bare branches, chirping and probably wondering if the dark clouds above were bringing rain.
What had he meant? What had he been going to tell her before Miss Cooke interrupted them?
And why was he in the community hub meeting?
She obviously wasn’t the only one with secrets, was she?