That brought a wan smile to her friend’s troubled face.
‘Do you want me to update the girls, and Gage?’
‘Not Gage. I’ll see him first thing in the morning. But if you’d tell the club, that’d be great.’ Becky heaved herself off the chair and ran a hand through her bedraggled hair. ‘I must look a sight. I didn’t even run a comb through it before I came out or put a bit of lipstick on. I’d better get on home or they’ll be wondering where I’m at.’
‘It’ll be all right, you’ll see.’
‘I expect you’re right.’ There was no conviction in Becky’s voice. ‘I never thought to ask how he’s going to manage. He won’t be able to get up them stairs to the flat, surely?’ Her brow knotted. ‘I’d offer to have him at ours but—’
‘He’s staying with me. I’ve got a sofa bed in the living room and a downstairs loo.’ She didn’t go into the whole story of her and Gage’s animated discussion — or argument — over the subject.
‘You’re a kind soul to do that.’
‘Off you go and break the news.’
Tamara couldn’t help wondering what other secrets Gage was keeping.
Chapter Eight
The box of books dropped from his hand and crashed to the floor. ‘Fuck.’
Gage could weep with frustration. The last time he’d shed a tear had been at Farmer’s funeral and before that it had been on the dismal night he’d lain wide awake in a hospital bed in Plymouth, waiting to find out if the doctors could save his leg. He’d had far less of an emotional reaction the year before all of that when his marriage had finally crossed the finish line, probably because it’d been creeping slowly in that direction for most of its short life.
Tamara burst through the shop door and her bright blue eyes blazed with fury. ‘Did you seriously sneak out and hobble all the way down here from my house on crutches?’
‘It’s not far. I’ve done worse. Usually with a heavy pack on my back.’ He’d avoided taking his pain medicine this morning to keep his head clear, but was regretting it now.
‘Didn’t you hear the magic word the doctor said? Rest.’ She spelled it out in shouty capital letters.
Tossing back one of his usual clever sarcastic answers seemed unwise.
‘What were you trying to do anyway?’ She pointed to the box at his feet.
‘Shelve books.’ Gage ran his fingers through his spiky hair, which was edging past regulation length now. ‘Epic failure.’
‘I saw your Instagram and TikTok posts. November eighth is the big day?’
He grunted. ‘It’s supposed to be, but that’s not happening, is it?’
‘Why not?’
She seriously had to ask? Being bubbly and positive was one thing, but sometimes facing reality was the only way. That’swhat he’d been forced to do after the doctors had done their best to pin his knee back together using bolts and titanium plates, along with the caveat that no reconstructive surgery or intense physio would ever restore it to normal strength.
‘I’m not being a Pollyanna and I’m not stupid,’ she said fiercely.
‘I never said you were!’
‘Youcouldpush back the opening or you could accept help.’
‘I suppose I—’
‘You promised you’d let me tell him!’ Becky burst in, eyes flashing with anger. For some reason it was focused on Tamara.
‘And I’ve kept that promise.’
Gage backed off. He had no idea what was going on, but dealing with crutches was hard enough without the risk of being knocked off balance by two angry women.
Becky’s cheeks turned ruddy. ‘I saw the two of you having a good old chinwag and I thought...’ Her shoulders sagged and her chin drooped.
