Go ahead. Share that with whom you will.
Next he tried Pub Clemency—which was jammed to the walls and rafters. The air was thick with sights, sounds, music, and the scent of the roaring fire. But no Daffy.
“Your Royal Highness.” The owner came around the bar. You know, Gus actually preferred “Yer Maj” and “Yer Royalness.” “How can I help? Your usual table?”
“I’m looking for someone. Gorgeous woman with auburn hair, about yea high.” He raised his hand next to his neck. “Stunning blue eyes, the kind you can fall into and get lost. Oval face. Seen her?”
“About a dozen of them tonight. Are you looking for one in particular?”
“Daffy Caron. She comes in on Friday night—”
“With her mates. Leslie Ann Parker is one. Now she’s a dish. Haven’t seen Daffy in a while. Gypsie?” He stopped the passing waitress. “Have you seen Daffy? The lass who sits in on Friday nights with Ms. Parker, the presenter.”
“She was just here. Came in, looked back thataway, and left.”
Gus looked where the server pointed. Thomas was there. With Blinky and another couple. That explained why she didn’t camp out for a spell.
He thanked the owner and pulled out his phone.Daffy, answer, please. The call went to her voice mail, as all his others had.
* * *
Daffy
“Thanks for this.” She shook her pillow into a fresh cotton case. “I was dreading going up to my place.”
“You’re lucky I heard the music from the courtyard or I’d never have found you.”
Daffy dropped down on the thin mattress of her sister’s foldout couch. “There’s a metaphor in there somewhere.”
In the middle of her jazz music therapy, Ella interrupted, joining Daffy on the bench, announcing the family was helping her paint tomorrow.
“And we’ll watch Leslie Ann’s telly special together.”
“Leave me out.”
“Daffy, you can’t bury your head about this. You need to make sure she’s telling the truth. Not adding to it, giving you more credit than you deserve, if you know what I mean.”
Then her little sister dragged Daffy to her place for a sisters’ slumber party. Which was perfect because Daffy needed to be sure she’d forgiven her sister. And Ella needed the same assurance.
Ella laughed and curled up next to her. “Mum’s going to bake bread and puffs while you, Dad and I paint. She thinks she’s perfected the recipe this time.”
“That’s what she said the last time. Goodyear Tires called, wanted to know how she invented a new kind of rubber.”
Ella flopped back with a laugh. “Didn’t Nana break a tooth?”
“Yes, and she was so angry.” Daffy pressed her hand against the pinching sensation in her abdomen. “Ella, I can’t watch the show. Just imagining it—thinking about what Leslie Ann will say—it makes my heart pound so hard. The poor queen—”
“I wish the queen understood what a gem you are, Daff.” Ella linked her arm through Daffy’s. “If it’s too much, you and I will go down to the courtyard and listen to the jazz music.”
She smiled and wiped away a tear. “You know the worst part? I really love Gus. We’d found each other. I would never hurt him. Never humiliate him. Yet here I am, the lynch-pin to a story that will hurt his mother. Humiliate the whole Family.”
Ella motioned to Daffy’s bag. “Why don’t you see if he’s called? Even better, call him.”
Daffy raised her hands. “Can’t. No phone. Remember?”
“Then use mine.” Ella jumped from the sofa bed and snapped her phone off the charger. “I have his number.”
“How’d you get his number?”
