‘You’ll think I’m stupid if I tell you this. I haven’t even told Erin.’
‘I won’t think you’re stupid at all, but if it’s something that you’ll regret telling me afterwards, then don’t. Some things are best kept to yourself.’
She thought of Gavin. She couldn’t imagine ever telling anyone how he had treated her, how she had allowed herself to be duped.
Tasha paused.
‘It’s just that I feel as if I’ve thrown pots before, in a previous life maybe.’
‘And maybe you have.’
‘Do you believe in ghosts?’
‘No, I don’t think so. Carrie’s the person you should be talking to about all of this. I’m more of a black and white person, or I was.’
She thought how mixed up she must sound. Was this the sort of person she had thought she’d become when she was fourteen?
Tasha glanced around the kitchen.
‘This house has a nice atmosphere, doesn’t it?’
‘Yes, very.’
‘Whoever lived here before must have been happy and kind. Houses absorb the atmosphere of their occupants, I think.’
‘That’s a nice thought.’
‘Mum wanted this house, you know.’
‘No, I didn’t.’
‘Guy’s gran, Irene, is related to my gran, Rita, and their great-aunt lived here – Agnes, she was called. She never married, but because Gran had inherited the farm, and Irene had had a difficult time with her husband leaving, Agnes left the cottage to Irene who then made it over to Guy. Mum was spitting.’
‘I’m sorry.’
‘I’m not. Mum would have ruined it. She’d have put a whacking great extension on the side and taken the heart out of it. When Guy was doing it up, I used to come and sit in the garden. Sometimes I’d hide under the willow’ – she paused – ‘but I’d always check before I went into the space in case someone else was there, not physical people, but spirits. It’s one of their favourite places.’
‘Oh?’
‘Not that I’ve seen them. Just a wispy shape here and there. Gran’s seen them, too, when she’s been in the cottage cleaning and she’s heard them whispering. Have I scared you?’
Jules shook her head.
‘No, not at all.’
‘Because you don’t believe in them,’ Tasha said. ‘They won’t bother you if you don’t think they exist.’
‘Hopefully not. Unless they want to convince me of their presence.’
Tasha glanced at the kitchen clock.
‘I’d better go or I’ll be in even more trouble than usual, and I’ll get you into trouble, too.’ She leapt up and headed for the back door. ‘Thanks for the coffee.’
‘Thank you for the eggs, and Tasha, if you want to stop by anytime, just for a chat or to sit in the garden under the willow tree, you don’t have to ask.’
‘How was your morning?’ Carrie asked.
‘Fine,’ Jules replied. Then she smiled down the phone. ‘Actually, no, it was better than fine.’
