‘How kind.’
Yes, Jules thought, how amazingly kind.
Beulah threw Carrie her most beatific smile, the one which irritated Jules to no end because no one could fail to be charmed by it.
‘You don’t need to worry, either of you. I’ve made plans.’
Jules realised she was gripping the side of the wooden bench, the edge of the roughly sawn wood grazing her fingers.
‘I’ve arranged to stay with my friend, Claudia… I mean Jo, as she is called now,’ she said, her voice dropping to a whisper. ‘It will be the first time I’ve seen her for years. We have a lot to catch up on.’
She turned to Jules again.
‘So, I won’t be crowding you, my darling, but I’ll be just down the road whenever you need me. Won’t that be wonderful?’
Jules felt her lungs expand a little.
‘That will be… astonishing.’
Beulah beamed.
‘I knew you’d be pleased to see me,’ she said. ‘Your sister said not to come, but a mother has to follow her instincts and here I am.’
‘Yes, Mum,’ Jules said with a wan smile. ‘Here you are.’
‘I thought she was going to be staying here,’ Jules said as Carrie dropped her off at the cottage. ‘Thanks for stepping in.’
‘Turns out I wasn’t needed anyway,’ Carrie replied.
‘Do you think she’ll be here for breakfast?’ Jules asked.
‘Maybe. Jo gets up pretty early and heads to the Longstone most days.’
‘That means Mum will be up with the lark, too.’ She groaned. ‘Why did she have to come?’
Carrie put an arm around her shoulders.
‘Because she loves you, Jules. That’s why. Don’t be too hard on her.’
‘I’ll try not to be.’
‘I’d get an early night though, just in case she’s calling in here at some ungodly hour.’
‘I will, but first there’s something I need to do.’
‘Phoebe. It’s Jules.’
‘Hi! Yes, I do recognise my own sister’s voice.’
‘Sorry, it’s just a while since we’ve spoken and a lot has happened and…’
‘We spoke outside your front door a couple of weeks ago. At least, I spoke and you refused to say anything apart from go away. Mum’s been really upset.’
‘Did you know she’s here?’
Of course she knew. They told each other nearly everything.
‘For what it’s worth, I tried to dissuade her, but she’s worried about you. We both are.’
