‘And I’m sure Lance has got better things to do. He has a pottery to run.’
‘I’ve been hearing all about it from Jo. Marvellous it sounds and you’ve been in attendance. So therapeutic. Just what you need.’
She turned to Lance who was shifting from one foot to another, obviously not sure whether he should leave or not.
‘She’s really very creative, you know. Always drawing and making things as a child.’
Lance just smiled. Beulah tilted the suitcase towards him.
‘Come along then, darling. What are you waiting for? Lead the way. I can’t wait to see inside this cottage I’ve heard so much about. Already I can tell that it has an extraordinary ambience.’
Jules sighed. Her mother really was the most infuriating woman.
‘You’ll have to come around the back,’ she said snappily. ‘Tradesmen’s entrance. The front door is locked.’
And off she marched, the rumble of the suitcase wheels behind her indicating that it was going to be a trying couple of days.
‘I’m sorry,’ Jules said as Lance appeared in the kitchen after having taken Beulah’s suitcase upstairs.
‘What for?’
‘My mother.’
‘She seems very nice.’
‘Would you like her to come and stay with you?’ she asked, leaning back against the work surface and raising an eyebrow.
His lips twitched. He had very nice lips, she thought.
‘I thought not. Tea?’
He nodded.
‘What have you done with her, by the way?’
‘She’s rearranging a few things to make the room more harmonious.’
‘Ye gods!’ Jules exclaimed, as thudding and scraping sounds came from upstairs. ‘She couldn’t lift a small suitcase, but she can shift furniture without a second thought for her twinge.’
She came and sat at the table and put her head in her hands.
‘I know this will sound overly dramatic,’ she murmured, ‘but I’m not sure how I’m going to survive.’
‘Tea might help a little,’ he said, moving over to the boiling kettle and tipping water into the readily prepared teapot.
‘Rita says that tea is a balm for most problems,’ she replied, as he put a mug in front of her.
‘That was another reason I called in,’ he said, ‘to ask how she is. I didn’t want to bother Alastair and it’s a bit difficult for me to call and speak to Christabel.’
‘All I know is they’re operating this afternoon.’
‘It sounded bad.’
‘She’s totally shattered her knee, I think, but it could have been worse.’
‘Erin told me that Tasha said you were amazing.’
‘Not really. I just did what I could, what I was trained to do.’
