‘Some do and some don’t,’ Beulah said, ‘and he was definitely one of the ones who do.’
She peered at Jules.
‘You’re looking a bit flushed now.’ She put a hand to her forehead. ‘Perhaps I shouldn’t go to Jo’s, after all. Perhaps I should stay here with you.’
‘It’s fine, Mum. I’ll be fine.’
‘I’d be so much more reassured if I knew you were with someone,’ Beulah said, ‘someone trustworthy who can keep an eye on you. You could start some sketches for our Medusa sculpture, too, while you’re there.’
Jules placed the cushion back on the sofa. She knew when she was beaten. If she was going to get any peace at all this evening, she would have to do what Beulah wanted. She did so love to organise everyone ‘in their best interests’.
‘Now you will go in, darling, won’t you?’ Beulah said as she pulled up in The Pottery car park. ‘You won’t run away like you did when I dropped you off for that tennis tournament?’
‘I was ten, Mum, and I didn’t know anyone, and I didn’t run away – I hid in the toilets.’
‘For the whole day, darling. Such apologies I had to make when I came to collect you. People thought you had the most terrible upset stomach and the accusing glances I got from the other parents for sending you were enough to force my aura into hibernation.’
‘I promise that I won’t hide in the toilets here, Mum, and even if I did there aren’t any parents to judge you.’
Beulah lifted up her sunglasses and gave her a beady stare.
‘The trouble is, Jules, I can never make out whether you’re being honest with me.’ She checked her watch. ‘But I’ll have to give you the benefit of the doubt or I’ll be late. I’ll collect you later.’
Jules got out of the car and reached over towards the back seat to collect her basket containing Tasha’s jug.
‘Please don’t, Mum. I can walk back.’ She was braced for another battle. This was one she was determined to win. ‘It’s not much more than a mile down the road and I’m not planning to be here that long. It doesn’t get dark until around ten.’
Beulah ran her hands around the steering wheel while she weighed up her response.
‘If you insist, darling,’ she said after what seemed like an age, ‘but remember to walk facing the oncoming traffic.’
She dropped her glasses back down and tightened the knot on the multi-coloured silk scarf that covered her hair before blowing Jules a kiss. With a rev of the engine and a spray of stones, the little soft-top Fiat spun in a circle and headed for the exit, Beulah waving one arm extravagantly above her head. Jules winced and not just from the sting of the stones. How on earth did her mother get anywhere in one piece? It was a miracle.
She waited for a moment listening to the sound of the car’s engine disappearing into the distance, wanting to be absolutely sure that Beulah had gone before heading back towards the road herself. Now, Jules could wander back to the cottage and have it all to herself.
‘Jules? Is that you?’
She jumped at the sound of Lance’s voice.
‘And was that your mother I saw disappearing in a cloud of dust?’
She shifted from one foot to the other as if she’d been caught doing something wrong at school.
‘It is and it was.’
‘You should have let me know you were coming.’
‘I’m not stopping. I realise it’s inconvenient my turning up like this and…’
‘It’s not inconvenient at all.’ He smiled broadly. ‘Anything but. It’s extremely serendipitous. I’ve got to go out – not far, just to Newport to deliver something – and Tasha’s here with Erin. Alastair dropped her off earlier which was a bit of a surprise. Thought it might do her good to get away from the farm for a couple of hours. Obviously, the girls don’t need babysitting, but Tasha’s still upset and I was a bit concerned about leaving them both. If you’re in the studio…’ He paused, his eyes glancing at the basket. ‘I presume that’s why you’re here and not for my scintillating company?’
‘Yes, I mean, no. My mother made me come.’
She sounded totally pathetic. He raised an eyebrow.
‘I’ve had some brush-offs in my time, but that’s a first,’ he said with a rich laugh. ‘I presume the plan was to walk straight back to the cottage and that seemed easier than doing battle with her earlier?’
She looked up at him sheepishly.
