‘So why did you keep a diary? Or is it something all girls do?’
‘I did it because the recognising thing made me different at school and I was bullied a bit. It’s why I don’t tell everyone – anyone really – unless I have to. The diary was my friend. I had Amy, of course, but I put more in my diary than I told her.’
He nodded. ‘After all, you couldn’t expect Amy to care what the date was when you went—’
‘—to visit my bro at university,’ she finished.
He got up and fetched the bottle of wine. When he had topped up their glasses he said, ‘Why don’t you give me all the info and let me see what I can find out?’
It took Helena a few moments to grasp what he was offering but much longer to think what to reply. ‘The thing is, Jago, I’m not used to other people dealing with my problems.’
‘I wouldn’t be dealing with it, I’d just be getting information for you.’
‘But you’re so busy—’
‘And so are you. As I said, I have contacts – people I met under rather strange circumstances – that could make things quicker for me.’
‘That sounds incredibly shady!’
‘Well, it’s a bit shady but not incredibly. And not morally wrong, I promise.’
Although she was tempted, Helena still wasn’t sure. ‘The thing is, I’ve told you more than I’ve told anyone else—’
‘Because I was the first friend on hand. I know you don’t know me that well but I promise you can trust me. And I’d like to get this sorted out. I think your mum is wonderful and I’d love to help her. Wouldn’t it be great if Leo was carrying a heart to a transplant patient which was why he had to drive so fast?’
She couldn’t help smiling. ‘I don’t think they send vital body parts across the country in Beemers.’
He returned her smile. ‘OK, that’s a long shot but there could be a good reason – a benign reason – for his speeding and I’d really like to find it out for you.’
Helena rubbed her eyes to help her think and then remembered she’d put make-up on. ‘Damn,’ she muttered. ‘Now I look like a clown.’
‘The joy of being with a friend is that you don’t have to care what you look like,’ said Jago.
Helena wasn’t sure how to take this. He was right, of course, but somehow it did matter what she looked like. But it was too late now. ‘OK, Jago,’ she said, ‘I’ll take you up on your kind offer. And I’m really, really grateful.’
She liked Jago a lot and couldn’t help feeling it was almost a shame he was just a friend.
Chapter Eleven
Gilly was having trouble sleeping. She would fall asleep but then, about half an hour later, wake up and, having lost all her sleepiness, lie there for hours. What she was most annoyed about was that she would spend the time thinking about Leo. She told herself she was far too old to lose sleep over a man, particularly one who was very attentive. He emailed or texted almost every day.
It would have been easier if she could have talked about it to someone, but somehow she couldn’t. Her oldest friend was no longer local and it all felt so silly and girlish she didn’t feel she could talk about it on the phone. She also couldn’t forget that Helena had been a bit funny about him at lunch. She didn’t know why but her daughter wasn’t happy about her mother falling in love. Admittedly it was all quite fast but that was how these things happened! Surely Helena knew that?
When she could drag her mind away from how wonderful Leo was she forced herself to thinkabout whether she should seriously consider downsizing, giving up her B & B and releasing some capital for her children. Of course it was the sensible thing to do. It was now that Martin and Helena needed money, not in thirty years’ time when she was dead. And if Fairacres was worth what Leo said it was, she could buy a nice little cottage and Helena would have enough to buy a studio, and Martin and Cressida could buy something a bit bigger.
What she was certain of was that she was too young to live in a granny annexe. She didn’t even like the expression! While she loved being a grandmother and looked forward to being one again (although Martin and Cressida were convinced one child was enough), she hated all the names given by society to grandmothers. She found them patronising.
And could she give up her B & B just now? It was extremely hard work, especially when you went to the pains she went to, to make everything as perfect as it could be. But give it up? Probably not.
She sighed and turned her pillow over again and put some more lavender oil on it. Then she turned on the radio and turned it off again. She needed to work out what was happening with her daughter.
But at least Helena seemed perky in herself, which was lovely. Although when Helena had rung to say thank you for lunch and Gilly had askedabout Jago, Helena hadn’t given anything away. She’d just said, ‘Oh he’s fine! Still going on about your cooking!’
The answer Gilly had been looking for was ‘I think I’m in love!’ and then maybe she could have admitted that perhaps she was too.
She finally drifted off trying to work out if Jago was the one for Helena. The fact that her ‘I’m staying single’ daughter was even going out with someone was surely a bonus. She was still arguing with herself about why she felt Helena needed a man when sleep claimed her.
A few mornings later she was waiting for William, her accountant, to collect his old ladies. They’d been to their party and come back, later than planned, the previous evening, and, Gilly hoped, had a good night’s sleep. Gilly picked up the tray of tea and coffee she was serving them while they waited and took it through to the conservatory. William’s aunts had been hugely appreciative guests and she had loved having them.
