Zach picked up a tea towel. ‘You not pleased to see Joe?’
Lottie paused, her hands covered in bubbles. ‘Pleased?’ She pondered the word. ‘I guess I’m pleased to see him. But then I remember him leaving and that makes me sad. It feels like everything’s been turned upside down.’ She huffed and rubbed at her mother’s lipstick stain on the rim of a glass. ‘I’d packaged up everything about Joe and pushed it into a dusty corner of my mind. I’ve moved on.’ She checked Zach was still paying attention. ‘But you must be pleased he’s back.’ Zach and Joe had always been close as kids – both football crazy and big on dinosaurs.
‘I am. I like that I’ll still have a reason to visit Henbourne after this place is off our hands.’
‘Don’t say it like you’ll be glad,’ said Lottie.
He gave a sheepish grin. ‘You see right through me. No, honestly, I’m really going to miss the old place. Notas much as you, but still. Are you going to stay around here or …?’
Lottie turned to face him whilst drying her hands. ‘Rent is high around here, so I doubt it. Number one priority is finding a job – and that could take me anywhere.’ To some people that would be an exciting prospect, but not to Lottie. She wanted to stay cocooned in Henbourne Manor where she felt protected. But what she wanted and what was practical were two very different things. In a few weeks the sale would go through and she’d be homeless. She needed to get a job fast.
‘Maybe you could find something local? I got mates rates on the rent for Joe’s place so—’ Lottie’s head jerked up and she almost dropped the glass she was about to put away.
‘Yousorted out the cottage for Joe?’ There was a hard edge to her voice.
‘Er, yeah. He messaged me on Facebook, asked what I thought. You know, about coming back. And if I could help him find somewhere.’
‘You knew he was coming back and you didn’t think to warn me?’ Lottie put down the glass with a thump and they both recoiled at the sound.
‘Don’t be miffed.’
Miffed came nowhere near to how hurt and cross she was. ‘Zach. Think back. Do you remember how I was when Joe left?’ She could feel unwelcome emotions bubbling, and she had to concentrate to keep them at bay.
Zach scratched his head. ‘It was a long time ago, Lottie.’
Her eyes widened incredulously. ‘And what? Time heals?’
‘You couldn’t have stopped him coming back.’
Always one for the facts, was Zach. She knew he wasright, but seeing Joe that morning had shaken her more than she wanted to admit, and dug up long-hidden feelings she was scared to be reacquainted with. ‘But forewarned is forearmed,’ she pointed out. That’s what Nana said, too, and it was true.
Zach’s thoughtful silence was irritating Lottie. She washed out the suds from the sink with jerky movements, refilled it with hot water and stomped off to the utility to retrieve the turkey, mulling over whether she could make battering someone with a frozen turkey look like an accident. She spotted the mop bucket and remembered the mouse.
Zach followed her. ‘You cleaning at this time of night?’
‘No. The Duchess invited someone round for a sleepover.’ She took off the lid and they both peered inside. The tiny mouse was curled up on an old cloth.
‘Is it dead?’ asked Zach.
Lottie saw its whisker twitch. ‘No, he’s sleeping off a massive hangover.’
‘Ri-ight,’ said Zach, looking thoroughly confused.
‘I think I’ll leave him until tomorrow.’ Lottie put the lid back.
‘I know you were upset when Joe left and everything …’ Zach began. She shook her head and heaved the partially defrosted turkey into her arms.
‘Upset?’ She hugged the icy poultry and pulled an exaggerated grimace. ‘Try “totally devastated” and you won’t be close.’ She dropped the turkey unceremoniously into the sink. Half the water sloshed out and all down her front. Zach sniggered and she twisted to glare at him, although she could see the funny side too. Some of her annoyance at Zach abated. Her shoulders slumped in defeat. ‘You only had to tip me off, that’s all I’m saying.Seeing him this morning brought it all back at a hundred miles an hour and kinda gave me memory whiplash.’
‘I didn’t say anything because you had enough going on with Nana. I figured Joe was coming back whatever your feelings on the matter, so you were going to have to face it. Why have the worry beforehand?’
It felt like he had considered her feelings, but she still wished he’d mentioned it. At least that would have taken the shock out of her early morning encounter.
Lottie took a deep breath. ‘Okay. But for future reference a heads-up would be welcome.’
He stood up straight and saluted her. ‘The next time you have an ex-boyfriend about to move back and I happen to get prior notice, I promise to tell you before his flight lands.’
He was incorrigible. ‘Gee, thanks. Now clear off – you’ve been about as helpful as Mum.’
