“What did Jonny say?”
“He shrugged and told me it was my problem to deal with if she got into to trouble for using it elsewhere. But back to the point I was making, you’re one of us. You have friends. Even if you’ve kept it hidden that you could kick our arses at climbing.” Rayah grinned. “Although I’d like to see you dive into the Tarn from the top.”
Abby knew about that, when Rayah jumped from such a height she knocked herself out when she hit the water, only to be rescued by Jonny. And Abby knew exactly where Rayah had gone wrong, to the extent she was more than happy to take on the challenge.
“I can do that. I’ve tombstoned from higher. Completely irresponsible and I’d make a significant contribution to the search and rescue team for being there just in case.”
“You should join the team. Sometimes we have women up there who are terrified of men and the peaks is the only place they can run to. They don’t want men there. I’m going to be out of action for a few months – why don’t you volunteer.” Rayah had her phone out and was taking a photo of the phone box.
“Because…” and she couldn’t think of a good reason. “I can do it. I should do it.”
“You should start climbing again. Just because you don’t know what sort of life your sister has or hasn’t got doesn’t mean you can’t love yours. In fact, you do her a disservice by hiding.” Rayah slipped her phone back into her pocket and put her hand on her stomach. “It’s so weird. This little girl is the size of a bean and I can already feel her. I guess I’ll still feel her when she’s forty and I’m a cantankerous member of the Coven along with Pussy Willow and Fannyella.”
“Were you trying for her – and how do you know it’s a her?” Abby kind of wanted to touch her stomach and had no idea why, but she also figured it might be a bit weird for Rayah if she did that now when there was no sign of a bump.
“We weren’t not trying. I’ll be honest: I have no idea how many children Jonny will end up with. And I just know. Sadie needs some competition. Maybe it’s that.” Rayah walked closer to the telephone box. “Whoever painted this knows a fair bit about you too. Unless it’s their imagination.” She gestured to the paintwork.
Abby saw it, their hands, clasped around each other’s. They’d been outed, and she wasn’t sure she wasn’t bothered about it.
There wasa loud noise coming from Alex’s workshop and it was pretty much audible from the front door of his house. Abby fumbled with the keys he’d given her, still uncomfortable with staying here and putting him to trouble, although he’d told her at least a dozen times to stop worrying. She was starting to make up her mind to believe him.
The sound was that of some power tool and it sounded destructive. She’d learned in the last few days that Alex’s way to wind down was one of three things: climbing, making something out of wood or sex. Two of the three she totally understood. The woodwork she could accept, only that noise was louder than anything else she’d heard.
She went straight through the house, outside into the garden and saw Alex shirtless and wielding a chain saw. He had a huge trunk of a tree and was shaping the top of it into what looked like an owl.
Unsure of what to do as she didn’t want to make him jump, she stood out of the way and watched, using her fingers to deadhead a rose that was in need of some care and she waited.
She didn’t have to wait long.
The noise came to an abrupt stop, Alex pushed back his visor and looked at her, his mouth curving into an almighty smile.
“Have you seen the phone box?” There was a laugh in his words that erased any fear she’d had about him hating the painting of them together.
“I think the whole world has seen the phone box.” She smiled back. “Including Rayah. We were walking back from the farm when we saw it.”
Alex laughed again. “That’ll really get the gossip going. Not a bad thing.”
“How do you think your brothers will feel about it?”
It was time they had the conversation. She wouldn’t come between family. She knew how precious it was and there was no way she’d allow her to be the cause of bother between Alex and Zack.
“I think they’ll enjoy taking the piss out of me. It’ll be revenge for when I’ve done it to them.”
“I forget they were the subject of the mystery artist’s paintings.” There had been paintings of Keren in the fire, Sorrell opening up her hotel, the two sisters-in-law together with their respective daughters, Eden and Phoebe and then there had been various scenes with Scott and Zack in them, all teasing.
“What about Zack?”
“What about him?”
“Come on, Alex. I know you’ve argued because of me. I know he’s worried that if I’m around Sorrell could get in the way of someone trying to get to me. She’s said as much herself.” Yesterday, Abby had gone up to the hotel to see when Sorrell wanted her back at work. She was bored and at a loose end, and since that night there hadn’t been any other signs of anyone following her and her house had been untouched.
Sorrell had told her that Zack was worried about someone looking for her at the hotel, so she’d offered her notice then. It hadn’t been accepted, but Sorrell had told her to take a longer – paid – break. Abby had accrued enough holidays to enjoy a three-month cruise and it was a solution that made things easier for Sorrell.
“My brother is a dick.”
“No he isn’t. Imagine if…” She stopped because it wasn’t a fair comparison and would put Alex on the spot.
“Imagine if what?” He put the chainsaw down and went for the plug, making it safe because that was what he did.
