Just at that second, a policewoman knocked on the driver’s window. He wound it down.
‘Excuse me, sir, but you might want to turn off your engine. The bridge has been closed due to an accident and we’re asking everyone to stay in their cars. Unfortunately, there’s no getting into the village of Heartcross until the accident has cleared.’
‘How long will that take?’ asked the driver.
‘I’m sorry, sir, I can’t say. But with the traffic backing up behind you, I think you’re going to be stuck for a while.’ The taxi driver nodded and immediately switched off the engine.
‘I’ll keep you updated,’ she added before moving on to the next car.
Pippa attempted a feeble smile. ‘Don’t worry,’ she said. ‘I’m sure we won’t be here too long.’
Elle pressed her face against the glass and saw a fire engine and an ambulance a little further up. She shuddered as her gaze took in something else. ‘It looks like there’s a motorbike on the ground.’
‘Oh no. How awful,’ replied Pippa. ‘I bet the weather hasn’t helped. This morning sunny and now the heavens have opened yet again.’
‘We’d best text Aiden and tell him we’re stuck on the other side of the bridge, otherwise he's going to be wondering where we are.’
Pippa rummaged in her bag and pulled out her phone. ‘The damn thing is dead. I need to get a new one. It loses its charge way too quickly.’
‘Don’t worry, I’ll text him.’ She checked her bag then glanced towards Pippa. ‘I’ve left my phone on the arm of the settee. Damn. Aiden will be wondering what has happened to us.’
Elle sighed. ‘Never mind Aiden, Noah will be thinking you’ve stood him up!’
* * *
For over an hour and a half they sat in the back of the taxi. They were stranded. The bridge was closed and with the rain lashing down they just hoped they would be on the move soon.
Even though Elle knew it couldn’t be helped and the situation was out of her control, she felt agitated. All she wanted to do was to get word to Aiden and Noah that they hadn’t forgotten them and they were on their way even if they were moving nowhere fast.
They watched as the emergency services left the crash site and the wreckage was removed.
‘The thing is, though, if people are going to the event from this side of town they’ll have trouble getting there too. There will be no one there,’ Pippa commented, glancing at Elle, who was checking the time for the umpteenth time.
‘The event started ages ago. Aiden will be at his wits’ end and think we’ve stood him up, and Noah will think his event is a flop.’
‘The villagers will be there and the girls from book club. Surely word will have got round there’s been an accident.’
‘You’d hope so but we’re so late.’
‘The police are letting people through now,’ the taxi driver piped up. ‘Hopefully the traffic will begin moving again soon.’
The cars began slowly moving forward, making their way over the bridge. Finally, the library was in sight.
‘Don’t worry about payment, girls. I can’t charge you for sitting there all that time in the traffic.’ The taxi driver drove to the far end of the courtyard and navigated a three-point turn to face back the right way.
‘Thank you, but please take your usual fare.’ Elle opened her purse. ‘At least we were out of the rain.’
Feeling Pippa nudge her she turned her gaze to the door of the library. Aiden and Noah were standing there in deep conversation. Aiden patted Noah on the back as a car pulled in front of them and then disappeared back inside the library.
With the engine still running, a girl stepped out of the car, and Elle watched as Noah put his arm around her shoulder and the girl leaned in and kissed him on his cheek. He climbed into the passenger seat and they drove off.
‘He’s left already.’
‘Oh Elle, I’m sorry.’
Climbing out of the taxi, Elle felt deflated. They walked into the library. At the sound of the door opening Aiden spun around.
‘Where have you been? Tonight was a complete disaster. We had a huge author in the building and barely anyone showed up, including you two. Noah has left. Everyone has left. It was embarrassing and look at the buffet that’s gone to waste.’
