Lavender watched her dash out with something like a scowl.
Zoe prodded her. ‘Don’t take it personally – you weren’t to know, and neither was she.’
‘And I’m sure,’ Simon cut in, ‘that she wouldn’t have expected you to cater for her anyway, not when everyone else eats meat.’
‘I know that,’ Lavender said. ‘I’m not taking it personally.’
Zoe shared a glance with Simon that confirmed he suspected the same as her. Lavender was already so protective of her precious, under-threat lunchtime get-togethers that she’d see any new complication as ammunition for Emilia’s campaign to end the habit.
A few minutes later, as Lavender was plating up their meal, Shabana returned with a lunch box.
‘It’s not a problem for us to eat the chicken around you, is it?’ Simon asked. ‘We’d completely understand.’
‘Not at all. I wouldn’t expect you not to eat it just because I’m here – if it was a problem, I’d move from the kitchen.’
‘But you would tell us if?—’
‘Absolutely!’ Shabana opened her box. Inside, she had delicately fluffed rice jewelled with vegetables.
‘That looks nice,’ Zoe said.
‘My mother-in-law made it for me. I’m so lucky, she makes my lunch most days.’
Zoe smiled. ‘She sounds like a keeper!’
‘I think so too…’ Shabana dug a fork into her rice while Lavender put a plate of pie in front of Zoe. ‘She really looks after us, doesn’t mind a bit that we’re living in her house while we save for a deposit on our own.’
‘How long have you lived with her?’ Simon asked.
‘Since we got married, three years ago. I know what you’re thinking,’ Shabana added, ‘how has it taken us three years to save and we still don’t have enough money?’
‘Not at all!’ Zoe’s exclamation was heartfelt. ‘I know exactly how hard it is to get together the money to buy your own place! Prices have shot up the last few years. I rent, and I’m lucky to have the most amazing landlord who doesn’t rip me off.’
‘Do you live locally then?’ Shabana asked.
‘Up the hill at Daffodil Farm. Well, sort of on the farm…more on their land. It’s a lovely spot.’
‘Have you been here long? You don’t sound local.’
‘Manchester originally, moved here last year. What about you? You don’t sound local either.’
‘I’m from Hull. My husband is local…ish. He was born and bred in Cockermouth, but we live in Bowness now with his mum.’
‘Bit of a drive every morning,’ Lavender remarked as she sprinkled a layer of pepper onto her pie that was so thick it threatened to make Zoe sneeze.
‘It’s not so bad,’ Shabana replied. ‘The roads are quiet when I leave the house to come over. At least they were today.’
‘That’s because it’s winter. Wait until the tourist season kicks in – you won’t be able to move for caravans and trailers.’
‘I know, it’s been like that in Bowness during the summer the last couple of years. My mother-in-law finds it frustrating even to go out shopping, but I don’t mind it so much. I like the bustle. I suppose I’m used to it, coming from a fairly big place.’
‘I’m the same,’ Zoe said. ‘It doesn’t really bother me either.’
‘You don’t see it where you live,’ Lavender said. ‘So it wouldn’t.’
‘I don’t think Thimblebury as a whole sees much of it,’ Simon said mildly.
‘We will,’ Lavender shot back with a look of reproach at Zoe. ‘Soon enough.’
