‘Bella, please… I’ve tried to explain…’
‘I know you have. But that doesn’t change the facts.’ She smiled sadly. ‘How can we start a real relationship when the foundations for it weren’t right to begin with? You’re an estate agent, Noah, you know you couldn’t sell a house that was built on unstable ground. It doesn’t matter where we think we are now, it’s a destination we were never meant to arrive at. This whole thing was convenient for us both, that’s all.’
‘What?’ Noah shook his head in disbelief. ‘I don’t believe you, Bella. Iknowthis wasn’t only about convenience for you, and it certainly wasn’t for me.’ He put a hand over hers, where it was already on top of his, but she gently removed it.
‘I’ll start looking for somewhere else,’ Bella said. ‘I was going to have to move out soon anyway, now the place will be going on the market. I’ll be around to let the foam removal guys in next week, of course, but let’s not make this any more difficult than it has to be.’
‘You don’t have to leave,’ Noah said fiercely. ‘Please, Bella, I couldn’t live with myself if I thought you were moving out because of my mistakes with Joel. You know you can stay as long as you need to.’
Bella stood up from the table. ‘I need to go.’
‘Bella… please. Stay.’
‘No.’ Her voice was firm, and try as she might, she knew it betrayed a little of what she was really feeling. ‘I need some space, Noah. You need to sell this house, and I need to move on with things. This is best for us both.’
As he rose from the table, Noah made a move towards her, as if he was going to try to put his arms around her. Bella ached for him to hold her one last time, but she stepped away, signalling with her body that it wasn’t going to happen. ‘I’m going to check in on Purrfect Paws before I go on shift at the pub,’ she said. ‘I’ll try not to disturb you when I come home later.’
Noah’s face registered frustration, then resignation. She hurried out of the kitchen, grabbing her bag with her house keys and phone in it as she left. But even by the time she’d arrived at Mollie’s, she couldn’t help thinking that she hadn’t been entirely honest with Noah, either. She had fallen for him, and breaking away now was going to be quite a wrench.
54
‘Is the offer of your sofa still open?’ Bella gave Mollie a rueful smile as Mollie appeared at the door.
‘For you, always.’ Mollie beckoned her into the house. ‘But don’t tell me you need it already?’
Bella sighed. ‘Not tonight, but unless I can get my act together and find somewhere new, it won’t be long.’
‘He can’t be throwing you out on your ear?’ Mollie, aghast, nearly dropped the mug of tea she was holding, having come to the door with it. ‘If he is, I’ll give him a piece of my mind.’
‘He’s told me I don’t have to move out straight away, but to be honest, I think it’s better if I make it sooner rather than later. Now Monty’s gone, I really do feel like I have to go too.’
‘Yes, but not overnight, I hope!’
Bella smiled. ‘I’m a nomad, Moll. It’ll be fine, honestly.’
‘I suppose that awful brother of his had something to do with it.’ Mollie’s face darkened. ‘He always was a piece of work.’
‘He just wants his share of the money,’ Bella replied, somewhat surprised that she was, even lightly, defending Joel. ‘If I was in his position, I’d probably do the same.’
‘I don’t think you’d kick someone out of their home.’
Bella smiled. ‘Maybe not.’
‘Well,’ Mollie said tentatively, ‘there’s always the fundraiser. I’m sure, if you needed to borrow some money for a deposit, you could always…’
‘No!’ Bella replied vehemently. ‘Any money we raise next weekend is for you and the cats, Moll. I wouldn’t dream of taking a penny of it.’
‘You’re part of this place. If you need help, you can have it.’
Bella shook her head. ‘It wouldn’t be right, and you know it. But I’m grateful for the thought.’
A pause descended between them, broken by the electronic jingle of the doorbell for the sanctuary.
‘Oops.’ Mollie sprang up from her chair. ‘I clean forgot that Evie Brown was coming in this afternoon to talk about putting her cats in for boarding while she goes away.’ She looked apologetically at Bella. ‘I’m sorry, love. Finish your tea and let yourself out.’
Bella smiled. ‘No worries. I’ll see you tomorrow.’
As she closed the front door behind her, Bella’s face dropped again. She couldn’t take any of the money from the fundraiser, no matter how well-intentioned Mollie was, but that didn’t help her immediate situation. For tonight, though, worrying would have to wait. She had punters in the pub to serve, and no one liked a moping bartender. Hoping the brisk walk was enough to raise her spirits a little, she picked up the pace.
