‘There’s no need to thank me, but please don’t let it happen again.’
‘I won’t. I don’t even know how he got across to your side, he was right here.’ She nodded towards the ground beside her. She had him back.
‘There’s a hole in the fence. If you’d bothered to inspect it before letting your dog roam, you would have noticed.’ He straightened his tie before using the palm of his hand to brush at the mud marks on his white shirt.
‘I didn’t know.’ She sighed. How was she supposed to have known there was a hole in the fence? She had the hedge this side, and she’d just assumed...
‘I trust I won’t be kept awake again tonight.’ He turned and began walking back to his front door before glancing over his shoulder and pointing to the ground. ‘And please clear up the dog foul.’
Narrowing her eyes, she waited until he’d disappeared inside and closed his door again before taking a step closer to the hedge and peering into his garden. Ha, yep, one great big dog mess was sitting smack-bang in the middle of his path. ‘Good one, Alfie.’
As Alfie struggled to free himself from her arms, she hurried inside and made sure to kick the door shut before lowering him to the floor. ‘Is there anything else you want to get me in trouble for? You do know that he hates me at work too, don’t you?’
Alfie stretched his legs out in front of him before dragging his paws back again, leaving muddy streaks on the floorboards.
‘I take that as you don’t care.’ Looking down, she realised she too had muddy hands, probably from searching the garden forhim. Wiping them down her trousers, she shrugged. ‘Ready for dinner?’
The door knocker sounded from behind her, and Gemma’s heart sank. Couldn’t he give her a little time before she went to clean up the mess in his garden? Taking a deep breath, she yanked open the door again, ready to give him a piece of her mind, only to come face-to-face with her friend Lucy.
‘Whoa, please don’t shoot.’ Lucy held her hands up, palms forward.
‘Sorry, I thought you were someone else.’ Instantly, she felt her shoulders relax. She really didn’t think she could cope with another run-in with Jonathan today.
‘You’ve forgotten, haven’t you?’ Lucy stepped into the hallway before closing the door behind her. Kneeling down, she tapped her knees and waited until Alfie sauntered over to her to be fussed.
‘Forgotten what?’ Gemma frowned. What had she forgotten? There was something niggling at the back of her mind, but she couldn’t for the life of her remember what it was.
‘We were supposed to be going to the pub for a quick drink and a catch-up today.’ Standing up again, Lucy looked her up and down. ‘You did forget.’
‘I did. Sorry,’ Gemma pinched the bridge of her nose. How could she have forgotten about her and Lucy meeting up? Not that she had the energy to walk to the pub and socialise with other people right now. All she wanted was a hot chocolate and to curl up on the sofa. ‘Do you mind if we grab a drink here instead? I have a new hot chocolate flavour to try.’
‘Ooh, how could I refuse that offer?’ Lucy slipped her coat and shoes off, leaving them in a heap by the door before she followed Gemma through the living room and into the kitchen. ‘Out with it then.’
Gemma ran her hands under the tap, making sure to clean all the mud off before flicking the kettle on. ‘Out with what?’
‘Whatever it is that’s bugging you.’ Lucy leaned her back against the counter. ‘You’re the most organised person in the world, you’d never miss a meet-up, so something has obviously rattled your cage. And done a good job of it too.’
Keeping her back to Lucy, Gemma pulled open the cupboard and grabbed two mugs. She’d just have to come out and tell her the whole sorry mess her life had been plunged into over the last couple of days. ‘So, I have a new boss who hates me.’
‘Mrs Norton has left?’ Lucy clasped her hands against her cheeks. ‘I loved Mrs Norton.’
‘I know. Most people did.’ Lucy finished spooning the hot chocolate powder into the mugs before turning to her. The four of them, her, Sophie, Lucy and Hannah, had grown up in the village and Mrs Norton had taught them too. ‘But yes, she’s left, and we’ve got this new head who also happens to have moved in next door.’
‘What?’ Lucy let out a guffaw. ‘Are you actually being serious?’
Gemma nodded her head slowly. She’d known she’d get this response. ‘I have a boss who hates me and a neighbour who hates me.’
‘Oh, I’m sure she doesn’t hate you. Just get to know her, you never know she might be as nice as Mrs Norton once you do.’ Lucy walked across to the window and peered out. ‘Umm, and please tell me that’s her brother and not her husband out there.’
Glancing towards the window, Gemma rolled her eyes. Was there anywhere he wasn’t? Her courtyard out the back was divided by a low wall, which had been fine when her last neighbour had lived there. She’d even enjoyed chatting with them over the wall in the summer if they both happened to be out there at the same time, but now the first thing she’d be doingwhen Lucy left was to search up and order some trellis. ‘Nope, that’s him.’
‘Him?He’sthe new head?’ Lucy widened her eyes, still watching him as he filled a bird feeder with seeds. ‘I bet he’s turning a few heads amongst the parents.’
Gemma shrugged as she stepped forward and pulled the blind down. That was better. ‘He won’t be once they get to know him.’
‘Is he really that bad?’ Leaning across the sink, which was situated in front of the window, she tugged a little of the blind up and looked out again.
‘Lucy! He’ll see you!’ Stepping forward, she batted her friend’s hand away. ‘Yes, he is. Now make yourself useful and pass me the milk.’
