My eyes stung at the memory and I berated myself.There was no chance I’d get through today if I focused on the ever-lingering grief of losing Mum.I had enough on my plate today.
Today I was going to convince my brother to buy Everly Heath Farm.
‘Ren!’ a feminine voice shouted.‘Ren!’
I glanced around, trying to find the source of the voice, but had no luck.
‘God, is that you?’
Pat, Everly Heath’s local councillor, Chairwoman of Everly Heath Social Club and borderline busybody rounded the corner, her little fawn pug, Noodle, trotting beside her.
‘Fuck!’ I muttered under my breath.
I’d successfully avoided Pat for days, but the woman was relentless.She had been calling and texting for weeks now, trying to rope me into one of her schemes, and now I was being harassed in public too.It was all well and good when she was in your corner, but when the warpath was aimed at you, well, you’d better take cover.
I glanced around, trying to find somewhere to hide, but she moved quickly, advancing on me.
Pat smiled knowingly, a little out of breath.Today, her greying braids were styled on top of her head like a crown, and she wore large, statement, red glasses.
‘There you are.So glad I bumped into you.’
‘Bumped into me?Don’t pretend this wasn’t on purpose!You’ve been calling me for weeks and I said no.This is harassment, Pat.Don’t make me get Richard involved.’
Richard was the balding local policeman who occasionally came into the social club for a quiet pint.He was 58 and in it for the pension, so I doubt he would do anything, but it was worth a shot.
‘Richard?’ She barked a laugh.‘You could try but he’s in my pocket, dear.’
‘Corruptionfrom a local councillor.’
‘Yes, yes.’ Pat waved her manicured hand.‘Scandalous.Now, have you given it any thought?She had nowhere to go and I think you’d be a good fit.’
‘Pat, listen.I have no spare time outside of work.In what universe do you think I could look after a dog?I work long hours, Pat.’
I gestured to the brass ‘Lily’s’ sign I was standing in front of.The restaurant that my brother and I opened last year, when I’d come back from Mexico City.
‘Oh, it will be fine.’ She waved a palm.‘We’ll all chip in!Steve and I can help out.Sandra and Brian too.’ Pat moved closer, settling her hand on my shoulder.‘We think it would be good for you, dear.You seem so lonely and Peanut—’
‘Peanut?’ I huffed.‘Stupid name.’
Pat unlocked her phone, showing me a photo of a small golden-retriever-looking dog.Except it had short, stocky legs.Peanut stared at me through the phone.Her soulful brown eyes seemed to say ‘I love you’.
Fuck, she was cute.
No, Ren.I thought to myself.Keep your head.
‘You could rename her if you wanted.She really is lovely.She has a gorgeous temperament, and the shelter is at maximum capacity—’
‘Look, Pat.As cute as Peanut is,’ Pat’s eyes shimmered with glee.‘I don’t have time for this today.’
‘Fine.Totally fine.We’ll speak tomorrow.’
She backed away slowly, grinning.
‘Patricia!I am not saying yes!’
‘Fine, fine!But we’ll talk tomorrow.’
‘This bloody town.’
