He’d got used to the routine now, having figured out that it was best to collect the duck eggs in the morning, as they tended to lay at night, whereas the Bennet Sisters laid throughout the day until mid-afternoon, so he usually waited until around three o’clock to collect theirs.
He glanced at the pond where Peggoty and Nancy were swimming in the water, while Estella was lying close by, drying off after a previous dip. He couldn’t believe that he knew which duck was which. When he’d first arrived here, they’d all looked the same to him, no matter how many times Gilly Foster had pointed out their differences. He was, he had to admit, extraordinarily fond of them. Of all the animals and birds. Maybe he really was cut out for this Doctor Dolittle lark, after all.
Smiling to himself he strolled up the garden path and into the kitchen, placing the basket on the worktop.
Carne trotted in behind him, never wanting to be away from him for too long.
‘You should be outside,’ Mac told him. ‘It’s a beautiful day. Don’t be cooped up in here. Take a leaf out of Mrs Beddows’ book.’
Where she’d vanished to again he had no idea, but she could take care of herself, and she’d be home when she felt like it. No doubt about that.
‘Mac?’
He spun round, his heart thudding with sudden hope at the tentative voice behind him, but his spirits fell when he saw Stella standing there, her hands wringing together and her posture revealing that she was nervous as hell. As well she might be.
‘Oh,’ he said dully, turning back to the sink and reaching for the handwash. ‘It’s you.’
‘I was watching you out of the window in the snug,’ she said. ‘You looked really happy.Reallyhappy.’
He mentally shook his head as he washed his hands. He knew exactly what she was implying.
‘Areyou happy?’ she asked cautiously.
‘Well, my sister seems to think she can let herself into my house any time she feels like it, and the woman I love has moved back to Hull and wants nothing more to do with me, so no, I wouldn’t say I’m exactly thrilled, but I’m getting by. Is that what you wanted to hear?’
He dried his hands and threw the towel on to the draining board, then turned to face her. She swallowed, looking terrified and, despite his anger, he felt himself soften towards her.
‘Why did you do it, Stella? To teach me a lesson? To prove a point? To ruin my life?’
Stella gripped the back of the chair.
‘Because you could have done, you know. Youcouldhave ruined my life! Do you know that?’ He gave a bitter laugh. ‘Well, of course you know that. That was the intention, wasn’t it? See me back in the hell I’d finally managed to drag myself out of. God, you must really hate me.’
‘I don’t hate you, Mac. I don’t!’ Tears rolled down Stella’s cheeks and she sat down at the table, staring at him in anguish. ‘Please tell me you haven’t done anything stupid. I’d never forgive myself if you have.’
‘You mean, please tell you I didn’t go straight to the casino and blow that thirty thousand pounds which you kindly transferred to my bank account last week?’
She nodded dumbly.
Mac fumbled in his jeans pocket and took out his mobile phone. He tapped it a few times and waited until her phone pinged.
Stella retrieved it from her handbag and tapped the notification. Her mouth fell open as she stared at the photo he’d just sent her.
‘Youdidgo to the casino! Oh, Mac! I’m so sorry. I’m so, so sorry!’
She took out a tissue and began to sob noisily with genuine regret. Mac couldn’t stand it any longer.
He sat down next to her and put his arm around her shoulders.
‘If I was going to go into the casino, would I really have taken a selfie outside it to show you? Don’t be daft, Stell. I took the photo to show you that I was strong enoughnotto go into the casino. Look, I’ll prove it.’
He opened the banking app on his phone and passed it across to her. She gazed at it for a moment then looked at him in wonder.
‘It’s all there. You didn’t touch it!’
‘No. I didn’t touch it. I didn’t gamble, Stell. I promise.’
He was stunned when she threw her arms around him and sobbed on to his shoulder.
