“You’ll both work here for two months? But we only have to pay one person’s salary?” Rosie asked.
We both said yes, avoiding each other’s eyes now. I couldn’tdecide if I was being incredibly stupid or had just secured the safest way to keep my precious new life. The key thing was that Charlie and I evidently thought this job was the absolute dream and were not willing to give it up, and Rosie seemed to think it was not very important, didn’t really mind who did it, and mostly just didn’t want to upset anyone.
I guess if you live on a beautiful farm on a stunning remote island, and you always have, then you maybe don’t realize how incredible that is.
“And you’ll just…sort the farm shop out? But for half pay?”
“For two months, yes,” I said. “At which point, hopefully, we’ll have each proven ourselves and you can pay us both.”
Or one of us will have given up and bowed out. Not me, obviously.
“That’sgreat,” Rosie said, sagging back against the counter. “Thank God. I’m so relieved I don’t have to send one of you home.”
It wasn’t ideal. It wasn’t what I’d signed up for. But it was a hell of a lot better than losing this chance altogether.
“But what shall we call you both?” Rosie asked, brightening. “We can’t have two Charlies.”
I explained that I’d like to go by Jones anyway.
“Perfect! Meant to be!” Rosie said.
“I know you need to get on with things,” Charlie said smoothly. “Are our bags…”
“They’ll be at the stables, which is all set up for you.” Rosie’s eyes widened. “Oh. All set up for one of you.”
I closed my eyes for a moment. “I’ll stay somewhere else tonight,” I said, picking up my rucksack from the floor and yanking on my cap. By this point, I just wanted to get out of there. I was hot, I was stressed, I wanted a drink.
“The farmhouse is a B&B, right?” Other Charlie said. “Perhaps Jones could have a room there?”
I know I’d just offered to give up the stables for the night, but still, she really ran with that, didn’t she?
Rosie’s face fell. “Sorry, we’re full. There are no spare rooms.”
Other Charlie turned to me with a sympathetic smile. “Let me know if you need any help finding somewhere else.”
Hot, stressed, thirsty and irritated now.
“I should ask for references,” Rosie said suddenly. “Can you give me someone to call, each of you?”
We both said that was fine. (Thank God she only asked for one person.)
“We’ll take it from there in the morning, and give you a tour of the farm! Give me your numbers.” She pulled out a surprisingly up-to-date iPhone. I had her down as the sort of person with an ancient flip phone. “I can’t wait to get to know the two of you…Oh, I get such a good aura from you both.”
This made me seriously question Rosie’s ability to read auras, but fine.
“Ormer is a really special place. And we love to take in strays here. Not to call you strays! But I just sense…a tender quality, bruised souls…” She waved a hand in front of our faces. “Broken hearts, complicated pasts…I’m convinced the spirit of the island led you both here for a reason!”
“Fate, maybe,” Other Charlie said, with a smile.
Fate? No. An administrative mix-up,maybe. A meddling postal worker, at a push. But by far the most likely truth, as far as I’m concerned, is that Charlie Jones is a liar, so while I’ve agreed to work alongside her, I certainly don’t plan on trusting her.
Well. There we go. Day one done—I’m off to find somewhereto crash tonight. Presumably there are other B&Bs on this island, although, now I think about it, there can’t bemany, given the size of the place. Hmm.
I’m not quite sure how to sign off this email.With lovefeels…well, yeah, not that. Butall the bestis pretty weird, too. Maybe I’ll just say,
Bye for now,
Charlie Jones
