‘And when doIget to see her?’ Emma persisted.
Perry laughed. ‘Give us a chance! We’ve only just met up again.’
‘Oh I’dloveto visit her house in Samphire Bay!’ Emma clapped her hands together in glee.
Perry smiled and ruffled her hair.
‘All in good time Emma, all in good time.’
Bunty sat calmly in the drawing room sipping a gin and tonic. She placed the glass tumbler on the table and picked up the pack of tarot cards. It was only a distraction, a diversion, she told herself. They would not predict the future or tell her anything she didn’t already know on a subconscious level. They were merely helping her to focus on a situation. After shuffling the cards, she pulled one out. The Lovers. A male and female stood in front of the Tree of Knowledge, the archangel Raphael behind them. A smile spread across Bunty’s face.
Chapter 29
Jack braced himself as he walked into the empty shop, knowing Trish’s sole attention would focus on him.
‘Hi, Trish,’ he called, darting straight down the first aisle, taking his time to select items. He willed the door’s bell to ring and give Trish other customers to keep her busy. But alas, there was no footfall coming through and he reluctantly walked to the till.
‘Have you heard about Robin?’ she asked, not even attempting to check out his shopping.
‘What about Robin?’ he said resignedly.
‘He was seen the other night, on the beach with Jasmine Boyd. All snuggled up on a rug apparently,’ she whispered furtively.
A slow smile crept onto Jack’s face. Good for him, about time, he thought, pleased for his mate. Then another thought occurred, which niggled at him.
He narrowed his eyes at the shopkeeper. ‘How do you know this, Trish?’
‘Can’t say,’ she answered primly.
This annoyed Jack more so. He was tired of Trish’s tittle-tattling and supposed she was behind Ellie’s knowledge of Jasmine. The woman was a menace. Ellie could really have screwed things up for Robin. He decided to tactfully address her careless talk.
‘Did you speak to Ellie, Robin’s ex-girlfriend?’ Her blush told him she must have. ‘Only she’s been in Samphire Bay, causing all sorts of trouble. Apparently she knew all about Robin, that he was renovating a cottage and the help he’d given Jasmine.’ He looked at her steadily, waiting for a response.
‘Well, she might have come into the shop…’
‘Asking questions?’ Jack stared her in the face. Did the woman know no loyalty?Everybodyin Samphire Bay knew how badly Robin had been treated by Ellie.
‘Well… yes, as a matter of fact she was…’
‘And you filled her in? Told her everything she wanted to know?’ he asked incredulously.
Trish looked down, shamefaced.
Jack gave a hard sigh.
‘Listen, Trish, a word of advice here,’ he lowered his voice. ‘You have got to learn to keep your—’ he stopped and tried again, ‘to keep quiet.’ He mimed pulling a zip across his mouth.
Trish’s eyes bulged. ‘Pardon?’ she sounded offended and chastised at the same time.
‘You can’t go blabbing all and sundry about people, Trish, it could have consequences. How would you like it, if everyone knewyourevery move?’ Not that there’d be much to say, he thought. Perhaps that’s why the woman was so fascinated with other people’s lives.
‘I… I…’ spluttered Trish.
‘Remember, keep schtum, OK?’ Jack nodded towards his shopping. ‘Now can I please pay for that?’
Trish served him with a crimson, tight-lipped face and Jack left with a sense of accomplishment. All the same, he did drive straight to the cottage to see Robin.
Robin was finishing varnishing the floorboards in the last bedroom. Once that was done, it was time to sell. A sadness filled him. Out of all the renovating projects he’d worked on, this cottage had been his favourite. And why was that? he asked himself with only a dash of sarcasm. Having a gorgeous, blonde-haired, brown-eyed beauty next door had most definitely played a part. He hummed cheerfully to the radio as his brush swept across the wood. Ironically, Van Morrison was singing ‘Brown Eyed Girl’. He stopped at hearing footsteps on the stairs.
