Muffled giggles drew her gaze to the young admin girl and a trainee they’d had working part time. Her smile faltered as they averted their eyes before exchanging an amused look, which resulted in an outburst of raucous laughter. From the way they were avoiding direct eye contact with her, Jenny realised with a sinking heart that she was somehow the butt of whatever hilarious joke they were sharing. Her little bubble of happiness shattered into a million little pieces.
‘They were laughing at me!’ Jenny said, as she sat in Beth’s workroom and helped pack up orders later that day. The heady scents of her friend’s beautiful candle range filled theair and Jenny took a deep breath, willing the good vibes from the assortment of crystals laid out in bowls around the room to do their thing.
‘They’re immature little twats,’ Beth said. ‘Who cares what they think? They aren’t the people who matter to you.’
‘No, but they’re the general public … They’re only reflecting what everyone else in town is thinking.’
‘That’s ridiculous. The whole town does not care what you do in your private life,’ Beth said, taking an olive-green box with a Lemongrass and Persian Lime candle from the shelf and gently packing it with some other items then taping the box securely.
‘No, they just like to discuss it when they’re out at the pub,’ Jenny said disdainfully.
‘They discuss everyone in the pub.’
‘Well, I’m sick of it.’
‘So, what are you going to do? Leave?’ Beth finished addressing the parcel and added it to her growing pile.
‘Maybe.’
Beth looked at her and Jenny blew out an irritated breath. ‘No, I’m not leaving town. I just wish everyone would leave it alone.’
‘They will. Someone else will do something even more scandalous and you and Nick will be yesterday’s news. In time, none of this will even matter.’
‘I just hate it. I hate people judging me.’
Beth tilted her head slightly as she considered her friend. ‘You know, as much as all that gossip around you and Austin was uncomfortable, not once in any conversation I overheardor was told about, was anyone ever judgingyou. People here, they gossip about others because they feel like this community is their extended family. Families talk and pull apart situations and discuss stuff. This town wasoutragedon your behalf during the Austin/Christy fiasco. People were angry that someone had the audacity to hurt one of their own. They were rallying behind you. They still do.’
Jenny absorbed her friend’s words. ‘Maybe then but not with this. They’re just laughing at me now,’ she said, recalling the women at the hospital.
‘The people who matter aren’t. They’re happy that you’ve found someone who makes you happy.’
‘It’s everyoneelseI’m frustrated with.’
Beth took down another scented candle and turned to face her. ‘It’s Barkley—it’s a small town with not much excitement going on, so of course anything slightly interesting is going to get talked about. But the only ones who’re saying anything snarky are the younger women who are insanely jealous that Nick is so clearly head over heels in lovewith youthat they don’t stand a chance. That man has been on the radar of practically every unmarried woman in town, not to mention a few married ones,’ Beth said, lowering her voice and arching her eyebrows. ‘The point is, people are going to gossip—it’s a fact of life out here. You won’t change that culture, but the majority of it isn’t malicious—it’s just people sharing news they think they’re entitled to be sharing and they’re happy for you.’
‘I wish I could shake this whole hang-up I have. I don’t want to feel like this, but it’s always there,’ Jenny said miserably.
‘Give it time. The closer you two get, the stronger your relationship will be and you’ll forget all about the age thing. Nick is crazy about you.’
Jenny still found it hard to comprehend, but her friend’s words filled her with a fluttery warmth nonetheless. Maybe Beth was right. Maybe itwasjust going to take time.
