At times she makes me want to give up. ‘But think of the upsides! When you’re on your own there are no arguments and no fitting in with someone else. You simply decide what’s going to make you happy… and do it.’
There’s silence, and then a murmur. ‘You’ve really thought about this.’
I’ll go a bit further. ‘A lot of people find pleasing themselves is a revelation. Once they get a taste for it, they don’t want to give it up.’
‘If it truly is that great, what’s the catch?’
I pull a face. ‘You’ll miss the support of a partner at first, but in time you’ll get to know which of your friends you can lean on. When you learn to rely on yourself that makes you a stronger person.’ I pause to think. ‘That’s why you shouldn’t rush into a new relationship. The recovery will change you, your priorities will be different.’
She sighs. ‘I’m certainly wanting different things in a partner than I did when I was eighteen.’
I have to ask. ‘What did you look for back then?’
There’s no hesitation. ‘Good jeans, wheels, a term-time job with some kind of perks, a course with a decent career at the end, and a shared love for Snow Patrol and the Kaiser Chiefs. Tate was way ahead of the field– he did shifts at the Union barandhe had use of his granny’s Lupo.’ She stops. ‘AndIremindedhimof Florence and the Machine. That was it.’
‘You’re nothing like Florence.’
Scarlett’s laugh is more sour than sweet. ‘Fourteen years on it hits Tate I wasn’t what he’d ordered, and here we are.’ She blows into the phone. ‘When did you get so wise?’
I can’t help laughing. ‘My hundred and nineteen relationship disasters haven’t all been a waste of time.’
She almost laughs too. ‘I’ll let you know how my dates go. I’m seeing an art director, an orthoptist, and a company president next week.’ There’s a pause for breath. ‘All friends of friends, all pre-approved, all scorching, straight, available and loaded.’
‘Let’s hope they like Snow Patrol.’ It’s as if the last five minutes never happened.
‘I’ll settle for them sitting through Puccini’s La Bohème.’
This is the point when I give up all hope. ‘I’ll report back when the garden guys come. Good luck with your week.’
‘Back at ya, as they say here.’ Her smile passes straight into her voice.There’s a moment when I think she’s ended the call, then she starts again. ‘Thank you, Betsy.’
This time she does go, and I wipe my forehead with my apron and turn to Miles. ‘That was Scarlett, calling about gardeners.’
Miles pulls down the corners of his mouth. ‘And sleeping her way around New York?’ He gives a shrug. ‘I’m sorry. I couldn’t help overhearing. I wanted to tell you I had.’
I hold out my hands. ‘She’s a free agent. All we can do is hope she finds her happy place before she self-destructs.’
He frowns. ‘Does Scarlett know about the shop?’
‘Not yet.’ I haven’t found the courage to tell her. ‘With everything going on over there, it hasn’t come up.’ I may as well go for it. ‘She doesn’t know about Fudge yet either.’
‘I’ll talk to Tate.’ He raises one eyebrow. ‘Back to the loud music?’
I nod. ‘Knock me out, Miles.’
38
The garden at Boathouse Cottage, St Aidan
Chestnuts and five-star reviews
Tuesday
On Tuesday evening when Miles, Fudge and I draw up outside Boathouse Cottage after we’ve left the shop, there’s a snazzy double-cab pickup filling the parking space.
Miles pulls in behind it on the lane. ‘I’m sure Ground Force St Aidan won’t mind if we double park.’
As we let ourselves in through the open garden gate I’m in awe that they’re here at all. ‘Scarlett’s personal life may be in pieces, but she still has superpowers when it comes to getting workmen to turn up.’
