* * *
What I’m unprepared for is how determined Reece is not to give me a chance.
The next thirty minutes are a whirlwind. Reece has pulled a shirt on, returned with his laptop, written up a watertight contract and insisted we all sign it, while ignoring my numerous protests and insistence that he can’t give up his intention of restoring the pub’s roof because of me and my mess.
Now we’re holding a copy each, and Jared is whistling as he saunters off down the road, happy with what he’s got, even though the campervan is probably worth more. I’m spinning his set of van keys around on my finger, because I feel like my life has just imploded, but in a totally different way to what I expected would happen when Jared found me. I knew he’d be petty, I knew he’d want revenge, but I didn’t know he’d take every bit of money Reece has got left to fix the pub, and I certainly didn’t know Reece would agree, and I don’t know what to say.
‘Thank you’ doesn’t begin to cover it, and my mind is spinning all over the place. Should I be grateful? Annoyed that he’s rescued me? Angry that he’s spent the past few weeks talking about re-opening the pub, and now he’s given up any chance he had of getting the roof fixed because of me? Is it acceptable to feel all of the above things at once?
We’re staring at each other in this van that’s become the most expensive thing I’ve ever bought, andnotin a monetary sense. Now Jared’s gone, the adrenaline is wearing off, and surely Reece is realising what he’s done, and the implications it has on his plans, the future of that building up there, and… onus.
Eventually, Reece runs a hand through his hair. ‘This is the kind of transaction I have to make in-person, so I’m going to get myself dressed and drive to the nearest town that still has a bank branch and make the transfer.’
‘Reece, don’t,’ I say quickly. ‘It’s not too late. Don’t go through with it. What’s the worst that can happen? He tells everyone? He sends the police to recover the van? Let him do his worst. It doesn’t matter.’
‘It matters to me, Doll.’ He jumps out of the van and heads for the steps again and I chase after him, cursing his long legs that can take the wide stones much faster than I can.
‘I’d rather lose the campervan than see you lose the pub,’ I shout after him.
He stops long enough to turn around and let me catch up. ‘And I’d rather the opposite. I can carry on as I have been, but there was only one chance to make this right. I willnotsee him destroy what you’ve created here. He wasn’t leaving until he got what he wanted, and I had a way to give him that.’
‘What about?—’
‘What about nothing,’ he says firmly. ‘I know you’re worried, but don’t be. The only other option was murdering him and dumping his body in the river, so overall, it was the right choice.’
‘Even though that option was really bloody tempting?’
‘Given how hard it is to get blood out of vehicle upholstery, I have no regrets.’
I snort out a laugh that sounds closer to a sob. ‘I’ll pay you bac?—’
He waves the offer away before I can finish it. ‘I need to make myself presentable and get going. I don’t want to keep him waiting when I’ve promised he’ll have the money today, and it’ll probably be one of those branches that shuts at lunchtime and doesn’t re-open until a week next Wednesday.’
I sigh at his stubbornness. ‘Can I come with you?’
‘Nope, because you’ll just try to talk me out of it on the way.’
Well, he’s not wrong on that front.
Now it’s his turn to sigh. ‘Don’t make a bigger deal of this than it is. Stay here. Bake. Feed walkers. I’ll see you later.’ He looks towards the path and then inclines his head in that direction. ‘Deal with the cavalry.’
Lettie, Wilma and Madge are on their way up from the village, and I let out an involuntary groan. Their timing couldn’t beworse.
Before I have a chance to react, Reece has bent down to brush his lips against my cheek, pulled his hand out of mine and disappeared inside the pub, and I’m standing at the top of the steps alone, floundering, and still trying to figure out what the heck just happened.
23
‘Dolly dear!’ Lettie flaps a hand towards me as I make my way back down the steps. ‘Word in the village is that there was someone up here making a scene. We thought we’d better come and check on you. Is everything okay?’
‘Yeah, of course. It’s fine. I’m fi—’ The genuine concern on their worried faces catches me off-guard, and so does the swell of affection for them. These ladies are not just quiz-obsessed gossipy villagers. They’ve shown me nothing but welcoming and acceptance. They really care – about their village and aboutme. They’ve become my friends.Realfriends, and I realise I don’t want to lie to them any more. I don’t want to pretend everything is hunky-dory when it isn’t, and I don’t want to pretend to be someone I’m not.
And as they surround me and fuss over me, IknowI can confide in them and they’ll understand, and before I know what I’m doing, the whole story about Jared and the stolen campervan comes pouring out.
‘Good for you, gal!’ Lettie claps me on the shoulder when I finally take a breath after telling them everything about how I came to have the campervan.
‘I bloody well knew I liked you, lass!’ Wilma guffaws. ‘That is brilliant! Well done, you!’
‘Exactly!’ Madge echoes. ‘Although I wouldn’t have stopped at taking his campervan, I’d have had his manly bits as well!’ She mimes chopping a certain appendage off with an imaginary meat cleaver, and I snort out a semi-hysterical giggle, surprised by their reaction. I knew it would change the way they saw me, but I didn’t think it would be for thebetter.
