The click of the front door brought Molly to her senses. What on earth was wrong with her? Greg was not her man. And if Jemma got him, Molly only had herself to blame. There had been plenty of opportunities to get to know him over the years. Had she taken any one of them? Of course she hadn’t.
‘I’m so sorry about that, Molly,’ Jemma said. ‘I’m … I’m not sure what to say. I only met Greg this morning, but he already feels like a friend. It’s as if we’ve known one another for years. And we have so much in common. We both love books. I write them; he sells them. We stood outside chatting for ages this morning, and then he came with me to the beach and we walked along the sand.’ Jemma let out a sigh. ‘We came back here for coffee and the hours simply flew. We’re going out for lunch later. Just to The Royal Oak. And it’s not a date or anything. But, oh, I wish it were.’
‘Yes. Well that’s fascinating. I hope it all works out for you. But I’ve got to meet my dad, so if it’s all the same to you, could we have this girlie talk another time?’
‘Oh!’ Jemma’s face fell and if Molly had pierced her through the heart with a knife, Jemma could not have looked more surprised. Or more crestfallen. ‘I’m so sorry. Of course. Erm. I love the cottage and everything is wonderful. It’s exactly what I’d hoped for. Better than I’d hoped. Erm. Is there anything you want to tell me?’
Molly would have liked to tell her to get lost.
‘No. Not that I can think of. You don’t have any questions or concerns?’
‘None,’ said Jemma emphatically, smiling somewhat sheepishly.
‘Great. Then I’ll go and see if Dad is ready to leave. He’s with more of the neighbours. The Boot sisters. They live the other side of Greg, in Acorn Cottage. Oh, and as you seem to enjoy making friends. The woman who lives in the cottage at the other endof this row, is around our age. Her name is Hanna Shaw. And she’s a famous artist. She and Greg have been friends for some time. Well. Goodbye for now. I’ll let myself out.’ She breezed past Jemma and tugged open the front door.
‘Molly?’
Molly stopped and sucked in her breath, slowly turning back to face her competition. ‘Yes?’
‘Have I … have I done something to upset you? I’d hoped we could be friends, because I enjoyed our conversations. And as for me making friends easily, well, that couldn’t be farther from the truth. I … I don’t have many friends at all. I’ve always found it hard. But chatting with you was lovely. And meeting Greg today was … lovely too. I … I was starting to feel as if I’ve found where I belong. Not literally. Just, sort of, in my heart, if that makes sense. Sorry. I’m waffling now and you have somewhere to be. But if I have done something, I’d rather you tell me, so that I can try to put things right.’
Molly let out an exasperated sigh. How could she be angry when Jemma was so nice? And over a man neither of them really knew. Jemma wasn’t the only one who had enjoyed their chats. And Molly didn’t have that many friends to speak of either. She’d also hoped she and Jemma might hit it off.
Without thinking, she dashed forward and gave Jemma a great big hug.
‘You haven’t done anything wrong,’ she said, easing herself away and meeting Jemma’s astonished expression. ‘It’s me. I’m … anxious about something and I’ve taken it out on you. Which is completely and utterly wrong of me, and possibly, unforgiveable. But I hope you will forgive me, nonetheless.’
‘Oh, of course. Is it … is it something you’d like to talk about?’
Molly raised one brow, and then grinned. ‘Maybe another time. I do have to meet my dad. But let’s have coffee one day thisweek? Or maybe a glass of wine? I can come to Betancourt Bay. Or you can come to Folkestone and I’ll show you around.’
‘That sounds great. I’d love to see Folkestone, if you’re sure you wouldn’t mind.’
‘No problem at all. Are you free on Wednesday? Other than a Sunday, Wednesday is my day off. Did I mention I’m a hairdresser? And that I work in my mum’s salon.’
‘No, you didn’t. Ooh! Maybe you can do something with my hair? It’s always had a mind of its own and after yesterday’s wet weather it’s gone a little wild, even though I had an umbrella. Oh, and Wednesday would be perfect.’
‘Then I’ll see you on Wednesday, but we’ll chat before then.’ She smiled and turned towards the door again, swinging back around as she pulled it open and stepped outside. ‘And as for your hair, I must agree with Greg. Your hair is gorgeous! But of course I’d be happy to give it a trim, or whatever. We’ll talk in the week. Enjoy your lunch.’
‘Thank you!’ Jemma called after her as Molly closed the front door.
Molly shook her head and walked towards her dad’s car which was parked outside of Acorn Cottage. She might not have Greg, but it seemed she potentially had a new friend. And there was something good to be said about that.
Clearly, her dad had not been so successful in his endeavour. He was sitting in his car and had patently nodded off, if the loud snores she could hear as she approached were anything to go by. He must’ve been there for some time, and as she had only been with Jemma for about ten minutes, the signs did not bode well. Unless the Boots had disclosed the ‘condition’ right away and her dad had not needed to ask further questions.
There was only one way to find out.
She hurried to the passenger side and he awoke with a start as she climbed in.
‘Sorry, Dad. I didn’t mean to startle you awake. You’re back quick though. Does that mean good or bad news?’
‘You didn’t startle me, sweetheart. I wasn’t asleep. I had just closed my eyes for a moment or two. Sadly, it means no news at all. The Boot sisters aren’t at home.’
‘Not at home? Oh. It’s Sunday. Perhaps they’re at church. Shall we wait for them?’
He shook his head, adjusted his position in his seat, started the car, and headed towards home.
‘No point. I thought that’s where they might be and I was going to nip across to St Gabriel’s to check, but Hanna Shaw from next door came along just a few seconds after you went inside Mum’s … sorry sweetheart, I meant to say, your cottage.’
