‘Yes, please do.’
Hanna handed her the shopping bags and took the broom Jemma had leant against the kitchen counter.
‘You put those away,’ said Hanna. ‘I’ll sweep up the glass. Got a black bin bag handy?’
Jemma found one in the cupboard and Hanna took it and marched outside. Jemma joined her shortly after with a hand brush and dustpan, and the glass was gone within minutes.
‘Now,’ said Hanna. ‘You have two options. I can give you a bottle of wine and you can stay here alone and drown your sorrows. Or – and this is the one I think you should choose – you can wash those tearstains off your face and come with me. I’m meeting some friends for a drink in their garden and I’ve calledand asked if I can bring a friend.’ She grinned. ‘But all my friends are busy so I thought I’d ask you. Only joking. Come with me. My friends are dying to meet you. And don’t worry. One of them does know who you are, the others don’t have a clue, so you’ll just be one of us. And before you say no. The garden is in that big house down the road. The one called Betancourt.’
Jemma’s mouth fell open, and her teary eyes grew wide. ‘Are you … are you serious? Betancourt? Your … your friends don’t mind?’
Hanna furrowed her brows. ‘Yes I’m serious. Yes at Betancourt. And no, my friends don’t mind. Griff, the head honcho now his dad, Archie has passed the buck, so to speak, said he’ll happily give you a tour.’
‘He did? He doesn’t mind? Really?’
‘Do you always ask so many questions? Go and wash your face and then we can go. There’s a large glass of wine with my name on waiting for me in that garden. And there’s one for you too. It’s bloody good stuff, I can promise you. Not even the most expensive supermarket wine can compete with it. And I don’t buy the most expensive supermarket wine, so believe me, you don’t want to be here drinking my wine when you could be drinking Griff’s. You’re in for a treat tonight.’
Getting a tour of Betancourt was the real treat. A glass of good wine was an added bonus.
