Five
‘You want me to do what?’
Russell had been enjoying the delicious lunch that Tabby had prepared, but now something seemed to be stuck in his throat and he gave a few small coughs to try to clear it. He hardly managed to get the words out.
‘I know it sounds ridiculous,’ Griff said, giving him an apologetic smile as Grace glowered at her fiancé. ‘But my darling, Grace, is a little upset about it, and even though I’ve assured her it won’t be true and it’s just a bit of silly nonsense, it would set her mind at rest if we knew for sure.’
‘I am here, you know,’ Grace said, still glowering as she stuck her fork in a carrot in a particularly ferocious manner, making both Griff and Russell wince. ‘And what if it’s not “just a bit of silly nonsense” and it’s actually true?’ She pulled a face as she mimicked Griff.
Russell grinned for a second. ‘That sounded almost like you, Griff,’ he teased. Then he shook his head. He’d been astonished by the gossip when Tabby had told him about it, and even he had wondered if there might be some truth in it. But the morehe thought about it the less he believed it. He’d seen Hanna and Griff together several times and not once did she give the appearance of a woman in love with his brother. She didn’t look at Griff the way Grace looked at him. Or the way Hope looked at Tom. But he didn’t want to go there. ‘It’s nonsense, Grace. I agree with Griff. But it’s not silly. It’s unkind to Hanna, and it’s clearly hurtful to you.’
‘And what about me?’ Griff said. Now it was his turn to pull a face.
Russell raised an eyebrow. ‘As if you care.’
‘Stop joking about this, Griff!’ Grace snapped, slapping him on the arm. ‘I keep telling you, this isn’t funny. At least Russell agrees with me on that score.’
‘I’m sorry, darling,’ Griff said, capturing her hand in his and kissing it. ‘I know it’s not funny and I apologise for trying to make light of it. But I’m not sure what else to do. I do care though. I care that it bothers you so much. And now I care about Hanna. I hadn’t considered that she might be upset by this too. I assumed she’d simply see the funny side of it.’
‘As you do,’ Grace said.
‘Well, yes. I’m sure there’s a simple explanation and this is all a misunderstanding.’
Russell frowned. ‘Why don’t you simply ask Hanna?’
Griff rolled his eyes. ‘Grace doesn’t want Hanna to know we’ve heard this little titbit. Just in case it’s true. This way we can pretend we know nothing about the gossip, and carry on as normal. Except, of course, we can’t, because Grace is upset. As am I, obviously,’ Griff hastily added.
‘So you want me to ask Hanna if she’s in love with you, Griff, and to assure her I won’t say a word to either you or Grace, is that correct? And then, once I know for certain, to come and tell you both?’
Griff and Grace exchanged glances and nodded. ‘Yes.’
‘Isn’t that lying? Not to mention, betraying Hanna’s trust.’
‘It is,’ said Griff. ‘But I see no other way around it.’
‘Can’t you merely ignore it? If Hanna is in love with you, surely you’d be able to tell, wouldn’t you?’
Griff sighed and leant back in his chair. ‘Grace and I have already had this conversation, and we’re going around in circles. Will you help us, or not?’
Russell shot a look at Grace. She was usually so full of life and so happy whenever he saw her. Now she looked drawn and anxious.
Even Griff, who rarely took anything seriously unless he had to, appeared a little tense. Griff always tried to find a light in any darkness, but the woman he adored was upset and it seemed that for once in his life, Griff didn’t know how to handle this turn of events.
Actually, for the second time in his life. Griff hadn’t coped well when their mother had passed away. But then neither had Russell or their father.
‘Of course I’ll help you,’ Russell said. ‘Although I’ll have to find a way to bring this up with Hanna. I can’t go knocking on her door and asking her outright, can I? That would be incredibly rude.’
‘And yet you suggested we should do so,’ Griff reminded him, with a hint of sarcasm in his tone.
‘Because you and Grace are directly involved. You both have a right to ask. Especially you, Griff. But if I ask, it just makes me nosy and Hanna would have every right to tell me to mind my own business. Leave it with me. I’ll think of something.’
But having thought about it over lunch, and then during coffee, and later, while basking in the sunshine and drinking another bottle of beer in the garden that afternoon, knocking on Hanna’s door seemed precisely what he should do.
And there was no time like the present.
