Fifteen
Lara couldn’t stop thinking about Jasper. About the things he had told her regarding his parents. About the way he had looked at her sometimes and the frisson of excitement she had experienced, reflected in his own face and eyes, as though he felt the same as she did. About the way they had got on together, and had chatted as if they had been friends for years.
But neither could she stop thinking about those phone calls. Calls he had not only declined, but calls that had made him grow more rattled and distressed with every ring.
Why hadn’t he simply turned off his phone? But then of course she understood. His granddad was in the hospital. Jasper had to leave his phone on in case he had a call regarding Tom. She would have done the same had she been in his shoes.
Who on earth had been calling him? Repeatedly.
Was he in debt, and being hounded by debt collectors?
Was he a gambler who owed money to some dodgy and unpleasant character?
Was he wanted by the police?
Now she was being ridiculous again.
‘I really don’t understand it,’ Lara told Jenny when she rang her soon after Bob and Colin, and Paul and Harvey had left shortly after six that evening.
‘It wasn’t that Trisha woman from the pet shop, was it?’ Jenny had asked. ‘You said it was obvious she had the hots for him.’
That possibility hadn’t occurred to Lara, who had told Jenny all about Trisha and the conversations in the pet shop, just moments ago.
‘Oh. I suppose it might’ve been. But surely he would’ve simply answered her call, wouldn’t he?’
‘Don’t ask me. The obvious reason is, of course, that the caller was his wife.’
‘No. He doesn’t wear a ring so I don’t think he’s married.’
‘Half the men on the planet who are, don’t wear a ring. Lack of a ring means nothing.’
‘Surely he would’ve mentioned a wife, if he had one, when he was telling me about his family and what he did for a living. Not once did he say that his wife or girlfriend or partner wanted him to do this or that.’
‘Are we still discussing those weird phone calls, or have we moved on to his sex life?’
‘Funny. This is serious, Jen.’
‘Then ask him.’
‘About the caller? Or whether he is married, or has a girlfriend?’
‘All of the aforementioned.’
‘Okay. Next time I see him, that’s what I’ll do. How was your day?’
‘Far less exciting than yours. For a seaside village, a lot seems to happen in Bluewater Bay.’
‘I know. And if I have my way, a lot more will be happening in this cottage.’
‘You’ve changed your tune. Can you believe it was only a week ago that you had no interest in having a relationship?’
‘That was before I met Jasper Bright.’
‘You could call him and ask if he’d like that pie and a pint you were offering Tom,’ Jenny suggested.
‘That’s not a bad idea. I might do that.’
‘Call me in the morning and tell me all about it if you do.’
