‘I just spoke to my husband. But you probably already knew that.’
Gigi nodded, solemn for once. ‘My left foot gave me a sign. Mainly one that said, “kick him into touch”. Is that a football term?’
‘Rugby,’ Beth murmured. ‘And I think I sort of did. Which confuses me, because he is –was– the most important person in my life.’
Gigi perched on the glass, surprisingly gentle. ‘Darlin’, the most important person in your life isyou. Mortals get far too hung up on people-pleasing. “If I make you happy, I’ll be happy. If I iron your shirts and cook your favourites, I’ll be fulfilled. If I sit through shows I loathe to prove a point, I’ll be rewarded.”’ He fluttered a hand. ‘Enough already.’
Beth blinked. ‘How did you know I only watchedAntiques Roadshowbecause Luke was obsessed with old junk? Fine, he probably fancied Fiona Bruce, but still…’
He smiled, soft as silk. Of course he knew. He heard the thoughts she didn’t say aloud and stitched them into something she needed.
‘I don’t think you’re here to play tonight,’ Gigi said. ‘Save your wishes. The dead weight of the past will crush them if you let it.’
She didn’t entirely understand, but the sense of it settled her. Save your wishes. Choose carefully. Chooseyourself.
Beth nodded, sudden exhaustion washing over her. ‘Goodnight, Gigi.’
She climbed the stairs to her little room, closed the door and leaned against it. Below, the pub murmured on. And for the first time in a long while, the ache in her chest felt like space being made, rather than something being torn out.
Chapter Twenty-Six
‘Penny for them,’ said Kieran with a grin.
‘Aren’t they worth more than that these days?’ retorted Beth.
They were both outside Janette’s shop – pure chance, though in Cranley, “chance” was stretching it. There weren’t exactly crowds to bump into.
‘You just seemed miles away,’ he said. ‘Wishing for somewhere less … Cranley?’
‘Duller than a silver platter left unpolished for centuries,’ said Beth, then let out a small croaky laugh. ‘Sorry, I don’t mean that. This place has helped me deal with … stuff. It’s good, really. Don’t you feel it too?’
Kieran, who had only come out for sardines and shaving gel, nodded. He’d noticed the weirdness here, but hadn’t every small village got its ghosts and oddballs?
And one extremely attractive woman right in front of you.
‘Yeah,’ he said. ‘It’s been a decent bolthole since the breakup with Lisa.’ He paused. ‘Not sure why I just blurted that out.’
Beth’s brow softened. ‘I’m sorry. Breakups are hard. That’s a song, isn’t it? Something from way back.’
‘Neil Sedaka,’ Kieran said automatically.
‘Not Neil Young?’
‘Nope. Pretty sure only one singing Neil wrote about heartbreak that bluntly.’
He didn’t want to talk about Neils. He wanted to know why Beth’s face kept flickering between calm and sorrow. What she’d lost, and why she’d ended up in Cranley too. But confidences couldn’t be forced.
‘Fancy a walk?’ he said, instead. ‘After we brave Janette’s emporium of culinary wonders. Unless you’re buying a sack of tatties, or something equally cumbersome.’
‘No, just toothpaste and instant coffee.’
They stepped inside. Janette was behind the counter, armed with a sticker gun and fierce concentration.
‘Hello!’ she said, beaming. ‘Lovely to see actual customers. It’s been deader than a Monty Python parrot today. Bargains galore, if you’re quick.’
Kieran picked up a dented ginger cake and put it straight down. Beth snorted at a stack of Christmas mince pies.
‘I’ll have you know I ate two with my cuppa last night and I’ve no’ keeled over yet,’ said Janette indignantly.
