‘Get out of the way, you silly cat!’ Lisa skirted around him.
‘Cranley has a corner shop, a hairdresser, a café, a boutique and a pub.’ Kieran tried and failed to expand further on the village’s amenities.
Lisa halted. ‘When you said this place was sleepy, I didn’t know you meant halfway to a coma! I’d go bat-shit crazy living here. Sorry, that was rude. Obviously, when I left, you needed complete peace. I get it.’
‘The pub’s nice.’
‘Does it serve food and drink?’
‘That’s the general definition of a pub. The food’s amazing. There’s a newish chef, Beth, who’s really shaken things up, and?—’
‘You had me at drink.’ Lisa grabbed Kieran’s hand and hauled him towards the door.
InsideThe Jekyll and Hyde, heads turned. Not at Kieran. At Lisa – yoga-honed, Lycra-bright – moving through the room like an exotic bird that had escaped from an aviary.
‘Wow.’ Lisa inhaled and blew out through her nose. ‘This is … interesting.’
Interesting being code for so far out of Lisa’s comfort zone, she might need to apply some essential oils and chant a mantra or two.
‘Kieran!’ Ed clapped him on the back. ‘Good to see you, mate.’
Lisa smiled coquettishly, waiting for an introduction.
‘This is Lisa. Lisa, this is the pub’s landlord, Ed.’
Ed shook her hand. Kieran noted she looked distinctly miffed at the lack of the preface ‘my girlfriend’.
‘Welcome, Lisa. Good to see a new face here.’
‘Aye, and a bonny one at that,’ croaked Jimmy, clutching a double shot of whisky.
‘Eyes on the glass, not the—’ hissed Ed, as Jimmy tottered behind Lisa, staring appreciatively at her rear. ‘What can I get you, Lisa?’
‘Ooh, I would love a glass of rosé,’ said Lisa. ‘Or maybe a bottle? To share, of course. Do you have organic wines?’
Ed pursed his lips. ‘All our wines are ethically produced in a Highland commune where pesticides are banned, and the peasants crush the grapes with their bare feet.’
‘Really?’ Lisa clapped her hands in glee – until Ed and Kieran guffawed with laughter.
‘Oh, hilarious. Fine, we’ll have whatever you’ve got.’
A tray swept past with Beth behind it. Steam curled above the plates. Her apron strings were crossed neatly on her back. All as usual, except she didn’t look at him. Kieran felt the miss like a draught.
‘Are you hungry?’ he asked Lisa, grabbing menus.
‘Do you know her?’ Lisa asked, watching Beth’s retreating shoulders.
‘That’s Beth, the chef.’Friend? More? Stop it.
‘Let’s hope her food’s nicer than her miserable face,’ Lisa murmured, scanning the board. ‘Cute names, heavy on meat. “Killer Kedgeree” … promising.’
‘It’s great,’ Kieran said, and pushed down a memory: Beth on a stool, her voice low, speaking of otherworldly things. A conversation she’d shut down.
‘Don’t you get bored here?’ Lisa asked, tilting her head.
‘Boredom’s a mindset,’ he said. ‘I’ve got the app, the cottage, Prom. It’s enough.’
Lisa laughed. The sound, bright and jangling, bounced off the old wooden panels of The Jekyll and Hyde. ‘But you’resotalented. This place is for codgers and people who gave up. Look around, Kieran. Is this where you want to be?’
