“I know you all think I’m a sad, lonely old lady with an overactive imagination, but you need to be careful. If Cynthia’s coming after me then she might come after you too. None of us are safe until we can prove what she’s done.”
Chapter Nineteen
Nova
For the next two hours, the pair stood in silence on the beach, being battered by icy wind and, at one point, driving rain. Nova was wearing her red coat and a beret, both of which were soon soaked through, causing her teeth to chatter. She was beginning to worry that she and Phyllis might catch pneumonia when the vet finally called to say that Craddock was stable but still very unwell. As far as Nova could hear, the vet was waiting for the full toxicology report, but his best bet was poisoning by something called theobromine. He wanted to keep Craddock in overnight and told Phyllis he’d call her in the morning with more news.
Nova worried that Phyllis might insist on staying on the beach all night, but thankfully she came off the phone and immediately walked off the beach, without so much as a thank-you or good-bye. Still, Nova was concerned about the poor woman. She didn’t know much about Phyllis’s personal life, but she suspected she was quite isolated, and so goodness knows what she’d do if Craddock didn’t pull through.
It was gone six by the time Nova got back to the house, freezing and desperate to sink into a hot bath. But no sooner had she walkedthrough the front door than she found Craig waiting for her in the hall.
“Hey, where have you been? Why are you soaking?”
“It’s a long story.”
“Well, I’m afraid it’s going to have to wait, as Mum wants us to leave in fifteen minutes.”
“Where are we going?”
Craig tapped Nova’s forehead affectionately. “It’s pub quiz night, remember? Your last before you officially become a Pritchard!”
Nova’s heart sank. “Oh love, I’ve had a hideous day. Can’t we just stay at home, there’s something I need to—”
“I hope you’re not trying to wiggle out of it again,” Pamela said, sweeping into the hall. “Come on, lazybones, you have to come tonight, it’s going to be a special one.” She gave Nova a dramatic wink. “You might want to get changed and brush your hair first though.”
Nova ran a self-conscious hand through her wet, windswept hair.
“I think you look sexy, like a wild Cornish mermaid,” Craig said, smiling and kissing her. “But I’m afraid we do have to go: Mum’s been plotting something.”
Nova soon learned what Pamela’s plot was when they walked into the Anchor thirty minutes later to a roar of “surprise!” and pink confetti being thrown in her eyes.
“I know you didn’t want a hen do but you have to dosomethingto celebrate your last days as an unmarried woman,” Pamela said. “So, I invited a few ladies along to celebrate.”
“A few ladies” turned out to be about fifteen of Pamela’s friends, most of whom Nova had never met before, plus a couple of Craig’s old schoolmates. She was relieved to see Lauren’s face among the crowd.
“Sorry, I wanted to warn you, but Mum swore me to secrecy andyou know what she’s like,” Craig whispered, putting his arm round Nova’s shoulder. “Although I did make her promise no penis straws.”
“You’re not deserting me here, are you?” Nova said and Craig laughed.
“Of course not. Just put up with the fuss for a bit and then it’s the pub quiz, and everyone will be so focused on winning that you can escape and join me.”
Nova was handed a glass of prosecco, and before she knew it, she had a “Bride-to-be” sash thrown over her and a bright pink veil on her head.
“I know you refuse to wear a veil at the wedding, but you have to wear it tonight,” Pamela said, and Nova thought she saw a glint of victory in the woman’s eyes.
Nova fixed a smile on her face and launched into small talk about wedding menus (smoked salmon to start, beef or chicken and then a trio of desserts), flowers (Pamela was in charge) and honeymoon plans (on hold, as they were saving up for a house). After half an hour, she made her excuses and slunk off to the toilet. Nova’s head was thumping, not helped by the two glasses of prosecco she’d downed in quick succession, and she’d still not warmed up from her freezing afternoon on the beach with Phyllis. Nova was therefore relieved to step into the relative quiet and solitude of the loos. Yet no sooner had the door swung closed behind her than it opened again. Nova returned the rigid smile to her face, then relaxed when she saw it was Lauren.
“Thank God it’s only you.”
“How are you holding up?”
“I don’t mean to sound ungrateful, but this is literally my idea of hell.”
Lauren chuckled. “I did try and tell Pamela, but she wasn’t hearing any of it.”
“I was going to say it’s sweet of her to go to all this effort, but I’m starting to think she’s done it on purpose to get her revenge over the stupid wedding photographer mess up.”
“Oh yeah, I heard about that,” Lauren said, wincing.
