“Would you like a cup of tea?” he asked.
“No thanks, I only came back to see if you needed any help.”
He raised an eyebrow at her, and she flushed anew. She cleared her throat theatrically.
“Anyway, you seem to be coping, so I’ll get back over the road if that’s okay, see if we can find this strongbox.”
Joe moved toward her and kissed her lightly and the familiar war of emotions filled her chest.
* * *
The morning sky was dark and the rain seemed determined to find its way inside her coat, but the cold helped to crystallize her scattered thoughts on her way to the curios shop. Joe wanted a relationship. She knew all the reasons why it wasn’t a good idea, but still, he wasn’t making it easy for her. If she was being completely honest with herself, it wasn’t only the age and baby thing that was holding her back. In her experience men always left, even the good ones. She’d loved Josh and he’d died; granted he hadn’t done it on purpose, but he’d left her all the same and part of her would be forever broken because of it. There had been others over the years and always they left in the end. Even her own father was only ever a fleeting presence. Each man who left took a piece of her heart with them; some took a bigger slice than others. The truth of it was that what remained of her heart was fragile and she couldn’t risk losing it. After all, life had taught her time and again that she wasn’t enough to make a person stay.
17
With Simone and Maggie having filled up respectively on carbs and orgasms, they joined Star back at the shop. They were standing in the kitchenette while Star made cups of tea. Duncan was still in the leather chair, working on his laptop.
“I saw Patrick in Betty’s, looks like I’m not the only one nursing a hangover today,” said Simone. “He looked rough.”
“He’s been catching up with his old friends while he’s home from uni. He hasn’t yet learned the art of moderation.”
“Like mother like son,” quipped Star.
“I get the feeling he’s worried about you. He didn’t say as much, but I got the impression he’s not keen on Joe.”
Maggie rolled her eyes. “Patrick is being overprotective. It would be sweet if it wasn’t so annoying. Plus, I think there’s some male rivalry there.”
“Does Joe try to tell him what to do?” asked Star.
“No, not at all. He’s really careful not to give Patrick any cause for alarm or animosity. Honestly the way Patrick speaks to him sometimes, I don’t know how Joe holds his tongue; I wouldn’t be able to. Unfortunately, despite Joe’s best efforts, Patrick still feels threatened.”
“He’s just looking out for his mum,” said Star. “I think it’s a boy thing.”
“I wish he’d realize that I don’t need looking out for. I’m the parent. I’m not sure when this shift in our dynamic happened. Joe thinks he knows something’s going on between us.”
“Everybody knows, Maggie!” Star drawled. “You two are the worst-kept secret since Charles and Camilla’s affair.”
“Star’s right,” said Simone.
“Maybe, if this thing with Joe is something that’s going to become serious, you ought to discuss it with Patrick, so he understands that Joe isn’t a threat to your family dynamic.”
“I don’t know where it’s going myself yet. Probably nowhere; there are a lot of things against us.”
“Like?” asked Star.
“My age. His age. My precarious living situation . . .”
“Wait, what? What’s precarious about your living situation?” Star asked, flicking the last teabag into a pot and handing out the steaming mugs. She’d had a feeling something was going on but couldn’t pin it down.
Maggie seemed to deliberate and then said, “I might as well tell you. But the kids don’t know yet, so keep it under your hats.”
“Um, do I need to leave?” Duncan called in, embarrassed. “I don’t want to intrude on a private matter.”
“It’s fine, Duncan. Everyone will know soon enough. I’m being evicted.”
“What!” Star and Simone said at once. “Are you serious?”
“As a heart attack. The landlord is converting the building into a boutique hotel. I’ve got until January the thirty-first to vacate.”
“Fuck!” said Star.
“Ditto that,” added Simone. “How long have you known?”
“Since September.”
“Why didn’t you say anything?” Star held her hand out to Maggie, who took it.
“I was hoping I could turn things around. I’ve had meetings with a solicitor and with the Citizens Advice Bureau. And obviously I’ve tried to reason with the landlord. None of it did any good. He’s not breaking any laws. I had my final eviction notice the other day.”
“But you’ve lived here on and off for nearly thirty years. You took the tenancy over from your mum! Doesn’t being a long-standing, rent-paying tenant count for anything anymore?” asked Simone.
“I guess the building is worth more with paying guests in it than a tenant. The Observer did one of their ‘Ten Prettiest Villages to Visit’ pieces awhile back, and Rowan Thorp was one of them; there’s money to be made.”
“Maggie, you have to tell the kids,” said Star. “At least Patrick.”
“I know, I know. It’s just hard. I didn’t want to worry them about something that might not happen. And then as I realized I didn’t have a legal leg to stand on, their granddad died. I couldn’t tell them then, could I? ‘Hey, guys, guess what? Granddad’s dead and we’re homeless!’ And now it’s nearly Christmas. I want them to have a carefree Christmas in their home, without worrying that it’ll be their last.”
Star nodded. “I get it. I do. I just hope it doesn’t come back to bite you in the arse.”
Maggie rubbed her eyes. “You and me both.”
“What will you do?” asked Simone.
“Well, I was hoping you both wouldn’t mind if we moved in here, just for a little while, while I get myself sorted. It would mean putting off selling the place for a bit. Although I suppose we could put it on the market while I’m living here; there’s no guarantee it would sell immediately anyway . . .”
“Take as much time as you need,” said Star, and Simone nodded emphatically.
“To tell you the truth, I could use a bit more time to get my head around selling it,” added Simone. “I know it’s the sensible thing to do, but now I’m here again . . .”
“I totally get it,” said Star, relieved that it wasn’t only her who felt an attachment to the place.
From a practical perspective it was simply a building with some land and woods attached, a potential pot of gold that they all badly needed a piece of. But standing here together, ensconced in their familial history and shared memories, it was hard for the sisters to stay detached.
“I’ll share Dad’s bedroom with Verity, and you can stay in our old room. Patrick will be back at university by then, and hopefully by the next time he comes home I’ll have something sorted.”