Chapters (82)
- Cover
- Dedication
- ONE
- TWO
- THREE
- FOUR
- FIVE
- SIX
- SEVEN
- EIGHT
- NINE
- TEN
- ELEVEN
- TWELVE
- THIRTEEN
- FOURTEEN
- FIFTEEN
- SIXTEEN
- SEVENTEEN
- EIGHTEEN
- NINETEEN
- TWENTY
- TWENTY-ONE
- TWENTY-TWO
- TWENTY-THREE
- TWENTY-FOUR
- TWENTY-FIVE
- TWENTY-SIX
- TWENTY-SEVEN
- TWENTY-EIGHT
- TWENTY-NINE
- THIRTY
- THIRTY-ONE
- THIRTY-TWO
- THIRTY-THREE
- THIRTY-FOUR
- THIRTY-FIVE
- THIRTY-SIX
- THIRTY-SEVEN
- THIRTY-EIGHT
- THIRTY-NINE
- FORTY
- FORTY-ONE
- FORTY-TWO
- FORTY-THREE
- FORTY-FOUR
- FORTY-FIVE
- FORTY-SIX
- FORTY-SEVEN
- FORTY-EIGHT
- FORTY-NINE
- FIFTY
- FIFTY-ONE
- FIFTY-TWO
- FIFTY-THREE
- FIFTY-FOUR
- FIFTY-FIVE
- FIFTY-SIX
- FIFTY-SEVEN
- FIFTY-EIGHT
- FIFTY-NINE
- SIXTY
- SIXTY-ONE
- SIXTY-TWO
- SIXTY-THREE
- SIXTY-FOUR
- SIXTY-FIVE
- SIXTY-SIX
- SIXTY-SEVEN
- SIXTY-EIGHT
- SIXTY-NINE
- SEVENTY
- SEVENTY-ONE
- SEVENTY-TWO
- SEVENTY-THREE
- SEVENTY-FOUR
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Jan carried the tray containing the mugs of coffee and a plate of croissants through to the living room and placed them on the coffee table. Chris took his overalls and tool box to the front door.
‘So I don’t forget them,’ he said, with a self-deprecating smile as he returned.
He sat in his usual armchair. ‘Help yourself,’ she said, offering him a side plate and the croissants.
‘Thanks. These didn’t come from Lillian’s store?’
‘No, I drove into Coleshaw yesterday. But I did stop off there on the way back. I met your double.’
‘Oh yes, Robert Jarvis,’ Chris said. ‘We do look alike.’
‘Very much so.’
There was an awkward silence and Jan concentrated on her croissant. Then Chris said, ‘Lillian gave me a right bollocking for my behaviour, and told me to apologize. I am sorry, Jan. I know my reaction when you told me Tinder had been in Camile’s belongings was completely over the top.’
She nodded. ‘It’s forgotten,’ she said easily, and meant it. Any thoughts she’d had about dating Chris had gone, so with no vested interest it was easy to forgive him.
‘You see, Camile and I have history,’ Chris said, concentrating on his plate.
‘It’s fine, really,’ Jan said. ‘That’s your business. You’ve obviously been able to move on.’
He looked up questioningly.
‘Anne,’ Jan said.
‘Oh goodness me, no. Anne is a friend of Camile’s and mine, that’s all. When I told her of the problems you’d been having, and that I was going to check the fence at the back of the cottage, she offered to go with me.’
‘So that’s why you were in the woods – checking the fence?’ Jan asked.
‘Yes.’
But Jan remembered the expression on Anne’s face and wasn’t so sure.
‘You didn’t find a ball of twine while you were there?’ she asked. ‘Like the one I used to tie the planks of wood in place.’
‘No. But I can soon get you some more if you need it. They are cheap enough and I’m certain Lillian stocks them.’
‘It’s all right. There’s some in the shed.’
There was another awkward silence. Chris finished his croissant and then asked, ‘So you had a friend stay last night?’
‘Yes, Ruby.’
‘A woman then?’
Jan nodded.
He drained the last of his coffee and, standing, put the china in the sink. ‘I’d better be going,’ he said, ruffling Tinder’s fur. ‘Those screws should keep the fence in place, but if you have any more trouble let me know.’
‘Thank you.’
Jan went with him to the front door. He was about to open it but stopped and turned to her. ‘I am truly sorry about Wednesday,’ he said. ‘I’d like to make it up to you and take you out again.’
‘Really?’ Jan said, surprised.