Chapter 10

Chapter Ten

T aking the shortcut across the green the shops encircled, Bea plunged her hands into her pockets, glad she'd grabbed her coat before heading out and equally glad she'd offered to go and escape the chaos her bookshop had been plunged into. Both Peony and Isaac were shattered after a full day at school and nursery and then the drama of their home flooding, and Lindsey and Rob were equally stressed and tired. Hopefully, once the two little ones had some food in their bellies, their parents could have a bit of time to come to terms with all that had happened and begin to work out how to fix it.

She paused outside the restaurant and looked back across the green towards her little bookshop. Looking at it from afar never ceased to give her butterflies and a warm glow in her chest. The hanging baskets on either side of the shop door and the illuminated window display she updated every week, the hand painted sign above the door and window – Bea's Bookshop. She'd done this. She'd made her home and her little business. All by herself, and she couldn't help but feel a shot of pride every time she thought about it.

Shaking herself from her thoughts, she pushed the door open to Ruby's restaurant, the aroma of home cooking pulling her inside. She looked around. It was busy tonight, not full, but busy for a Friday evening. Half the tables had customers, and a few people were sitting on the sofas designated for those waiting for takeaway orders. Walking up to the counter, she pulled her mobile out, checking that she'd not had a message from Lindsey to ask her to pick anything else up.

‘Evening, Bea. How's it going? What can I get you tonight?' Ruby, with her auburn hair tied back in a tidy ponytail, arrived behind the counter.

‘Hi, Ruby. I've actually got my sister and her family staying for a couple of days, so I'm after a family sized mac and cheese, please?' Bea slipped her mobile back into her pocket.

‘Absolutely.' Ruby glanced behind her at the large silver clock hanging between the super-sized wall menus. ‘It'll be about twenty minutes. That's nice you having them over.'

‘Yes, it's going to be a bit of a squeeze, but it should be fun. It looks busy in here for a Friday.' Bea nodded towards the tables. Saturday was usually Ruby's busy day what with tourists enjoying a relaxed lunch between sight-seeing, regulars popping in for a cuppa and a cake and, of course, the sleuth of customers treating themselves to dinner out or a takeaway in the evening.

‘Yes, Nettleford's choir has a performance starting at the town hall later, so people are treating themselves to dinner before going.' Ruby grinned. ‘You know me, though. I prefer it when it's busy.'

Bea laughed. ‘Yes. I know you.' After watching Ruby disappear back into the kitchen, Bea turned and leaned against the counter. She didn't know how Ruby did it. There was always someone to serve, something to cook, more so in the summer tourist season, and yet Ruby only had a couple of people working for her. The book shop ticked over nicely but…

‘Bea. Hey, over here.' Fleur's voice tore her from her thoughts.

Looking over towards the table area, Bea spotted Fleur sitting at the table in the window. Wearing a navy dress, black cardigan and heels, she was definitely on another date with her new man. After looking around to see if she could spot Fleur's date, Bea walked across to her table. ‘You look lovely. Love your dress. Where's your date?'

‘Thanks.' Fleur indicated the chair opposite her and pulled a face. ‘Drew's stuck in traffic so I'm just sitting here on my own trying desperately not to look like a billy no mates.'

‘Aw no, at least you've got the table in the window.' Bea looked out across the green towards the bookshop, watching as a red Nissan pulled up outside, mounting the kerb with little consideration. Her shoulders slumped. She knew whose Nissan that was – Adam's. She'd have to tell him to move it before Gregory noticed. He had wasted no time in coming over then. He must have jumped in the car as soon as Rob had rung to let him know she'd relented and said he could stay the night. That or he'd assumed she'd let him and been on his way already. She checked her watch quickly. Yep, that was definitely plausible.

‘… but then he…' Fleur nudged Bea beneath the table with her foot.

Tearing her eyes from the image of her ex-husband entering her home with a large holdall swung over his shoulder, Bea looked back towards Fleur. ‘Sorry, I was miles away.'

‘I did get that distinct impression.' Fleur frowned. ‘What's up? Trying to spot Scott?'

‘What? No!' Bea answered with a little too much force and quickly continued. ‘No, Adam has just arrived.'

‘Arrived? Adam? Where? Here?' Twisting in her seat, Fleur peered outside.

‘He's just gone in.' Bea turned the single red rose around in the vase sitting in the middle of the table.

Turning back to her, Fleur widened her eyes. ‘Why on earth do you have your ex-husband in your bookshop?'

‘He was staying over at Lindsey's place after breaking up with his…' She twisted the stem of the rose back around so the flower was facing Fleur. ‘…now ex. Anyway, Rob hit a pipe or something and the house flooded and now they have no water, so they're staying at mine for a few days.'

‘Wow, there's so much to unpack there!' Fleur shook her head in disbelief. ‘Flood, no water, yes, I understand accidents happen and, from what you've told me, Rob's no expert in the field of DIY. But I'll ask again, why do you have your ex-husband staying at your place?'

Bea shrugged. ‘He has nowhere else to stay.'

‘Umm, I think he does, actually. We're in the heart of the Cotswolds, for goodness's sake. If he can't find a bed-and-breakfast here, he either can't use the internet and search engines or he's pulling a fast one.'

Shifting in her chair, Bea felt Fleur's gaze on her. ‘I know what it looks like, but I just felt bad.'

‘Yes, exactly. He's using you. Probably to save himself a few quid or else now he's broken up with the tart he left you for and he's seen what a success you've made the bookshop. He wants you back.'

‘Fleur! They weren't seeing each when we were married!' Clasping her hands in her lap, Bea looked down at the table. Apart from that fact, Fleur was right. She knew she was. Adam was taking her for a mug. He was using her.

Holding her hands up, palms forward, Fleur sighed. ‘I'm sorry, I know how that sounded and I don't mean to hurt your feelings, but you know what he's like. Heck, I wouldn't trust the bloke and I only know what you've told me about him.'

Bea nodded slowly before meeting her friend's eyes. ‘You're right. I know you are, but he's Rob's best mate, and he'd promised him their sofa, so he feels responsible. I'm helping Rob out, not Adam.'

‘I still don't understand how your brother-in-law can still be friends with the man who broke your heart.' Fleur shook her head, a look of disgust apparent on her face.

‘He didn't though. Adam didn't break my heart. The marriage was over way before he started seeing Jenny. And besides, Rob gave him the cold shoulder for months and it was me who told him to get in touch with Adam again because he just looked so miserable without his best mate around. They'd been friends since primary school. I couldn't get in the way of that bond.'

‘Umm, the marriage wasn't over. Not technically. You weren't divorced. Plus, if I remember correctly, you hadn't even sold your marital home. Didn't he start seeing her while you were still both living together, but apart, in the same house and that's why you moved in with Lindsey?' Fleur flared her nostrils and reached across the table, waiting until Bea had placed her hand in hers before squeezing it tight. ‘I'm sorry. I just hate the thought of you being upset.'

‘Who's upset?' Scott's voice broke the conversation.

Jerking her head up, Bea realised Scott had come across to their table. ‘Where did you come from?'

‘Sorry, I didn't mean to sneak up on you.' Scott glanced down at the floor, looking sheepish.

Trying to push all thoughts of Adam and the dread of going home away, Bea forced herself to smile. ‘No worries. I just wasn't expecting to see you, that's all. What have you ordered?'

‘Oh, nothing.' Scott glanced back towards the bar. ‘I was just taking a look at one of Ruby's toasters.'

‘Oh right. Well, I wholeheartedly recommend the mac and cheese.' Bea glanced across the green again as a movement caught her eye and Adam's Nissan began to move. Lindsey must have told him to move it to a space around the back. At least she wouldn't have to deal with Gregory's wrath.

‘Unless you're sharing it with your idiot of an ex, that is.' Fleur's words were quiet but audible.

Looking across at her, Bea shook her head slightly. The last thing she wanted was for her dirty laundry to be aired in front of Scott. Not that she cared what he thought. Of course she didn't. She just didn't want him thinking Nettleford was the hotspot for drama, that's all.

Grimacing, Scott ran his palm across his face. ‘That doesn't sound particularly appetising.'

Yep, he'd heard her. Thanks, Fleur. Placing her hands palm down on the table in front of her, Bea took a deep breath in. She might as well tell him. By the morning the whole town would likely have heard, anyway. Nothing got by Gregory, whether or not he was around to see it. It wouldn't really surprise her too much to learn he had the town's CCTV playing on his mobile. ‘It's no big deal. My sister and her family are staying for a few days after a DIY mishap and my ex happened to be staying with them, so he's got my sofa this evening.'

Whistling through his teeth, Scott raised his eyebrows.

Umm, and that was it. Any tiny, slight, slither of a chance that Scott may have liked Bea as anything more than his reluctant mentor had just dissipated. Standing up, Bea turned her attention to Fleur, trying to cover her disappointment. ‘I hope Drew's not much longer and you enjoy your evening.'

‘Thanks.' Reaching out, Fleur rubbed Bea's arm. ‘If it gets too much, you know where my spare room is.'

‘Thanks.' Bea nodded before glancing at Scott as she walked past him towards the takeaway counter. ‘See you around.'

‘Ahh, that was good timing. I've got your mac and cheese right here.' Ruby grinned at her from behind the counter and passed over a brown paper bag.

‘Great. Thanks, Ruby.' Bea gave her a smile before pulling open the door and stepping outside. Pausing, she looked across towards the flat above her bookshop. She could see a line of light escaping between the curtains. He was probably up there, sitting on her sofa, drinking out of her mug, right now.

Why was she so bothered? She used to live with the man. One night wouldn't be so bad.

She heard someone open the door behind her before Scott's voice penetrated the quiet of Nettleford. ‘Is your food okay?'

Twisting on the spot, Bea came face-to-face with him, and she nodded towards the bag in her hand. ‘Yeah, fine. At least it smells great, anyway.'

‘You're not rushing home to enjoy it, then?'

Bea scrunched up her nose. Any other evening she'd be running across the green to flop onto her sofa and tuck into Ruby's mac and cheese with a good book, but tonight that was the last thing she wanted to do. ‘Oh, this isn't for me. I'm just going to drop it off to my sister and then I think I'll have a little wander.'

Scott glanced from her to the bookshop and back again. ‘Right. It's a nice night for a walk, fresh, crisp and freezing.'

Shaking her head, she laughed. It was true. Still, a little bit of cold would be preferable to making small talk with her ex-husband. ‘I think I'll survive.'

After looking down at the floor, Scott looked back at her. ‘I'm going to grab some chips now if you fancy joining me? Maybe you could show me some sights of Nettleford I haven't seen yet?'

‘Umm.' Bea frowned. She had been after a bit of peace, but, hey, maybe it would be just as nice to have some company, especially Scott's. ‘Yes, sure.'

‘Great. I'll pop to the chippy while you're dropping that off then.'

‘Okay, thanks.' Bea smiled and turned towards the bookshop. She might as well go and get this over and done with.