‘Wow, that’s a greeting and a half,’ Anna-Lisa said, laughing.
‘Come on in out of the cold, lasses, you’re the first ones here.’
‘That’s because we’re keen to get started,’ said Mim.
‘Nothing new there with you two,’ Carly said with a giggle.
The two friends stepped into the warmth of the hallway, dodging the dogs who shot by them, racing into the kitchen.
‘Looks like we’re not the only ones keen to get started,’ said Anna-Lisa.
‘Hi, ladies, just pretend I’m not here.’ Owen popped his head round the door of the living room.
‘Hi, Owen,’ said Anna-Lisa.
‘Hi, Owen, I hope we don’t disturb you with all our noisy chatter,’ said Mim.
‘Don’t worry about that, I’ve got a few films lined up on Netflix to keep me entertained. You lot just enjoy yourselves.’
‘Don’t worry, we will. Come on through,’ said Carly.
Before long the kitchen was filled with the laughter and chatter of the group of friends.
‘So what does your husband think of you joining us tonight, Gemma?’ Carly asked the vicar’s wife.
‘Yeah, we can be a bit of a rowdy bunch when we get going – all very harmless I should add,’ said Lou. ‘I get disapproving reports coming back to me at the shop from Pat Motson and the likes, as if I have nothing to do with it. It’s hilarious.’
‘Ooh, she’ll be turning herself inside out tonight, especially since she thinks we’re having a racy party complete with a male stripper,’ said Mim.
‘She doesn’t?’ Gemma pressed her hand to her mouth, her eyes growing wide.
‘Oh, but she does. And she knows all about you joining us, too,’ said Debbie, who lived two doors away at Yew Tree Cottage.
‘Hmm. Should be interesting explaining that to David,’ said Gemma.
‘Shame we don’t have a stripper.’ Michelle, who was new to the village herself, gave a throaty laugh.
‘And you should’ve seen the curtain twitching at Cuckoo’s Nest Cottage as I walked by. It was in overdrive,’ said Amy. ‘Pat Motson actually stopped me when I was on the way back from a run the other day and asked if there was any truth in the rumours that you were leading us all astray, Carly.’
‘Hah! Really, she put it like that?’ Carly asked, giggling.
‘She did, and I told her, yes, you very much were, and we were all thoroughly enjoying it, which sent her scurrying back into her house with a face like a slapped backside.’
‘Oh, fabulous.’ Sharon from Rosemary Cottage joined in the giggling.
Anna-Lisa picked up a corn chip and popped it into her mouth. ‘Fab nachos, by the way, Mim.’
‘Thanks, it’s down to the skill of how you grate the cheese. I think I’ve perfected my technique.’
‘Actually, there’s something I’ve been meaning to ask you, Mim,’ said Sharon.
‘Oh, what’s that?’
‘Who’s that gorgeous hunk you get a lift to work with? He looks very tasty.’ Sharon waggled her eyebrows mischievously.
Mim felt herself flush. ‘Oh, erm, that’s Caspar. Caspar De Verre, he’s new at our office and travels in this way so he picks me up and drops me off.’
‘Oh, I know of that family,’ said Gemma. ‘They have some sort of company that, from what I can gather, deal with, well, nobody knows what really. But I’ve heard their name mentioned in relation to property development. Actually, I do believe the family used to be called Cleghorn but they changed it to De Verre in the eighties. As I say, no one’s really sure what kind of business it is they run, but they have a certain reputation, if you know what I mean. They seem to have their fingers in lots of pies, some of them supposedly unsavoury – but I didn’t say that.’
‘Hmph. Why doesn’t that surprise me?’ said Anna-Lisa.
‘Yes, rumour has it they’re not the sort of family to get on the wrong side of.’ Gemma looked over at Mim. ‘But they’re only rumours; I’m sure Caspar’s very nice.’
Mim mustered up a smile despite the clench in her stomach.
The evening passed quickly and soon Carly, Mim and Anna-Lisa were waving Gemma and the rest of the friends off at the doorstep. ‘Thanks for coming, lasses,’ said Carly. She raised her voice. ‘And how many pairs of crotchless knickers did you say you wanted to order, Gemma?’ She gave a theatrical wink followed by a cheeky grin.
Gemma managed to make herself heard amongst the giggles. ‘Ooh, let’s make it seven, one for every day of the week.’
‘Woah, Rev Dave’ll think it’s his birthday and Christmas all rolled into one.’ Amy roared with laughter. ‘We’ll all have to go to church and see how big his smile’s got.’
‘It’s not his smile getting bigger I’d be worried about,’ Sharon said, cackling.
‘Get your mind out of the gutter, Sharon. That’s smutty talk about our local man of the cloth,’ said Lou.
‘Come on you lot, let’s get home. Thanks for inviting me, Carly. I’ll play hostess for the next one if you like? You can all come and join me at the draughty vicarage,’ said Gemma.
‘Sounds great,’ said Carly.
‘Good to see we haven’t scared you off.’ Amy slotted her arm through Gemma’s and they made their way along the path and into the night.
‘Well, that’s what I’d call a great night.’ Carly pressed the door shut with a click. ‘Can I tempt you ladies to any more wine?’
‘Sounds like a plan. I’d do anything to stretch tonight out, make the weekend seem longer,’ said Anna-Lisa. ‘And it has been a brilliant night.’
Mim curled up on the floor next to Herbert who rested his big, square head in her lap, making little grunts of contentment as she smoothed his ears. ‘Yep, it was a brilliant night, Carly, thanks for playing hostess.’ It felt good to forget her worries for a few hours, though what Gemma had said about Caspar’s family had unnerved her a little, but she’d done her best to push the thoughts away.
‘Yeah, it was great, just what we needed after the week we’ve had at work,’ said Anna-Lisa. ‘And Gemma’s great fun, isn’t she?’
‘She is, I’m glad we invited her. I bet she’s like a breath of fresh air up at that vicarage,’ said Carly. She turned the lights down, leaving just the glow from the under-cupboard lighting boosted by the fairy-lights that were woven around the branches of a large lemon tree that sat by the bi-fold doors. It lent a cosy air to the kitchen. ‘And from what you were just saying, I’m guessing things haven’t got any better at work then?’
‘No,’ Mim and Anna-Lisa chorused, taking it in turns to tell her about things going missing.
‘Hmm. Sounds pretty dodgy to me. And you think that Honey girl’s got something to do with it?’
‘We’re pretty certain,’ said Anna-Lisa. ‘And, for some reason, she seems to have got it in for Mim.’
‘It sounds to me like a case of the green-eyed monster,’ said Carly.
Mim rubbed her eyes, trying to get her contact lenses back into place. She found whenever she was tired or had had a bit too much to drink, they had a habit of floating about, making it difficult for her to focus. ‘It’s created a horrible atmosphere at work, and we honestly don’t know what to expect next. If I think too much about it, I actually feel really scared about what she might do next.’
‘I’m guessing your thing with Caspar hasn’t gone down well with her,’ said Carly.
Mim noted her use of the word “thing” rather than relationship; it said a lot. She nodded. ‘I think so. I do know she likes him; she’s asked if I think he fancies her, but her reaction to it’s a bit extreme.’
‘How old did you say she was? She sounds like a teenager.’ Carly topped up their wine glasses.
‘Tell me about it. She’s a very immature twenty-two,’ said Mim.
The three friends continued chatting away, picking at the leftover snacks and sipping wine. Owen ventured into the kitchen, padding across the floor in his chunky socks. ‘Sorry to intrude
, ladies, I’m just going to grab a plateful of left-overs for my supper, then I’ll be out of your hair.’
‘Hey, it’s us who should be out of your hair, we’re getting dangerously close to outstaying our welcome,’ said Anna-Lisa.
‘Rubbish! The night is young.’ Carly filled a plate with snacks and handed it to her husband. ‘There you go, lovie. Enjoy.’
‘Mmm. This lot looks good. Right, I’ll leave you in peace.’
Once Owen had gone, Anna-Lisa turned to Mim. ‘While I remember, I keep meaning to ask how the Dark Count’s driving has been after your near miss with that McHubbard & Smithy lorry? Please tell me he’s calmed it right down.’
Before Mim had chance to answer Carly jumped up. ‘Ooh, that reminds me, there’s an article in this week’s York Gazette about one of that firm’s drivers. Apparently, he was found on some waste land. He’d been quite badly beaten up.’
Mim’s blood ran cold as she remembered Caspar’s reaction the day they came off the road. Gemma’s words of earlier swirled around her mind. Surely neither he nor his family would have had anything to do with the lorry driver being hurt. Caspar certainly didn’t give the impression he was the fighting kind. But what if he’d got someone else to do it for him? Would he do that, rather than getting his own hands dirty? After what she’d heard tonight, she had a horrible feeling he probably would.
‘Are you okay, chick? The colour’s drained from your face,’ said Carly.
‘It has, Mim. What’s up? I can tell there’s something the matter. Has it got anything to do with what Carly’s just said? Do you know something about it? Does Caspar’s family have something to do with it?’
Mim looked across at her friends, marshalling the thoughts that were tumbling around her mind. The feeling of unease about Caspar and his family was increasing by the second. She couldn’t say with all honesty that she didn’t think they had anything to do with it. And she couldn’t shake the suspicion that there was clearly more to that dangerous look in his eyes than she’d bargained for. And, much as he’d told her not to tell anyone about the favour he’d asked of her, she decided to share it with her friends whose views she’d always valued. ‘I’m okay, and I honestly don’t know if Caspar had anything to do with the lorry driver, he hasn’t said anything to me. But … there’s something I’d appreciate your opinion on.’
‘This sounds serious, Mim. You’re worrying me,’ said Anna-Lisa.
‘The more I think about it, the more I think it is serious. He’s asked me to do him a favour, a pretty big one actually, and I’m a bit uneasy about it.’
Mim shared the conversation she’d had with Caspar, adding how keen he’d been for her to cancel that night with her friends. They listened, their expressions growing more and more alarmed. ‘So, what do you think it’s all about? Do you think it sounds legit?’
‘Shit, Mim, no, I don’t. I think it sounds seriously dodgy. He casually asks if some clients of his parents you’ve never heard of can pay a hundred and twenty grand into your bank account like it’s nothing.’ Anna-Lisa wore an expression of utter disbelief.
‘And he said it was payment for cars that are being sold abroad? Makes you wonder what kind of cars they are to cost that much between them. Are they gold-plated or something?’ Carly looked as concerned as Anna-Lisa. ‘It’s hardly your run-of-the-mill favour, is it?’
‘I must admit, it made me feel a bit suspicious. I really wish he hadn’t asked me,’ said Mim. ‘And I can’t understand why he did; surely his parents must have plenty of their own friends who could do it for them.’
‘Which makes it all the more worrying,’ said Carly.
‘You realise if you agree to it your bank might start asking questions? After all – no offence, Mim – it’s hardly like you, or any of us, to get deposits as huge as that on a regular basis,’ said Anna-Lisa.
‘Non taken. I’ve never had anything remotely like that in my bank.’
‘How did you leave it with him?’ asked Carly.
‘I told him I’d let him know on Monday. He wasn’t very happy about it, but with it being such an odd thing, I wanted to have a chance to think it over.’
‘Hmph. I bet he expected you to say yes straightaway,’ said Anna-Lisa.
‘If I’m honest, I think that was probably why he was keen for me to cancel tonight with you guys, so he could come over and work on me.’ Much as Mim hated bad-mouthing Caspar to her friends, she knew there was more than a grain of truth in her words. A wave of sadness washed over her, making her wonder if his flattering words were nothing more than a cold-hearted ploy to manipulate her so she’d do what he wanted.
‘Jeez, Mim, imagine if you’d backed down about tonight and he’d plied you with drink and managed to get your bank details out of you,’ said Anna-Lisa.
‘Ughh! Don’t.’ Mim put her head in her hands, remembering how close she’d come to giving in to him.
‘Looks like you’ve had a lucky escape tonight, chick, but I’m surprised he hasn’t pushed to see you tomorrow,’ said Carly.
‘When I first told him I wasn’t free on Friday, I suggested Saturday – it was before I’d arranged to do something with Anna and Aidey – but he said he was doing something with his parents so couldn’t meet up; he seemed a bit weird about it.’
‘I’ll bet he did. I knew he was dodgy from the moment I set eyes on him,’ said Anna-Lisa. ‘I couldn’t put my finger on it, but I just knew there was something shifty about him. That’s why I told you to always trust your gut, Mim, which is exactly what you did today, and I’m so bloody pleased you listened to it, hon.’
‘Me, too, but I’m dreading Monday, that’s if he doesn’t turn up on Sunday.’
‘Wouldn’t he text you first? You could always pretend to be out,’ said Anna-Lisa.
‘He doesn’t have my mobile number, and I don’t have his. I did offer him mine but he said he didn’t need it since he saw me pretty much every day.’
‘Really? Didn’t that strike you as odd? Everyone has each other’s mobile number these days; we’ve even got Catherine and Kenneth’s, not that I’d ever be tempted to text them.’
‘I suppose it did a bit.’
‘I’m worried about you in case the slime ball decides to call round and work on you, so I think we should do all we can to make sure you’re not left on your own this weekend. I’m happy to stay on Sunday night, too, if you’d like?’ said Anna-Lisa.
‘Really?’ That thought was very appealing to Mim; there was no love lost between him and Anna-Lisa, and there was no way Caspar would hang around if she was there, but all the same, she didn’t like to think of her coming between Anna and Caleb when their relationship was on such shaky ground.
‘And it goes without saying that you only have to text, call or whatever and Owen or I would be along like a shot,’ said Carly.
Mim looked at the two women. ‘You two are the most amazing friends I could ever have, thank you.’
‘You’d do the same for us,’ said Anna-Lisa.
‘True, and I know it’s easier said than done, but just do your best not to think about it over the weekend. You’re entitled to switch off; it’s bad enough worrying about Honey without him adding to your problems. From what I can gather, he ain’t worth it, chick,’ said Carly.
28
‘Morning, sleeping beauty. Did you sleep any better than usual last night?’ Anna-Lisa was sipping coffee and gazing out of the window as Mim made her way into the kitchen, squinting.
‘Not really, but at least I could have a lie-in today which has helped.’ She yawned and gave her head a vigorous scratching. ‘’Ughh! This mop of mine’s driving me mad, it’s so dry and frazzled and is always full of knots and stuff.’
Herbert trotted over to her, his tail swishing happily. ‘Hiya, Herbs.’ Mim bent and rubbed his head.
‘Stuff?’ Anna-Lisa pulled a face of disgust.
‘Mmm-hmm. I’ve found food crumbs in there before now, a clump of congealed scrambled egg, bits of
fluff, bits of paper, you name it.’
‘Ughh! Why doesn’t that surprise me?’
‘I’m actually surprised I haven’t found any wildlife nesting in there.’
‘You’re such a delight. Here, get your mouth around this, it’ll give you the kick-start you need.’ Anna-Lisa handed Mim a mug of coffee which she took gratefully.
‘Mmm. Thanks.’
‘And where are your glasses? You wouldn’t need to squint if you wore them.’
‘Haven’t seen them for months. Don’t worry, they’ll turn up. I lost them before the delightful Honey started working with us so I know it’s nothing to do with her.’
‘Ughh! Don’t mention that girl this morning. Anyway, how’s your head?’
‘I’ve known it worse after one of our get-togethers.’
‘Yep, me too. We must’ve been taking it steady.’
‘Or we ate enough to soak up all the alcohol.’
‘Yep, that’s probably more accurate.’
After a cold and soggy week, they’d been blessed with a bright sunny autumnal morning. It was almost as if Mother Nature was trying to cheer them up after the tough time they’d been having at work. Mim sat down at the table and closed her eyes, letting the sun’s rays melt over her, warming right through to her bones. She sighed. ‘This is bliss.’
Soon she was overheating and she slipped off her pyjama top, leaving her vest top underneath. ‘Phew! I’m roasting.’
‘Yeah, there’s a lot of warmth in that sun behind glass. It’s a nice change after the rai… Mim! Your arms.’
‘What? Ah, I’d forgotten about that. Yeah, my psoriasis has been acting up a bit recently.’ Mim felt herself flush, though she wasn’t embarrassed about Anna-Lisa seeing her like this, more that she would know the cause and would attribute some of the blame to Caspar. And she’d be right.
‘Oh, chick, they look really sore. Haven’t you got any cream for it?’
‘I’ve run out, and since it’s such a long time since I had a repeat prescription, I have to make an appointment with one of the doctors before they’ll give me any more, which I just haven’t had time to do.’
Tell That to My Heart Page 23