She frowns. ‘Hey, what is it? You can tell me, you know.’ She gives a rueful laugh. ‘I’m rubbish at talking – I always get tongue-tied and go red, especially if there’s a guy I like within a radius of about half a mile – but I’m really good at listening.’
She smiles encouragingly, and a tear slips down my cheek.
Maybe it’s the tiredness. Or the pain in my ankle. Or the gnawing anxiety that’s ever-present, now I know Eva and I will soon be homeless. But suddenly, it’s all just too much to bear alone. And Carrie always seems so kind and gentle; the sort who won’t judge another person harshly…
So I pour my heart out to her, and she listens without saying a word, although there’s a look of escalating horror on her face as I tell her about the hold my landlord has over us.
‘You have to tell someone,’ she says at last, taking my hand and stroking it. ‘The police need to know he’s a crook.’
I shake my head. ‘He’ll just blag his way out of it and say he was doing me a favour. I can’t prove he was doing anything wrong. Not with me, anyway.’
She frowns. ‘You can get him investigated for tax evasion and being an unscrupulous landlord.’
I nod. ‘That’s true. All his business is probably done under the radar. I’ve seen his poky little office.’ I shrug helplessly. ‘But if I point the finger at him, he’ll just turn us straight out onto the streets. And I can’t let that happen. If it was just me, I wouldn’t care. I’d rather sleep in the park than have to stay under one of that bastard’s roofs for a second longer than I had to. But there’s Eva…what about her? It’s hard enough trying to stay cheerful every day for her sake. But I don’t think even I could put a positive slant on us being turned out of the only home she’s known since Mum left.’
Carrie frowns. ‘I can’t believe you’ve kept all this to yourself for so long.’
‘Thanks for listening, Carrie. It’s really helped.’
‘Any time you need to talk, I’m here. And by the way, if you’re desperate, you and Eva, you come to me, okay? I’ll give you my number. Call any time, night or day. There’s always a bed for you on my couch.’
Tears prick my lids. ‘Thank you. That means such a lot.’ I shake my head. ‘You’ve no idea.’
We exchange a look of understanding. Then I change the subject. ‘So listen, I hear that Adam was the fastest male runner. I hope you’re going to ask him if he’d like to share your voucher for a meal for two?’
She laughs awkwardly, an instant blush suffusing her clear complexion. ‘No way on earth. I could never do that.’
I shrug. ‘Why not? I mean, you’re both winners. It seems only natural that you should celebrate together.’
‘Yes, well, you might be that brave. But I’m definitely not.’ She covers her rosy cheeks with her hands and makes a strangled sound that’s somewhere between a groan and a squeak.
I smile and shake my head at her, but I know exactly where she’s coming from. I’m no better at the love game than Carrie. I’d never dare ask Matt out for a meal.
Unless…
She stands up. ‘Right. I’d better go. Krystle will be looking for me. Will you be all right?’
I nod and she goes off to find her twin.
I take a deep breath and blow it out slowly. And as there’s no-one within earshot to hear me, I bend my head in my hands and mutter, ‘Fucking Jaxon Savidge!’
There’s a rustle behind me and I swing round. Madison is standing there, holding out a glass of what looks like lime juice cordial.
‘Thanks, Madison. Can I pay you later?’
She gives me an odd look. ‘It’s on me. You deserve it.’ And she walks away, back to the café.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
On Monday morning, when I get off the bus at the cafe, my heart leaps to see Matt’s car parked there, and my insides instantly start whirling around like a washing machine.
I have to be brave.
When I pop my head into the workshop, he’s there, sitting on a wooden stool reading a newspaper, a coffee on the workbench beside him. He’s wearing a green checked shirt that brings out the colour of his eyes, and when he smiles at me, my throat goes dry.
‘Hi, Molly. How’s the ankle?’ He folds his paper, tosses it onto the bench and gets up.
‘Much better, actually. I put frozen peas on it and the swelling went down.’
‘Good. Have you got time for a coffee?’ He indicates his own cup.
‘No, but thanks.’ I swallow. ‘It was so lovely of you to rescue me on Saturday.’
He grins. ‘I enjoyed it. I’ve never laughed so much during a race. My back was a bit stiff yesterday but it was well worth it.’
‘I can’t believe you managed to cart me all that way on your back.’
‘Ah, you’re light as a feather, Molly Hooper.’ He touches my arm and my entire body leaps in response. I smile up at him, knowing I’m here for a reason but wondering if I’m brave enough. The light in his eyes as he gazes down at me almost puts me off my game, but I take a deep breath. ‘I was wondering if I could buy you a drink some time? Or a coffee? Just to say thanks?’
His eyes are burning into mine and the breath flutters in my throat as I wait for his reply. It’s as if the earth has stopped spinning and I’m caught in his spell, with no wish to ever escape…
His mouth curves into a smile. ‘I’d like that. Very much,’ he murmurs, his velvety tones provoking delicious shivers in some interesting places. ‘But how about dinner? On me? I’ve just sold that Jane Austen first edition to my very excited buyer, and I’m in the mood to celebrate.’
‘Oh. But…I wanted to treat you.’
He shrugs. ‘Being in your company is all the treat I need. When are you free?’ Doubt fills his eyes suddenly. ‘Are you free, Molly?’
I swallow, knowing he’s remembering Jaxon putting his arm around me on the village green. A surge of anger rises up inside me, thinking how Jaxon Savidge has managed to spread his poison to so many areas of my life.
‘That man you saw me with is my landlord,’ I tell him firmly. ‘There’s absolutely nothing going on there.’ I shudder to emphasise my point.
He studies me for a moment, then he nods. ‘Okay. Good.’
My face falls as I remember Eva. A quick drink or a coffee could be fitted in while she’s still at the after-school club or at a friend’s house, but dinner would be an altogether different matter.
‘Something wrong?’ he asks.
‘I’d need to get a babysitter for Eva.’
‘Yes, of course.’
A memory of running into him that time in the pizza place suddenly flashes into my head. Matt telling me that he ate nothing but microwaved meals and take-aways. An idea pops into my head. A solution to the babysitter problem. ‘I could cook for you. If you like?’
‘Sounds good.’ He nods. ‘I’ll bring the wine. Red or white?’
‘Either. But if it’s shepherd’s pie, probably red.’ Relief is flooding through me because he didn’t turn me down.