“That’s why you worked as a dog walker, is it? Because you like to mingle with your fellow man?”
“I dealt with their owners too, remember.”
“Barely.” It seemed Jules was on a roll. “And what do you do when the dog walking stops?” she said. “Instead of getting a job in an office or a coffee shop, which London is full of, by the way, you buy yourself a knackered old van and become a skip rat. How’s that for avoidance?”
“Roadside reclamation specialist, if you don’t mind.”
“Same thing.”
As much as I didn’t want to admit it, the incident on Fotherghyll Fell had already highlighted some of what Jules was saying. But I’d never been one for small talk amongst strangers or felt the need to have a big circle of friends. And whereas I’d always put that down to being an only child and simply being happy in my own company, Jules, who would talk to everyone and anyone, claimed I just hadn’t found my circle yet. As for Little Leatherington, Jules had visited the place and therefore had to know how weird the residents were. I told her about Ted Sharples, the old man from The Cobblestone Tavern to prove my point.
“He’s entitled to be grumpy,” Jules said. “It’s one of the perks of getting old.”
I told her about Flat Cap Man.
“There’s nothing wrong with a bit of quirkiness.”
I told her about the woman in the shop.
“I wouldn’t have stopped reading either if I’d got to a good bit.”
I scoffed. “It was more than a goodbit.Her eyes didn’t leave the pages the whole time I was in there.”
“What do you expect?” Jules looked at me like I’d lost the plot. “It’s Little Leatherington. The woman doesn’t have to watch everyone that comes in. It’s not like down here where every other customer is a potential shoplifter. It’s a village, Antonia, and in villages people operate on trust.”
I stared at my friend. “Jules, the woman wore deely boppers.”
“Duh. It is Christmas.”
Jules had always had the ability to be positive no matter the situation. That was one of the things I loved about her. And opening my mouth to tell her about Jason, I couldn’t wait to hear what spin she’d come up with to explain his behaviour. Closing it again, I thought better of it. Jules was my best friend and the last thing I wanted to do was spoil any fond memories she had of her childhood crush.
“It’s why you’re still single,” Jules carried on.
“What is?” I asked. Only seconds before, we were talking about my trip to the village store and I didn’t have a clue what the shopkeeper’s headwear or reading habits had to do with my love life.
“The fact that you’re not a people person.”
Our conversation seemed to have gone full circle.
“I mean, when was the last time you went on a date?” Jules asked.
“I don’t know. Six months ago?”
She tilted her head, knowingly.
“Seven?” I said. “Eight maybe?”
“It was twelve.”
I should have known she was keeping tabs.
“And can you remember who you went on that date with?”
“Nope.”
“Which proves my point. A genuine people person wouldn’t forget. Good or bad, they’d recall some of the details.” She paused, a mischievous smile crossing her lips. “Which brings me to Oliver Chase.”
I narrowed my eyes. “What about him?”
