‘But can’t you talk it out? You’re so good together. Jesse adores you! You can’t just walk out on him!’
‘Jules, please don’t. Don’t put this all on me.’
‘He said you told him it was over.’
‘Did he tell you why?’
‘Something about the offer.’
‘Then please, as my friend, don’t judge me until you know the whole story.’
‘Then tell me the whole story!’ she said, grabbing my arm, tears filling her eyes. ‘He was happy!Youwere happy!’
‘And now it’s over. I’m sorry.’
I turned away. I understood that Jules had her alliances but it still hurt.
‘You know he’s leaving.’
I spun back. ‘What?’
‘Jesse’s leaving.’
‘Where?’
She shrugged, wiping away tears with the back of her hand.
‘Where is he now?’
‘Gone home to collect his things. He came to the café to say goodbye.’
It was for the best. At least I wouldn’t have to risk running into him in the village. There was no chance of ever being ‘just friends’. Our relationship was all or nothing.
‘Did he say where he was going?’
‘No. Just away. He’d talked about going away when Alice died but this is his home and, in the end, he decided to stay, but I don’t think he’s going to change his mind this time.’
‘He’ll be back, Jules. He has a home here, a business. Not to mention you and the rest of your family.’
‘But he doesn’t have you. And that outweighs everything. Because that’s all he wanted.’
‘And he’s all I ever wanted!’ I cried back at her. ‘You know that! I never thought I’d ever be able to love, or be loved by, someone like him. I didn’t even know love like that existed until I met your brother, so don’t you dare make out that this is easy for me!’
‘I know it’s not!’ She reached out and took my hands. The heat of the last few days had been building into thick and humid air. In the distance, a rumble sounded as a breeze began to rifle the thick, green canopy of the late summer trees. ‘I know,’ she said, more softly. ‘But you need to know he won’t come back. I know my brother.’
‘Of course he will. He’s not going to walk away from everything he has here.’
‘I know him,’ she repeated. ‘He’s done. Losing Alice here was bad enough and he never expected to be happy again. He’d accepted that. And then you came along and literally knocked him off his feet.’ She laughed through her tears. ‘He’s never been the same since.’ Jules sniffed. ‘And I know he’ll never be the same again. Please, Fliss. Talk to him at least! He made a mistake and I know how much that must have hurt you. But if you think he doesn’t trust you, you’re wrong. So, so wrong! Don’t you see? He cocked up on this, yes. He’s never been able to see straight when it comes to Magnus and, honestly, probably never will, but he trusts you! I can guarantee it. And you know how I know?’ she asked, her voice louder now as the thunder got closer, big, fat droplets of rain bouncing on the ground around us. ‘Because he gave you his heart. He trusted you with something he swore he’d never give away again.’
The rain poured down, mixing with the tears on both our faces, but neither of us moved. Jules’ hands gripped mine and I wasn’t sure when but I’d curled mine back around hers. Jesse had trusted me with his heart and I’d given him mine. And the truth was, I didn’t want it back. I knew that now. All I wanted was Jesse.
‘Where is he?’
A smile broke through my friend’s tears. She held out her hand. ‘Give me the keys. I’ll drive.’
23
I handed the keys over to Jules and my Mini took off like a rally car towards her brother’s house. She skidded to a halt on the drive.
