‘Are these the same friends who set themselves apart from you when they found out your family was no longer monied?’
‘Yes.’
‘Sounds like you’re better off without their influence.’
‘I completely agree.’ And I meant it. ‘But I needed to prove something to them and to the pupils at the other school. At least, I thought I did.’
‘Or was it more about proving something to yourself?’
‘Quite possibly. I’m sure if I’d ever taken time to go to a therapist, all of this would have come out.’
‘Never tried?’
‘No. Not the done thing in my family.’
‘But you’re able to make your own rules now. And everyone knows bottling things up never works.’
‘That’s true. Otherwise you end up unwittingly buying a project house in the arse end of nowhere.’ I blushed. ‘No offence.’
Jesse wiggled his head. ‘A little taken but we can work on that.’ The skin around his eyes was crinkled at the corners and amusement danced within the bewitching irises.
A ping from his phone broke the moment and he pulled it across the table then lifted it and typed a quick reply. ‘Great. Dermot the surveyor is able to get here by half eight tomorrow morning. That’s quicker than I’d expected.’
‘Let me guess. Someone else that owes you a favour.’
He dismissed the comment, but it was obvious Jesse did a lot for others around here and they were keen to repay what I was beginning to get the impression were a lot of good turns.
‘Which means we have today free.’
‘We? Don’t you have work to do?’
‘I do, and I was serious about what I said last night. We really are in need of a designer to help with a property that’s due to be put on the market.’
‘Won’t your boss want to interview me? I’m not sure he’d appreciate you hiring any old waifs and strays you find.’
‘He trusts my judgement. I can show you the rates and terms we were paying the previous stager, let you see what you think?’
‘If you’re happy working for them it must be fair terms. Your boss trusts your judgement and so do I. I’ve got some photos of places I’ve styled.’ I went to stand up and retrieve my phone from where I’d put it down on the console table back out in the hall when Ned had barrelled over to greet me, but was stopped by Jesse’s hand on mine.
‘I already know you’re going to be great.’
I opened my mouth.
‘And no, this is not a pity job. This is a feel-it’s-right-in-my-gut job.’
‘It’ll be interesting seeing us have to explain that to the boss if he hates what I do.’
‘He won’t.’ The words were definitive and signalled an end to the discussion, at least as far as Jesse was concerned.
‘Then I’d better get ready.’
A smile spread across his face, making me happier than it should have done. That, however, was something I’d unpack another time. Right now, I had a job to do. The thought fired excitement through my veins and I realised how much I’d missed my career and the sense of satisfaction I’d gained from it.
12
The house was in a tiny village, down a winding road that felt far too small for the pick-up. When Jesse pulled onto the parking area beside the house, the gravel crunched beneath the tyres, but the moment he stopped, all that could be heard was birdsong and the sea. We both pressed the buttons to release the seat belts and, as I did, I caught sight of his expression.
‘What?’ I asked.
