I felt sick. The thought of being hounded by a desperateRosemary and having to constantly look over my shoulder chilled me to the bone.I couldn’t deal with it, on top of everything else...
By the following morning, my resignation letter was writtenand by home time, I’d replied to Ellie’s email inviting me for an interview.After work, I called at the florist and bought a bouquet of lilies, and went tolay them on Maggie’s grave.
I couldn’t believe things were happening so fast, but itseemed the right thing to do. I couldn’t stay where I was. Rosemary was aconstant reminder of all the bad things that had happened and she seemed tohave the determination of a bloodhound.
I needed to get away.
Sunnybrook and the Little Duck Pond Café seemed to bebeckoning me, and I was more than glad to go where they led me. Sunnybrook wasonly twenty miles from Torminster. I could still go and visit Maggie.
I didn’t think about why that was important to me.
Taking lilies to Maggie’s grave was something I just neededto do.
CHAPTERTWENTY-SIX
As soon as I wake up, three days after Aidan and Ikissed for the first time, I realise it’s Saturday and my heart leaps for joy.
Tonight’s the night!
Aidan’s invited me over to his‘house-warming-party-for-two’, and I can’t wait to see him again...
The dress I’m planning to wear is already hanging on thedoor and I blow a kiss at it as I head for the shower to get ready for work,excitement rushing through every nerve in my body.
My shift at the café whizzes by, with Madison – perceptiveas ever – wanting to know why I’m bouncing around like Tigger today.
‘I’m just happy,’ I tell her with a smile. And afterwards, Irealise it’s actually true. When I first came to Sunnybrook back in January, Ithought I’d never feel happy again. I’ve come a long way in a few short months.
After my shift, I head home across the village green, wonderinghow on earth I’m going to fill the time until I can drive over to Aidan’s.
There’s a small figure up ahead of me, walking across thegrass. She’s trying to hurry but it looks as if there’s a hole in the bulkycarrier bag she’s carrying because she keeps having to stop to pick things up.
Is that Maisie?
I quicken my step. She’s picking up a pink soft toy andtrying to stuff it back into the over-full bag. And then something else fallsout of the hole without her noticing. A book.
‘Maisie?’ She turns when I call out to her, and I wave thebook. ‘You’ve dropped this.’ I hurry and catch her up.
‘Thank you, Kenzie,’ she says solemnly, taking the book andtrying to force it back into the bag. But it’s already so full that it justslides out again. Frowning, she picks it up, tucks it under her arm and startswalking away.
‘Where are you off to, Maisie?’ I keep pace with her,wondering if Ellie knows where she’s going.
‘I’m going to live with my granny,’ she says, staringstraight ahead, a determined look on her face.
‘Really? But doesn’t your granny live quite a distance away?How are you planning to get there?’
She turns, her little face flushed. ‘I’m going to get thebus.’
I glance at the tear in her carrier bag, from which a doll’shead is protruding. ‘I could get you a better bag than that one. You don’t wantto lose all your things.’
‘I might miss the bus,’ she says, frowning at the doll.
‘Does your mum know you’re going to live at your granny’s?Because if she did, I’m sure she’d take you there in her car.’
‘I didn’t tell her. She doesn’t like me anymore.’
‘What?’ I stare at her in horror.
‘She’s not my proper mummy. My proper mummy is somewhereelse.’
