Page 78 of Summer at Rachel’s Pudding Pantry

‘It’s time … you have to tell Ben the truth. About you and Aiden.’

‘Oh my God. Why, what’s happened, Rach?’

‘It’s Tom … He’s seen me and Jake together and got the wrong impression. Honestly, it was nothing, you know exactly how I feel about Jake,’ Rachel explained to her friend, ‘but there was a fly in my eye, and he was getting it out.’ She shook her head at the absurdity of the misunderstanding. ‘Anyhow, Tom’s taken it all the wrong way, and with these rumours flying about the village about two people sharing a kiss; well, he’s jumped to completely the wrong conclusion and thinks that it was Jake and me. Oh Eve, I think he might call the wedding off. I’ve been trying to call him, but he’s so angry, he’s just ignoring me.’

‘Nooo, that can’t happen, no way! Oh Rach, I’m so sorry that you’ve been dragged into all of this. Somehow someone knows about what I did and it’s all got mixed up in the village Chinese whispers.’ Eve stood up, shaking but resolute. ‘I’ll go and see Tom, Rach. I’ll tell him the truth.’

‘What about Ben?’

‘I’ll come clean to him too, I promise … but please, let me ask Tom to let me do that in my own time. Soon … Oh God, Rachel.’ Eve’s hand was trembling, the girls were holding on to each other tight. ‘What if Ben can’t forgive me? What if it’s all over between us? I’ve been so stupid …’

‘Eve, you’re upset. Sit tight. Let me go and talk to Tom. If I need you to explain any further, then maybe you can chat to him on the phone. Stay here for now. And Eve, thank you.’ She sighed, gripping her friend’s hand. ‘You know I’m only telling Tom the truth because I absolutely have to. I’d never want to betray your trust.’

‘Of course, I understand. Go find him, Rachel. Do what you have to, my lovely. I’m so, so sorry. It’s all my fault. I’ve been selfish. I-I’ve bloody well ruined your wedding.’

‘Not yet, you haven’t.’ Rachel managed a small, hopeful smile. ‘Look, I’ll be back soon, hopefully. Try and get some rest, or go and see Ben, whatever you feel you need to do.’

‘I need to think about how I’m going to tell him. Maybe, if I wait until after the wedding. So, I don’t spoil your day any more than I have already.’

‘Okay, we can chat some more when I get back … I love you, Eve.’

‘Love you too, Rach. Good luck. You don’t deserve all this hassle right now. I’m so sorry, hun.’ Eve gave her a big hug.

Rachel got up to go, pausing at the door of her bedroom. ‘And Eve … making a mistake, doing one bad thing, that doesn’t make you a bad person.’

Eve gave a loud, snotty blub. ‘Thanks, Rach.’

‘Is everything okay, love?’ Jill was in the kitchen putting some finishing touches to her rosebud-topped cupcakes.

Rachel hadn’t told her mum all the ins and outs of the past two days – she was still hoping by hook or by crook that Tom would turn up at the church.

‘I think so, or at least it will be. It’s a bit complicated …’ Rachel had to hold her nerve. She’d love to be able to tell her mum everything, ask for her advice, but with Eve’s marriage – and her own – still on a tightrope, she needed to try and sort this out herself.

‘Is Eve still upstairs?’ Jill gave a small frown, her maternal instincts tuning in to the drama. ‘Can I help with anything?’

‘Ah yes, Eve’s fine.’ (White lie – she was in a heap on the bed upstairs.) ‘She’s up in my room, doing her nails. I’ve just remembered something for tomorrow and I just want to check it’s all okay.’ (The groom!) ‘So, can you just keep an eye on Maisy for me?’

‘Of course, love. There’s nothing else I can help with …?’ Jill left an opening, wondering if this could well be about Eve, in light of what Brenda had told her earlier in the week.

‘No, it’s all fine. I shouldn’t be too long.’ The fewer people who knew about this the better, at least until it was all sorted. She intended to be back at home soon, to spend the rest of the evening with Maisy, Eve and Jill, and to sleep in her own room for her wedding evening, as tradition dictated … Oh, she realised, it would also be her last night at Primrose Farm. Rachel felt a pang, knowing tonight would feel so strange, but she didn’t have time to dwell on that right now.

‘All right then, love. Go and do what you have to, and if you need me at all … just ask.’

‘Thank you.’

A look passed between them. Without having to say it, they both knew something momentous was in the offing.

Rachel was up high on the hill, looking over the valley. The landscape rolled in dusky velvety-green folds, the sun dipping down over the Cheviots, the sky softening to a peachy-blue. It looked as if the weather would be settled for tomorrow.

Rachel had got on the quad, needing some air, and a little space and time to think. She had to do this. Had to tell Tom everything, put this dreadful misunderstanding right that might wreck their wedding day, that might wreck them. Would Tom even believe her now? And where the hell had he been again these past twenty-four hours? Please, please let him be all right, and not have done anything stupid. Memories of finding her father that fateful day slammed into her mind … and a dreadful fear seeped through her soul. But not every hurt ended like that, she calmed herself. Tom probably just needed time to think.

This rock, cool and solid beneath her, was where she’d sit with her dad on many an evening after checking the sheep together out on the quad, with Moss lying at their feet. Dad would magic a Twix chocolate bar from his pocket and they’d have one stick each, chatting about school and what Dad had been doing on the farm that day, with the sweet melt of chocolate and toffee on their tongues, and a promise not to tell Mum that they’d been eating sweets before supper.

‘Dad … where are you?’ She spoke the words aloud, softly, ‘Wish you could be here with us all tomorrow. Eve’s made me a gorgeous dress,’ she started chatting to the breeze. ‘Hah, you didn’t think you’d ever see me in a dress; always used to moan about me living in jeans … well, I will be now.’

Could he hear her, somehow? Might he be there tomorrow at her wedding in some way, be able to see her walking down the aisle in that beautiful gown? She threw a huge, heartfelt wish to the sky. But maybe her words were just floating to the sheep, drifting over the rye grass, the rocks and stones … Who knew?

I need to find Tom. To speak with him.