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“Which is probably why he needs to get away. I know it must feel strange thinking of him with someone else, but life’s tough enough without making it tougher.”
“But it’s three weeks, Todd. Not dinner, or an afternoon on the lake. Three whole weeks with a woman I’ve never met and don’t know.” And wasn’t sure she wanted to meet.
“Look at it this way—after three weeks together, you’ll know her.”
How could you love someone and still want to kill them? “I’m not like you. I don’t make friends in an instant.”
“You’re assuming you’re not going to like her.”
“It isn’t that.” Although it was partly that, of course. Could she really like Becca’s replacement?
“Jack and I will be around, and you’ll have the kids and the dog. In other words plenty of chaos. You’ll make her welcome.”
“Yes.” When she’d worked in a busy London office she’d constantly had to talk to people she didn’t know. But somehow it had felt different at work. Part of a persona she’d created. Clare, the magazine editor. “I just hope the girls are all right about it. It must be a big change for them.” She felt a twinge of guilt that she hadn’t been better at staying in touch. She remembered Izzy at the funeral, holding so tightly to Molly’s hand it had been impossible to figure out who was supporting whom.
“Jack adores the girls. There is no way he’d get involved with someone they didn’t like.”
Clare imagined Flora emerging from the car with sinuous grace. She’d probably give a little wry smile when she saw the house and contemplated the prospect of three weeks of rural living. Another Becca. Men had a type, didn’t they?
But she and Flora didn’t share a history. What would they talk about? Clare had trained herself to make polite conversation for a short time, but three weeks?
“Do I put them in the same room? Separate rooms?”
Todd shrugged. “Ask him what he wants.”
To him it was that simple, but she knew she wouldn’t be able to do that. Her fingers would never be able to type out that email.
“I’ll make up two rooms. If they want to share, that’s their choice.”
“Good decision. And I know you’ll be kind to Flora. You are the perfect hostess. And Jack has good taste. Jack chose Becca, right?”
No, Clare thought. Becca had chosen Jack.
I’ve met a man.
“What time will you be home?”
“Not sure. Can I call you? I’ll be driving past the farm shop. Want me to pick up some steaks?”
“Aiden is vegetarian.”
“Still? I’d hoped he’d be over it by now.”
“It’s not a whim, Todd, it’s a belief. A lifestyle choice.”
“Right. Well I’ll buy steaks for us and a large carrot for our son.”
She laughed. “I’m making vegetarian lasagna. For all of us.”
Todd shuddered. “What else are you doing today, apart from wrestling vegetables?”
“I have a feature to finish, and then I’m going over to the boathouse. The last guests left yesterday so I’m going to move some of our things back in and get it ready for the summer.” They had an agreement that they never rented it during July and August, that way the family could enjoy their home without sharing it with strangers.
Clare loved the rental income, but she also loved the two months of the year she could take her coffee down to the lakeside in her yoga pants, without worrying that she could be seen by people she didn’t know. She dreamed of the day Todd’s business took off and they were able to afford to keep it to themselves and not rent it out to strangers.
“Do you need help with that?”
“No, I’ll enjoy it. I’m looking forward to having a day to myself.” She felt like a child looking forward to Christmas. It was going to be a day entirely for her.
