AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She’d arrived at the lodge determined to have an honest conversation.
Unfortunately, her mother was up late and her sister was up early, which removed any chance of exploiting the quiet time she’d been hoping for.
“What makes you pick up a lipstick?” Beth wandered into the kitchen with a notepad and pen in her hand. In an attempt to try on her new role for size, she’d eschewed Posy’s wardrobe in favor of Hannah’s. Today she wore a black wool dress with high-heeled boots. Her hair was swept up in an elegant knot and her makeup was flawless. For a meeting in London or New York, she would have been perfectly dressed. For a winter’s day in the freezing Highlands, her outfit would have been ridiculous had she been doing anything other than drifting uselessly round the lodge.
Looking at her didn’t improve Posy’s mood.
Having both her sisters home had more than doubled her workload. She had so much to do she barely had time to take a shower and pull her hair into a ponytail, let alone pick out a lipstick.
She’d been on the go since five thirty and she still had to change the bedding in the barn, feed the chickens and take a bale of hay to Socks before she started her shift at the café.
Realizing that Beth was waiting for her answer, she gave a shrug. “The sheep don’t generally care if I wear lipstick. Can you empty the dishwasher?”
“In a minute. My nails are drying, so I can’t do anything manual right now. I want to hear your views on this.” Despite the threat to her nails, Beth stopped to scribble a note to herself. “I am loving this project, by the way. Loving it. I feel like I’m finally doing what I want instead of always being at the bottom of the pile and running round after other people. Do you know what I mean?”
“Not really. I’m still at the bottom of the pile running round after other people.” Posy dealt with the dishwasher herself, crashing plates into the cupboard.
Beth missed the irony. “Can you stop for a moment? I want to ask you questions.”
“No, I can’t stop and I’m not your audience.”
“You’re exactly my audience. This new range I’m working on is for the woman who doesn’t usually wear makeup.” Beth walked across the kitchen and poured herself a coffee. “And who are those women?”
Posy straightened. “Maybe they’re women who have a lot going on in their lives. Possibly a woman who is preparing for a family Christmas single-handed while her sister treats it like a spa break.”
Beth raised her eyebrows. “No need to be moody.”
“I’m not moody. Just busy. And clear that makeup off the table. I’m trying to make breakfast.”
“I’m busy, too. Corinna wants more ideas by start of business, which basically gives me a few hours to do this. I need to understand my audience. What makes a woman reach for makeup in the morning? That’s the key question I’m asking myself.”
Posy’s frustration spilled over like milk that had been left too long on the heat. “Seriously? Beth, you have no idea what’s happening with your kids, your marriage is in trouble and that’s what you’re asking yourself?”
Beth put the mug down and coffee sloshed onto the countertop. “You think my marriage is in trouble?”
“I don’t know, but you and Jason seem to have had a serious breakdown in communication and the reason I suspect that is because he’s there and you’re here.”
“I know.” Beth slumped into the nearest chair. “Why do you think I’m awake at this hour? I can’t sleep. I miss the girls. I miss Jason, and I can’t see how to fix this. There’s not exactly a compromise solution to another baby.”
Posy grabbed a cloth and mopped up the spilled coffee, forcing herself to be patient. What was wrong with her? She never used to be irritable. “You’re not going to fix it by not talking. How many times have you spoken to him since you arrived? Every time the phone goes, it’s Corinna.” It bothered her that her sister’s apparently unshakable marriage had been shaken. It bothered her more than it seemed to bother her sister. Now that the initial what have I done? crisis had passed, all Beth seemed to think about was Corinna and the campaign.
“I haven’t spoken to Jason.” Beth’s voice wobbled a little. “I had that one message from him telling me everything was fine. I’ve been calling every night, but all he says is ‘Hi, Beth,’ and then immediately passes the phone to the girls. He hasn’t even mentioned our fight. I guess he’s mad at me for leaving like that, and I’m still mad at him for saying those things. Also, the phone signal isn’t reliable. I had to call back three times last night. It’s not exactly conducive to deep, honest conversation.”
Posy was only half listening. She was wondering who the father of Hannah’s child was, always assuming she really was pregnant. Was it a one-night stand? She wanted to talk to Beth about it, but it was obvious that Hannah hadn’t told her about the pregnancy test and Posy didn’t feel it was her place to do so. “You have to fix this, Beth.”
“I don’t know how. I may never get another opportunity like this one. For the first time i
n years, someone wants me for something other than my parenting skills. And not just ‘anyone,’ but Corinna! Do you have any idea how flattering that is? She is not an easy person to please.”
“That’s obvious, given the number of times she called during dinner last night.”
“Yes, and she wants me. I’m going to be the one jetting to the West Coast and sitting in a lunch meeting where I don’t have to cut up anyone’s food.”
Posy didn’t understand the appeal, but she did know about wanting something different. “You’re sure this is what you want?”
“Yes. For a start, it will make me more interesting.”
Posy wondered if she should point out that all this talk of lipstick was boring her to tears.
