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‘Coming right up.’
‘And you’ll remember to post my letter?’
Emily smiled. ‘Of course.’
‘Thank you.’
Alice called after her before she headed out of the room.
Emily walked back to her table. ‘Was there something else?’
‘You forgot to take Joss’s order.’ Alice registered the look on Emily’s face. She had the feeling Emily hadn’t forgotten at all. She glanced at her marching over to his table.
Alice sighed and turned in her seat. Poor Joss had really messed up. She hoped Joss would make amends and invite Emily to dinner that evening. He did no such thing. He just told her wanted he wanted for breakfast before turning to stare out of the window.
Emily stood a moment longer at the table after she’d taken his order, staring at the back of his head before turning on her heel and storming out of the conservatory.
Alice sighed and turned to look out of the window herself. The atmosphere was now decidedly frosty. She frowned when her husband came to mind. Had she done the right thing, writing that letter, telling him where she was, asking him to come for the sake of their marriage? She wasn’t sure. But then she wasn’t sure of anything. Finding the letters from Wendy had shocked her to the core – the prospect that Jeffrey, her dependable, steadfast husband, had actually had an affair just didn’t seem possible.
Alice willed herself not to think about that.
Breakfast passed by without further incident, apart from Emily plonking Joss’s plate down on the table hard when she took him his cooked breakfast. Alice finished her toast and left the conservatory. She was crossing the hallway when she spotted Emily sitting at the reception desk. She had an idea.
Chapter 25
Alice sidled up to the desk. She had an agenda; she still wanted to get Joss and Emily back on speaking terms. ‘Would you have any free time in the next few days? I’d like to go—’
The phone on reception rang, interrupting Alice.
Emily held up a finger. ‘Hold on. Let me just get this.’
Alice stepped away from the desk and sat down in a high-backed easy chair under the stairs, where a little reading snug had been created. There was another high-backed easy chair, a small library of books on a bookshelf, and a large standard lamp that harked back to another era.
Alice scanned the bookshelves, listening to Emily’s phone conversation.
‘Yes, we have vacancies …’
For a split second she wondered if it was her husband. Her heart started to pound in her chest until she realised that it wasn’t possible; the letter hadn’t been posted yet. Jeffrey would have no idea where she was until he received the letter. Unless he’d guessed. Alice frowned at the thought. They had stayed there before, on their wedding anniversary, before they’d had Freya. But why would he think she’d returned there?
Alice brushed that thought aside and glanced at Emily as she scanned the computer screen. She had a plan to get Emily and Joss back on speaking terms, but it depended on Emily accompanying her to Aldeburgh. Alice wasn’t just doing it for altruistic reasons. She was feeling lonely, staying in the hotel all on her own, and she liked Emily, who reminded her of her daughter – young, ready to embark on life’s adventure. Alice fancied spending the afternoon in her company.
‘Yes, I’ve booked you in. I can confirm your reservation is now on our system. See you tomorrow.’
Alice stood up as Emily put the phone down. She was about to walk over when Emily’s mobile phone rang. ‘Oh, hi. Yes, you’re all booked in. The room will be ready, so you can turn up when you like, Clarissa. See you later. Bye.’
By the time she got off the phone, Alice was back again.
Emily glanced at Alice’s letter on her desk.
So did Alice. ‘I really hope you’re not making a special trip just to post my letter.’
Emily smiled. ‘Not at all. As I said before, I have some errands to run. There’s some shopping to do, laundry to collect – that sort of thing.’
That made Alice feel better.
‘Why don’t you come along? I’m going into Aldeburgh.’
‘Aldeburgh?’ Just the place, thought Alice. ‘Yes, please. Is it okay if I bring Hester? I’ll have to leave my cat indoors, if that’s okay.’
