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Milo had held up the car keys. ‘Are you sure?’
The concern in his eyes had almost been enough to start the tears flowing. But I’d forced a smile. ‘I am, Milo. Honestly, I can’t go on like this, suspecting evil is about to jump out at me around every corner.’
We’d exchanged a rueful smile. Milo knew as well as I did that this wasn’t the first time I’d run home in a panic, thinking there was someone there when clearly, there wasn’t...
I knew I couldn’t stay with Milo forever. It was time to be brave, shrug off the past and start thinking about what my future would look like.
So I smiled at Ellie and said, ‘Jaz’s lovely man has made me so welcome, but it really is about time I gave them some space.’
Jaz laughed, a blush rushing to her cheeks. Since she and Milo got together at Christmas time, she’d been wrapped in this lovely blissful glow, like a character in one of those old porridge adverts on TV, and I was so delighted for them both. After the split from her previous boyfriend Harry, who was also the father of her daughter, Emma, it had taken a long time for Jaz to accept this second chance at love, but now it was as if she and Milo had been a couple forever.
‘I keep telling you, Rori,’ Jaz said gently. ‘Stay at Milo’s as long as you need to. He can always come over to mine if we fancy – um – a romantic night in.’
‘Yes, but even so. It’s high time I had a place of my own.’
She chuckled. ‘A place without Milo’s sweaty gym gear on the bathroom floor and the toilet seat in a permanently “up” position? I don’t blame you.’
‘Milo’s definitely not the tidiest of people,’ I admitted with a fond smile. ‘For someone who’s so organised and precise when it comes to his Roastery café business and getting the glamping site up and running, he can be incredibly haphazard at home.’
‘It’s his one flaw,’ agreed Jaz. ‘But somehow, I think I can put up with it.’
Milo, an old friend from uni who I bumped into again by chance a couple of months ago, had been great, letting me crash at his place and providing a much-needed shoulder to cry on – and giving me a job at his café in the village, which had been a real lifeline.
When I’d fled from Nash in the middle of the night, I’d quickly realised that I’d left my cash card behind. I could picture itin the pocket of my waterproof, which was hanging in the hall cupboard, and I’d panicked. It had taken me long enough to make my escape. There was no way on earth that I was going back there!
All I’d had in my handbag was my birthday money in the card (wrongly addressed) from my mother, Ada (even from an early age we were told off for calling her ‘Mother’ or ‘Mum’). It was enough cash, though, for a rail ticket to get to London and my lovely Auntie Christine. (Ada lived nearer but I knew that pouring my heart out to her would be useless. She’d just pat my back awkwardly and advise me to pick myself up and box on, before dashing off to support her latest noble cause.)
‘I haven’t seen Milo since last week,’ said Ellie. ‘Has he finalised the new glamping website yet?’
I nodded. ‘Just about. He wants you to have a look at it. We’ve been working on it like crazy over the past week, so it should be ready to launch on Friday.’
When Milo took me in, he not only gave me a job at Roastery, he’d also offered me a job as his assistant in the glamping venture he was starting with Ellie, who was his business partner. I’d been working alongside him since December, helping them to get the glamping business off the ground. There was so much to do, I’d had to give up my job at Roastery. The plan was I would eventually take charge of the admin, the bookings and the daily housekeeping once the glamping site was open for business, including keeping the shower and toilet block spotlessly clean. The block was currently under construction and would hopefully be completed in good time for the opening of the site in April.
Milo was worried at first that the job didn’t exactly make use of my degree, which was in molecular biology, but I’d reassured him that a complete change was exactly what I needed, and that included my old job, working in a research lab.
What I didn’t tell Milo was that actually, being with Nash – coping with his angry outbursts – had eventually worn me down so much, I’d ended up a nervous wreck and a shadow of my former confident self. I’d been signed off work for stress, and when I’d finally left Nash, I’d known I wouldn’t be returning to my job so – with a heavy heart because I’d been enjoying the work – I’d resigned.
Ellie rubbed her hands together. ‘A website on Friday? So exciting. At least, itwillbe if we have lots of customers desperate to come and spend their holidays here when we open.’
‘I might rent one of your shepherd’s huts myself,’ joked Jaz. ‘They’re so cute and cosy.’
‘I know.’ I smiled, forcing the past and its horrors from my mind. ‘Roll on opening day. April 1st.’
‘April 1st? Really?’ Jaz looked horrified. ‘You’re going to open the glamping site for business onApril Fool’s Day? Are you sure that’s a good idea?’
Ellie and I looked at each other and laughed nervously. ‘I never even thought about that,’ she admitted.
‘Only joking.’ Jaz grinned. ‘I have a really good feeling about this glamping site. It’s going to be a big success for you and Milo.’
Ellie made a funny face, looking somewhere between petrified and ecstatic. Then she went off to serve a customer.
Later, as Jaz and I were leaving, Ellie ran over and joined us at the door.
‘Can I have a quick word, Rori?’
‘Of course.’ I assumed she wanted to ask me something about the glamping site, so I was surprised when she brought up my current living arrangements again.
‘The thing is... well, I was wondering if you might like to rent the flat when we move out?’ She nodded upstairs.
