Page 48 of All Wrapped Up

‘Yep,’ I said again. ‘That’s it.’

The journalist, Jason’s nephew, had covered what he was supposed to and I was relieved that the festival hadn’t been shoved out of the limelight. With so many events still to come, it was paramount to keep pushing its popularity.

I looked up from the paper and turned around to find that Ash was staring at me.

‘What?’ I frowned.

‘You’re not regretting telling Lizzie and Jemma about Callum now there’s nothing been printed about him, are you?’ he asked.

‘Absolutely not,’ I firmly said. ‘And the account has been named anyway, so it was all bound to come out. Besides, my decision to talk to them was about sharing and ensuring I could say what I wanted to before the article was published and then relax into my new life here, remember?’

‘Yes,’ he said, and his shoulders dropped. ‘Yes, I remember. I just wanted to make sure you’re really feeling okay about it all.’

‘I am,’ I confirmed. ‘Of course, I would have preferred to keep the account anonymous, but it’s done now and I’m sure the messages will soon tail off.’

‘Good old foghorn, Joanne,’ Ash tutted. ‘It couldn’t have been anyone but her, could it?’

‘Hey,’ I said. ‘Don’t call her that.’

‘As I recall,’ Ash then laughed, ‘you were the one who called her that first.’

‘Only once.’ I blushed. ‘Ages ago and in private, so you can keep that to yourself.’

‘What will happen if I don’t?’ he asked, his blue gaze playfully fixed on mine.

‘I’ll never offer you another squash pasty again,’ I said, and looked away.

‘Not even a nibbled edge?’ he laughed again.

‘Not a nibbled anything,’ I said, more loudly. ‘Now get out of my way and I’ll make us some coffee.’

The room suddenly felt far too small for two people and one dog.

‘Come on, Pixie,’ he said, ushering her out. ‘We know where we’re not wanted.’

He only moved as far as the doorframe, which he then leant on, watching me organising drinks. I glanced at the paper again and then, for some reason, felt a rush of tears spring to my eyes and took a shuddering breath.

‘Hey,’ Ash said. ‘What is it?’

He came up behind me again and gently turned me around, taking my hands in his own.

‘Relief, I think,’ I whispered, as I tried to blink the tears away.

‘Relief?’

‘Yes.’ I swallowed. ‘I don’t really know why I kept quiet for so long because it’s such a relief to be able to openly say Callum’s name.

I’ve kept him hidden for such a long time but now I can finally talk about him, if I want to, and it’s so freeing.

You were right about my time with him being such a big part of who I am, Ash. ’

He gave my hands a squeeze then let them go, but didn’t move away. ‘You loved him very much, didn’t you?’

‘I did.’ I sniffed. ‘I still do.’

‘He’ll always be perfect in your eyes.’ Ash smiled.

‘Not perfect necessarily,’ I said. ‘But close to it. We weren’t married long enough for the shine to wear off our relationship, but it might have done, in time. Who knows?’

‘I do,’ Ash said, huskily. ‘There’s not a man alive who wouldn’t shine if he was in a relationship with you, Clemmie.’

‘Well,’ I smiled, ‘that’s very kind, but my life’s completely changed now and my time to help anyone shine has well and truly passed.’

I got ready to help Lizzie with the lantern-making workshop the next morning and set off to the gallery, with Pixie for moral support and my head held high. I was full of a confidence that I wouldn’t have been able to muster even just a few months ago and felt ready for whatever came my way.

‘Morning, Joanne,’ I said brightly as I crossed the gallery threshold and the bell above the door chimed out.

‘Clemmie,’ she smiled. ‘You’re early.’

‘I was hoping to catch you alone,’ I told her. ‘Is Lizzie here?’

‘She’s just popped next door. Now, about the paper,’ she then rushed on. ‘I’m so sorry—’

‘Never mind about that,’ I said, as I pulled her further towards the back of the gallery. ‘What I want to know is, have you spoken to Aiden about your concerns over the move yet?’

Before she answered, she pulled me in for a rib-cracking hug, clearly relieved that I wasn’t about to bite her head off because AutumnEverything had been mentioned in the article.

‘Come on,’ I said, breaking free. ‘You’re wasting time.’

I didn’t know if she’d told Lizzie about the reservation she was feeling concerning her imminent move to Germany and we might not get the chance to chat in private again for a while.

‘Yes,’ she finally said. ‘I have talked to him.’

‘And?’

‘And he admitted that he hadn’t been feeling all that certain about the move, either.’

‘Really?’ I gasped.

‘Really,’ she repeated. ‘He was given the chance to stay in Australia, but didn’t take that offer because he assumed I wouldn’t want to be living on the other side of the world, so far away from my family.’

‘Oh, Joanne,’ I groaned. ‘So now you’ve both missed out.’

She shook her head. ‘No, we haven’t,’ she practically squeaked with excitement. ‘Because Aiden talked to his boss and… he’s staying in Oz! And I’m flying out to join him in the new year!’

‘Oh, my goodness! That’s amazing news!’ I applauded and that time, I was the one who hugged her.

‘And it’s all thanks to you, Clemmie,’ she said, her eyes shining when I let her go. ‘If I hadn’t talked to you, I wouldn’t have said anything to him and I don’t even want to think about what might have happened then…’

The bell above the door rang out as Lizzie walked back in carrying a tray and two drinks.

‘Clemmie,’ she beamed. ‘You’re early.’

‘That’s what I said,’ Joanne laughed and had a little jig about.

‘You’ve told her then,’ Lizzie guessed and laughed, too.

‘I have.’ Joanne nodded and bounced again.

I was pleased it was all out in the open and knew there was going to be no controlling her excitement now that she was making a move she could genuinely enthuse about.

With any luck she’d be so focused on her own new life, she wouldn’t slip back into old habits and even think about anyone else’s.

Unless she became determined to leave the UK with another match under her belt. I sincerely hoped not!

‘It’s wonderful news, isn’t it?’ I smiled at Lizzie, pushing that thought aside.

‘The best,’ she agreed. ‘Though I do feel bad for not noticing anything was wrong when you did, Clemmie.’

Joanne waved Lizzie’s upset away. ‘I daresay you would have done,’ she grinned, ‘if I wasn’t always being such a pain in the—’

‘Now,’ Lizzie cut in, ‘why don’t you pop next door, Clemmie, and pick up a pastry to celebrate? If I’d known you were here, I would have nabbed three.’

‘She can have mine,’ Joanne offered. ‘I’m too excited to eat this morning!’

‘Thank you, Joanne,’ I smiled. ‘And I would rather stay put, if that’s okay, because I want to see how a workshop works in its entirety right from the get-go. As I’m still considering your offer, Lizzie, I’d like to help with the setting up and clearing away.’

‘Don’t forget, you helped with the clearing up last time,’ she reminded me.

‘Oh, you’re right,’ I winked. ‘So you can do that today, Joanne.’

‘Of course,’ she said. ‘Whatever you say.’

‘No, you’re all right,’ I laughed. ‘I’m only teasing.’

‘I don’t mind,’ she smiled. ‘I know I have some bridges to mend.’

‘You don’t actually,’ I smiled back. ‘Because your gaff last week has been a blessing in disguise.’

‘Really?’ She blinked.

‘Really,’ I told her.

‘In that case,’ she grinned, ‘we’ll do the clearing up together.’

‘Well, before we can even think about clearing up and putting away,’ said Lizzie, as she finally put the café tray on a table, ‘we need to get it all out and set up. Grab an apron and we’ll get going.’

We’d just started arranging everything when Jemma came rushing in to the gallery waving a piece of paper.

‘I can’t stop because we’re rushed off our feet in the café,’ she panted, ‘but look what I’ve just found sat on top of the ballot box!’

She thrust the folded piece of paper towards me and I took it.

‘Read it,’ she urged and I unfolded it. ‘I was going to put it in the box, but then realised it wasn’t a voting slip.’

I read the few words that had been printed rather than handwritten and gasped.

‘What does it say?’ Joanne asked.

‘?“Dear festival organisers,”?’ I read aloud. ‘?“My mate dared me to take the other voting box for a laugh, but it turned out it wasn’t funny and I’ve been feeling bad ever since. I’ve got rid of the box, but wanted to say sorry.”?’

‘No way!’ Joanne also gasped.

‘I don’t believe it,’ said Lizzie.

‘That’s what it says,’ I told her, turning the paper around so they could all see it.

‘So, it was some kids’ prank, then?’ Lizzie said, shaking her head.

‘By the sounds of it,’ I said, turning the paper over again. ‘And I daresay they’ve printed this so no one could try and identify their handwriting.’

‘That was smart,’ said Joanne and we all gave her a look. ‘It wasn’t good that they took the box obviously, but at least they’re feeling bad enough about it to apologise.’

‘As they should!’ Jemma said, making for the door again.

‘No chance you saw who left this, I suppose?’ I asked her.

‘Not a clue,’ she shrugged. ‘There have been so many people in and out already this morning, I couldn’t tell you. Sorry, my love.’

She rushed off and I looked at the paper again.

‘Well, let’s hope they’ve learnt their lesson,’ Lizzie tutted. ‘And this prankish bad behaviour has been nipped in the bud.’

‘I think they must have,’ I said. ‘Otherwise, they would have just got rid of the box and not said anything. I daresay Joanne’s right and it was playing on their mind.’

‘Mystery almost solved then,’ Joanne pointed out. ‘And at least now you won’t be expecting the box to turn up or wasting time wondering about who took it.’

‘I feel so bad for assuming that it was Jason,’ I muttered.

‘Well, don’t,’ said Lizzie. ‘He gave you enough cause.’

I was just about to say how he’d now made amends, but we were fast running out of time, so I folded the paper up and slipped it into my pocket.