Page 50 of All Wrapped Up

It was a classic case of famous last words because the next morning, in the library, Jason threw a grenade into what I had started to envision as my increasingly tidy future and blew the whole all wrapped up plan to smithereens.

After the successful workshop and an evening of further pondering, I had decided to accept Lizzie’s job offer, but Jason’s grenade didn’t have anything to do with my future employment. His bomb was far more intimate than that.

‘I didn’t expect to see you here,’ he said rather gruffly, while I waited in line to return a couple of the books I’d previously checked out and somehow managed to find the time to read and enjoy. ‘You didn’t say you were coming when I said I was.’

Clearly, his social skills still needed some refining, but I was pleased to note his trademark scowl seemed to have been banished.

‘Good morning, Jason,’ I said, making full use of my manners.

I then went to tell him about the note explaining the ballot box mystery, but didn’t because I hadn’t filled Ash in yet and as deputy, he should know first. ‘I didn’t mention it, because I wasn’t expecting to come.

And I’m not staying for the discussion with Kay, because I’ve promised Pixie a long walk. ’

‘Oh, right,’ he sniffed. ‘You’re out and about in town though, so you’re brazening it out, are you? The mention in the paper, I mean.’

I had known what he meant and flashed him a smile. ‘You’re smarter than you look,’ I quipped.

‘Hey,’ he objected.

‘Yes,’ I confirmed. ‘I’m brazening it out.

I thought if I was seen in public, then my novelty value would soon wane.

Though actually,’ I added, as I moved up a place in the queue and looked around, ‘I don’t think my bit of news has caused the stir I thought it might.

Barely anyone has said a word, so thank you for whatever influence you had over your nephew, the journalist, who stuck to the window dressing story. ’

Jason shook his head.

‘Am I wrong?’ I frowned. ‘About me being newsworthy, I mean?’

‘You certainly are,’ he told me. ‘You’re the hot topic all right. It’s just that the talking is happening when you’re not around to hear it.’

‘Oh well,’ I sighed. ‘I can’t control that.’

‘And you don’t need to worry about it either,’ he insisted, ‘because everyone is being very kind.’

‘I’m not worried,’ I truthfully told him, but it was nice to know people were being considerate when they were discussing me.

‘So, what are you bringing back then?’ Jason asked, as I took the two books out of my bag.

‘One non-fiction about the Fens and Milly Johnson, An Autumn Crush .’

‘I’ve just picked that up,’ he said, showing me his copy of Milly’s well-thumbed book. ‘Is it as good as her others? I can’t believe I hadn’t read this one.’

‘Yes,’ I said, taken aback but trying not to show it, ‘I really enjoyed it. Though A Spring Affair is still my favourite from the Four Seasons collection.’

‘Mine too,’ he agreed. ‘I love a good declutter.’

I shook my head. ‘You’re full of surprises,’ I laughed.

‘Perhaps I am,’ he said as I returned the books, stepped aside and folded up my now-empty tote. ‘Though I’ve never parted with anything of Cassy’s when I’ve been having a clear out. Have you thought any more about what I said in the pub?’

‘Which bit?’

He inclined his head to a quieter spot behind some true crime filled shelves and I followed him over to it.

‘The bit about not ending up like me,’ he said in a low voice.

I looked him up and down.

‘You look all right,’ I told him, with a smile. ‘Especially now you’ve dropped the mean old man act.’

Unfortunately, he wasn’t to be distracted, even though I wanted him to be.

‘You know what I’m getting at,’ he said and the sadness in his tone made me regret my flippant comment even though it had been intended to lighten the mood.

‘I do know,’ I said, feeling chastened. ‘You don’t want me to stay on my own forever, do you?’

‘That’s it exactly.’

‘Even though my heart still belongs to the man I lost,’ I reminded him. ‘And always will.’

‘Perhaps,’ he said, eyeing me quizzically.

‘No perhaps about it,’ I said forcefully. ‘Because there isn’t another candidate in the universe capable of making it switch allegiance.’

‘Loving someone new wouldn’t mean forgetting who had gone before, you know,’ he batted back. ‘It’s nothing to do with switching allegiance.’

That ethos sounded like a pot and kettle situation given who was spouting it. He hadn’t moved on from his first lost love, so he really had no right to suggest I should. Even if he had inferred that it was something he now regretted.

‘Well, that’s as maybe,’ I said, ‘but this heart is not for turning. Or sharing. Which is fine, because no one’s about to fall for me.’

Jason snorted so loudly that the librarian at the desk shot him a look.

‘Sorry,’ he mouthed.

‘What was that for?’ I tutted.

He looked at me with an expression that was a mixture of bewilderment, confusion and disbelief. It wasn’t an easy look to pull off, but he somehow managed it.

‘What?’ I hissed.

‘You don’t know, do you?’ he then asked in amazement. ‘You really don’t know.’

‘Know what?’

He shook his head and blew out a breath. ‘Your vet chum, of course.’

‘Ash.’ I frowned. ‘What about him?’

‘No wonder the world’s in trouble!’ Jason grumbled loudly, sounding more like his former rather than his latter self. ‘How can you not know?’

‘Know what?’ I demanded.

‘That he’s in love with you, you fool.’

I didn’t say anything for a moment. I just looked at him and blinked. ‘What?’ I eventually, and rudely, croaked. My good manners were now completely forgotten.

‘He’s head over heels in love with you!’ Jason said again, as loudly as he dared, without incurring the wrath of the librarian who had moved out from behind the desk and was taking more of an interest in our huddle.

‘Don’t be so absurd,’ I whispered loudly back. ‘Of course he’s isn’t. He’s my friend. The best one here that I’ve got.’

Jason let out another frustrated breath. ‘Think about it,’ he urged. ‘Go on.’

‘Well,’ I eventually said. ‘We did almost kiss once, but—’

‘There you are then.’

‘But,’ I repeated, that time more fiercely, ‘that was just the result of some dancing and us getting caught up in the moment. It was nothing to do with love, Jason!’

‘Of course it wasn’t,’ he smiled infuriatingly.

‘You’re wrong,’ I said. ‘Completely, utterly and totally wrong.’

‘No,’ he said mildly. ‘I’m not. Tell me, what did he do after this almost kiss the pair of you nearly had?’

I cast my mind back. ‘He… left,’ I said, and Jason raised his eyebrows.

‘He ran away, you mean?’

‘No,’ I said tersely. ‘He went to help his family. His nan’s had a stroke and he went to help settle her into his mum and dad’s place.’

‘Of course he did.’

I took a step away. ‘I can’t listen to you anymore,’ I said, feeling a lump forming in my throat as my vision blurred with cross tears. ‘You’re talking absolute rubbish and by the end of the week, I’ll have proved it.’

I stayed angry with Jason and holed up in and around the cottage for the next two days. I took Pixie for her promised walk. In fact, we took a few. They were all long, brisk and furiously paced, and even though they tired Pixie out, they did nothing for me.

However, I did turn my continued bad mood to good use where AutumnEverything was concerned.

My irritation made me business-like and helped me to properly draw a line under my pinned post. I felt no guilt about neither reading nor replying to what people had written and normal service on the account was swiftly resumed.

I supposed that was the one positive to come from Jason’s absurd declaration.

I still couldn’t see the wood for the trees where that was concerned and therefore invited Ash, via text, to supper Wednesday evening – the promise of a pasty proved too tempting to resist – and I had a speech rehearsed in which I would tell him what Jason had said and then feel immediately soothed when he laughed and denied it straight after.

The weather on Wednesday took a dreadful downturn and it rained from the moment I opened the cottage curtains and didn’t let up for a minute, the entire day.

I looked out at it during the rapidly darkening afternoon and hoped it would improve by the weekend.

The pumpkin carving competition was happening in the square on Saturday so a dry day would be much appreciated.

When Ash hadn’t arrived half an hour after the time we had arranged, and the pasties were rapidly cooling, I called his mobile.

I knew he wasn’t on call for work, so wouldn’t be attending an emergency.

Perhaps, I mused, as I rang his number, he’d forgotten our plan.

That would be something to tell Jason! If Ash was in love with me – and my pasties – he would have hardly forgotten our arranged evening together, would he?

‘Hi,’ I said swiftly, when the call connected and went straight to voicemail. ‘Just checking in. This pasty is still warm, but it won’t be for much longer. Hope you’re on your way.’

I hung up and looked at Pixie.

‘Did that sound a bit inappropriate?’ I asked her and wrinkled my nose. ‘This pasty is still warm…’ I started to say, ‘but it won’t be for much longer…’

Pixie yipped.

‘I know,’ I huffed, ‘Jason has got me second guessing everything now!’

By eight o’clock, a solid hour and a half after our arranged time, there was still no call from or sign of Ash, but the rain was lashing down harder and I’d eaten my supper.

‘If he’d broken down,’ I told Pixie, as I looked at my phone for the umpteenth time, ‘he would have called.’

She laid in front of the fire with her head resting on her paws. I took a quick photo of her because she looked so sweet, then joined her on the carpet for a snuggle.

‘Wouldn’t he?’ I sighed and she licked my cheek.