Page 28 of The Good Neighbour

“Now I get why you were so worried when she went to Scotland.”

Suzanne nodded. “I know I need to calm the fuck down but I’m shitting myself. April can’t come quick enough.”

“Fuck. What a week this is proving to be,” Josh said. “Why don’t you go home and be with her. I can do this.”

Suzanne shook her head. “She’s working late tonight. You have me all to yourself.”

“Then I’m a lucky man.”

He resumed his position at the table and continued to cut out strips of fabric. The rain was still hammering away. A glimmer of happiness washed over Josh. He might not know where things were going with Hugh. Regardless of that, he definitely had a better grip on his own life now. It was a nice feeling.

“So…” Suzanne said. “Have you heard from Hugh today?”

“Yeah, I got a text,” Josh replied, trying to sound as unbothered as possible. “The sessions with this writer aren’t going well. The tour isn’t too far away and I think they’re genuinely worried.”

“And the gig?”

“It’s more hosting the evening so they don’t get a chance to try any of their material. It’s probably for the best until they’ve perfected it.”

Suzanne held up the outline for Josh’s board shorts.

“Perfect,” Josh said.

She moved over to the sewing machine to bring the whole thing together.

“What are they going to do?” she asked as she grabbed a tub of pins.

“It appears that Operation Madeline is their only hope.”

He was creating a one-piece swimsuit that Hugh would wear over bright pink cycling shorts. The fabric matched the board shorts that Suzanne had volunteered to make.

“Are you going to warn her?”

Josh had been mulling this over ever since Hugh had told him of his and Michael’s plans.

“I think I have to. She’s been amazing to me. If she gets wind that I played a part in it, she might be really hurt.”

“Best of luck,” Suzanne replied. “I wouldn’t want to get on the wrong side of Madeline Morrison.”

Josh had received a tongue lashing from her once in his life. He had designed a dress for her and got the measurements all mixed up. She had gone apoplectic. They had agreed to keep their work lives separate after that. She still wore his clothes but commissions were a no-go.

“She’s calling in on her way back from a photo shoot,” Josh said. “I’m dreading it.”

Suddenly, Josh’s phone rang.

“I wonder if it’s lover boy,” Suzanne said.

He stared down at his phone.

“Oh fuck,” he yelped. “It’s Winston.”

“Are you kidding?”

With a shaking hand, he pressed Answer.

“Hello.”

“Bonjour, husband of mine.”