He pauses. ‘Actually, we’re moving to Paris.’
My eyes are wide with astonishment. ‘Paris? Really? But why?’
His gaze slips to the table top. He reaches for the salt shaker and starts turning it round and round in his hands. ‘The thing is, her dad wants me to head up his new operation in Paris. It means more responsibility, a huge step up career-wise and more money, obviously.’
Ah, now we’re getting to it!
He looks up at me and shrugs. ‘I couldn’t say no.’
‘It certainly sounds like a great opportunity.’
‘Yes.’ His eyes slide away from mine.
‘Jason, I hope you’re not getting back with her just because of the job,’ I say quietly, genuinely worried he’s making the worst decision ever.
He shakes his head. ‘I do love her, Twi. She’s always there for me. You coming back stirred up lots of bad memories for her and – um – sent her off the rails a bit.’
‘Bad memories?’ A bitter laugh escapes. ‘I think I’m the one with those. Not Lucy.’
He looks at me, a wealth of sadness in his eyes. ‘She’s not as terrible as you think, you know. If you need to blame someone for what happened with the café, blame me.’ He shrugs helplessly.
‘You? Why would I blame you for Lucy’s actions?’
He sighs. ‘Because I’m not the man you think I am. I’m weak and pathetic. And you, Twilight, deserve someone noble and strong.’ His smile has a trace of bitterness. ‘Some guy like Theo Steel.’
I swallow hard, pushing away the feeling of despair suddenly threatening to engulf me. ‘Well, that’s total rubbish,’ I snap. ‘You’re a lovely man, Jason. And for your information, you deserve someone far nicer than Lucy.’ I smile wistfully. ‘It’s just … that someone isn’t going to be me. I can see that now, however tempting it felt to fall back into our old relationship.’
‘I know,’ he agrees reluctantly. ‘It would have been a mistake to go back.’
‘But will you be happy? With Lucy?’ I ask urgently, needing to know that he’s going to be okay.
He smiles sadly. ‘Look … there are things you don’t know about Lucy. Things that might make you understand a little about why she’s so bitter. She’s not the evil witch you might think she is. She’s just … desperately sad. Poisoned by the things that have happened to her. And I’m to blame, so I need to stick with her.’ He shrugs. ‘She needs me. And in a funny way, I need her, too.’
‘What? Hold on. I don’t understand.’ My head is reeling. ‘Why is Lucy so sad? What things have happened to her? And what have they to do with me?’
But he’s already heading for the door.
He turns. ‘I’ve said too much already. Look, Lucy and I will be off to Paris soon and I really think that’s for the best.’ His gaze as he looks at me is rock steady. ‘For everyone.’
My eyes well up. ‘Well, good luck with everything. I mean that.’
He looks at me for a long moment, his eyes full of sadness and affection.
Then he holds up his hand and walks out.
I take a huge breath and let it out slowly. Poor Jason doesn’t look like a man in love, off for a new adventure. He looks sick of his life. Who knows what the mysterious dynamic is between him and Lucy?
He seems to have made up his mind, though, which to be honest, is quite a relief. I don’t have to wonder how I’m going to let him down gently.
I go back in and start gathering up the cutlery, ready to take up to the new café, all the time thinking about Jason’s news about Paris. And wondering about Lucy and what’s happened to turn her so bitter and vindictive.
Jason has always tended to take the path of least resistance in life. He’s easily swayed – the sort who’ll just go along with the status quo, rather than take a risk that could improve his life. In some ways, he’s a good match for Lucy. She likes being in charge and Jason’s quite happy to be told what to do …
Eventually, I manage to get hold of Betty in the hairdresser’s. As she’s already in town, it makes sense for her to pick up the cake forks we need. I’m just ringing off, when the door opens and someone breezes in.
Lucy?
‘Cake forks,’ she says brusquely, holding up a bag. ‘Where do you want them?’ Without waiting for a reply, she barges straight through to the kitchen.
I stare after her, stunned by her appearance, before realising that what I was determined would never happen is now taking place.
Lucy Slater is on my premises!
I hurry after her, in time to see her plonking the bag of forks on the counter beside the fridge.
She smiles serenely at me. ‘Don’t worry—’
‘I’m not worried,’ I snap, on the defensive.
She arches her eyebrows at me. ‘If you’d let me finish? I was actually going to say, don’t worry, we’ve got plenty of forks at the café. There’s no rush getting them back to me.’
‘Oh, right. Well, thanks.’
She heads back out into the café and I follow.
‘By the way, there was a van parked in your driveway when I passed,’ she calls back.
‘Was there?’ I rack my brains trying to think who that would be. Jake, perhaps? I watch Lucy until she’s out of the door and walking back up the road. Even when she’s apparently being helpful, she still freaks me out. (Although she couldn’t possibly have sabotaged the cake forks, like she did with the curtains, so it should be all right to use them.)
I grab my bag and dash out to see who’s at the front door.
When I get there, there’s no sign of the van. So I have a quick peek behind the tarpaulin at the treehouse. It’s hard to believe that in just eight hours, this garden will be milling with guests and I’ll be able to unveil The Treehouse Café for all to see.
And with Lucy Slater well and truly banished from
