“Have they settled on what caused the fire?” Babs asked, approaching from the opposite direction. “Susannah can’t start rebuilding until that’s all settled.”
“The initial finding was arson, so I imagine this is their final report,” Tess replied, bracing herself for hostilities. “There should be an insurance agent somewhere about as well. It’s a lot of stress for her.”
“They want to take a look at Robin Karlson,” Joan said.
“They should,” Babs agreed. “And none of us has trusted Jonathan since he went to the dark side.”
Tess almost choked on her tea. Babs and Joan were actually acknowledging one another.
“Of course, I’m being paid regardless, but I can’t stand being idle,” Babs concluded.
“I’m surprised you haven’t started rebuilding it yourself.” Joan gestured towards the burnt-out building.
It was just small talk, really, but Tess could hear the rustiness in it.
“Give me time,” Babs replied. When she finally looked at Joan, her gaze was so soft. “And thanks, by the way, for giving me a place to put my head down. I was offered rooms on the estate, of course, but I didn’t want to be in the way.”
Tess could feel the pointed look from Joan coming her way. “Listen,” she cut it off, “there’s plenty of room, and it wouldn’t be disturbing our sleepovers to have you stay over. What’s gotten into you two? I’ve been warned since I got here that you’re the Montague and Capulet of Hayleith, and now you’re staying over at Joan’s?” If they could stick their noses into Tess’s business, she could damn well do the same in return.
“It’s possible…” Joan began, dragging out the words and letting a hint of her usually imperceptible Jamaican twang wrap around the vowels, “…that the fire was a bit of a wake-up call.”
“You should have seen this one.” Babs sounded more than a little smug as she waved at Joan. “Well, I wasn’t here, but I’ve been told she was crying like a right sap when she thought I’d been in there. I notice she didn’t charge in, though, playing the hero like some fool we know.”
“With this hip?” Joan scoffed. She turned to Tess. “Anyway, it was impressive what you did for Susannah. And as you probably know now, if someone is worth running into a burning building for, then you don’t let them go.”
“But you didn’t—” Babs started to interrupt.
“I would have, if I hadn’t been told you were away. I only cried because I knew you were safe. So that’s how much you know, woman.”
Tess smiled at the fondness between them as they argued. “I’ve always meant to ask, and I might not get another chance, with the way you bicker,” she said. “What was the big fight all about? You haven’t spoken to each other in years, right?”
Babs and Joan exchanged a look, one of those silent discussions that couples had.
“It was just one of those things,” Babs said, patting Joan’s upper arm. “Water under the bridge.”
“No, that’s not fair to you,” Joan said. She turned to Tess. “I was scared. Babs gave up just about everything to be with me, and I was so bothered by what people thought that I ran away. Only I didn’t get very far.”
“You went from working at the pub together to running the café across the road?” Tess asked.
“Lord Karlson had just bought us out—bought the pub for Susannah,” Babs explained. “I said if she didn’t want people knowing we were more than colleagues, if she was that ashamed of me, well, she could take her half and go.”
“It was all a bit nasty for a while,” Joan said. “So we gradually stopped speaking. I hated how much it hurt each time, and that was just easier. I suppose we never stopped caring.”
Babs took her hand and dropped a smacker of a kiss on Joan’s cheek. It left behind an imprint of bright pink lipstick.
Joan was slow to wipe it away.
“Heads up,” Babs said at the sight of Susannah walking away from the officials outside the pub. “We’ll expect an update later, Doc.”
“But—”
“Bye!” Joan and Babs said in chorus, heading off to the café.
“Here you go.” Tess set down a mug of black coffee for Susannah on the table in the vets’ staffroom. Margo and Adam had been banished to the treatment rooms. She didn’t care whether or not they had appointments. “What did the investigators say?”
“Pretty much what we expected. Fire started deliberately, no CCTV. They did find some kind of petrol can with a partial fingerprint though, which confirms it was Jonathan once and for all.”
“Isn’t that a bit sloppy?”
“I thought so. Apparently he’s been nursing a huge grudge ever since Jimmy broke up with him. Jonathan always blamed me. I do feel better knowing he’s locked up.”
“Me too. When can you start work on rebuilding?”
“A while yet.” Susannah paused. “Did I see you speaking to Joan before?”
Tess nodded.
“I’m going to ask her about getting a temporary liquor licence at the café for the evenings. People around here need a place to let off steam after a hard day’s work. I’m not worried about the lost business, but I am worried about the effects it could have.”
Tess reached across the table and grabbed Susannah’s hand, rubbing her thumb across the knuckles. “You’re not responsible for the whole village, you know.”
“Yes, but still—”
“Not to mention you got the go-ahead for your development of the estate. You might even have your sister-in-law over your shoulder at some point, offering ‘helpful’ suggestions.”
“I’m beginning to think you have a vindictive streak, Tess. But we are ready, and the building work starts next week. Robin, though, she’s really coming around. Guilt is a great leveller.”
“Did I mention it’s hot when you’re all Businesswoman of the Year?”
There was a commotion outside the door, and Tess glanced towards the noise.
“Sounds a bit rowdy for a neutered Alsatian,” Susannah remarked just as the door banged open.
“Tessie! There you are!”
Tess almost knocked her half-empty mug across the table as she jumped
