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Pe
‘I’m sorry,’ Kathleen said and Pe
‘That he had been sleeping with Jade the entire time I was pregnant?’
‘Yes. I didn’t know. I swear I didn’t know until after the baby had died but when I found out I was so angry at him. Everybody was. But then what happened after, the lies he told about you, I have never been so ashamed of him before.’
Pe
‘People will believe what they want to believe and most of the town saw the lies for what they were, but as you know, there were some that believed them,’ Kathleen said. ‘I couldn’t look at him for months, barely said a word to him. I was so embarrassed by him. God, he was hated by so many people for what he had done, but that hatred spread to me too. The looks I’d get, the comments. Even some of my friends turned against me as if it was my fault he had slept with Jade, abandoned you and told all those lies. He left the town shortly after, as you know, but I was left with all those looks and comments for months afterwards. I saw you quite a few times around the town but I was never brave enough to come and say anything. I was too ashamed to come and see you personally and eight years have passed and you’ve never been back in the pub since.’
‘Do you blame me?’
‘No, of course not. I just hoped that you didn’t hate me for what happened but, as time went on, I guessed that you did.’
‘I don’t hate you. I hated Chris for a long while, but I never hated you. Because I never saw you again, I just presumed that you believed the lies he told you and that you wouldn’t want a crazy, psychotic person in the pub.’
‘Oh love, I wish I had come to see you, maybe we could have put this to bed years ago.’
Pe
‘You know he’s married now, and has a baby boy. Eric, he’s five months old and Chris absolutely adores him. I guess that must be really hard for you, after seeing how badly he reacted to your baby.’
‘Actually it isn’t. It was hard at the time when I saw the baby clothes and toys you had bought for him, but I hope Chris is a better person now. It was a long time ago and he was young, we both were. If he loves his little boy, as you say he does, I’m genuinely happy for him.’
‘He’s grown up to be a marvellous young man, and a fantastic dad. He’s actually someone I can be proud of. I hope you can forgive him one day.’
‘I don’t hate him any more and I wish him well, though forgiveness might take a little longer.’
Kathleen nodded with understanding. ‘And what about you? I hear you’re seeing Henry Travis.’
Pe
‘He seems like a decent man.’
‘He really is.’
‘And I know it’s early days but do you think you might have your own family one day?’
‘Family comes in different guises. He has a daughter who I adore. Maybe it would be enough to just be part of their family.’
Kathleen nodded. ‘Sometimes the family you pick for yourself is miles better than the one you were given.’
Pe
It was a while later when Pe
She let herself into her kitchen and smiled when she saw Jill and Daisy chatting over lunch.
‘Hey.’ Pe
‘Hello, lovely,’ Jill said. ‘I made you some lunch and then I found this little waif next door, practically starving to death, so I had to feed her up too, I hope you don’t mind.’
‘Of course not. Can’t have her wasting away.’
Daisy gri
‘I saw you going into The Pilchard earlier, everything OK?’ Jill asked, casually, trying not to let anything slip to nosy ears.
‘It is now,’ Pe
Jill smiled with understanding and watched her carefully over her mug of tea. ‘You look different,’ Jill said eventually, ‘and I can’t place what it is.’
‘I had a haircut the other day,’ Pe
‘No, it’s not that. You look… contented and really happy.’
‘I am happy.’ She tilted her head to the side subtly, hopefully indicating to Jill that the reason she was happy really shouldn’t be talked about in front of Daisy.
Jill picked up on it straight away and stood up to go to the kettle. ‘Did you want a cup of tea?’
‘Yes please.’
‘She is happy, she has a hot date tonight,’ Daisy said. ‘With a sexy Italian of all people.’
Jill turned round. ‘Oh and who might that be?’
‘Fabio,’ Daisy said, delighted that she had gossip to share. ‘He’s an ice carver, just like Pe
She flicked a few buttons on her phone and turned it round to show Jill. Pe
‘Look, you, before you show Jill any more embarrassing videos or photos of me, why don’t you go and get changed into something warmer than your pyjamas and then we can do a bit of carving this afternoon.’
This was the only incentive that Daisy needed. She leapt off the bench with a quick thank you for Jill and then she darted upstairs to get changed.
Pe
‘Am I to presume that the reason you are practically glowing has something to do with her father and not some Italian stallion?’ Jill said, passing her a mug of tea.
‘You would presume correctly. We’re seeing each other, it’s very early days and we don’t want to tell Daisy yet in case she gets upset by it, so we’re just going to see how it goes over the next week or so.’
Jill’s smile filled her whole face. ‘And how is it going?’
Pe
‘You’ve fallen in love with him.’
‘I think I might have.’
Jill squealed just as Daisy burst back into the room. ‘What did I miss?’
‘Pe
Pe
‘Come on, you, we’ve got some carving to be done.’ Pe
‘No lovely, I’m getting off now, but I’ll probably see you Monday.’
Pe