Working It Out by Jo Platt

Author:Jo Platt
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Canelo Digital Publishing Ltd
Published: 2022-02-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 19

I spotted Nicky as soon as I turned the corner into the avenue. She was coming out of a house just a few doors down and looked to be in a hurry, as she pulled the door shut and made her way quickly down the path. I slowed my pace and then, as she paused to close her garden gate, I stopped walking altogether and turned to examine a shrub in the front garden next to me. My conversation with Luke hadn’t left me in the mood for neighbourly chit-chat and, besides, Nicky didn’t look as if she was up for any either.

But I was wrong.

‘Edie!’ she exclaimed.

I turned to find her smiling as she stooped to retrieve a set of keys from the pavement. ‘Just throwing away my keys,’ she laughed. ‘Are you a bit of a gardener?’ She stood up and nodded towards the bush.

I stopped fingering the twigs of the leafless plant. ‘Oh, hi. I was just…’ I looked at the bush, ‘wondering what this is.’

‘Dead,’ she said, matter-of-factly. ‘But I’m glad I’ve seen you. You on your way home?’ She nodded over her shoulder. ‘I’m walking that way.’

‘I’m going…’

I hesitated and for a moment I considered claiming to be heading in the opposite direction. But in the end, I decided that I didn’t have the energy for a detour. ‘I’m going home.’

‘Great,’ she replied, as we started to walk. ‘I’d actually been hoping to run into you or Giles because…’ She paused and pulled a worried face. ‘Andy told me that I was really loud and out of order at June’s – especially about Giles. I just wanted to say sorry to you both and check that he wasn’t upset.’

Despite the unwelcome reminder of Friday night, I managed a smile. ‘Not at all. He was fine.’

‘Are you sure?’ she asked, looking doubtful ‘The thing is, I haven’t been out for cocktails in a very long time and they’re like milkshakes, aren’t they? I had three and they hit me all at once. And then I had all that wine on top of them at June’s. Urgh.’ She shivered and placed a hand across her mouth at the thought. ‘I was good for nothing on Saturday, but at least I had a bit of a lie-in. Not much of one, though. Amelia did my make-up while I was asleep and then I had to get up because I couldn’t leave the mascara in my eyebrows. You know how it is.’

I nodded sympathetically, whilst thanking God for the small mercy of not actually being able to relate. ‘Well, don’t worry about Giles,’ I said, slowing as we reached his gate. ‘He isn’t the kind of guy to take offence. Besides, you said some very flattering stuff about him.’

She looked relieved. ‘Thanks for being so nice about it. But do say sorry to him anyway.’

I pushed open the gate. ‘I will.’

‘So how come you’re home so early?’ she asked, checking her watch. ‘Half-day?’

‘Bit under the weather.’ I continued through the gate.

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