The Hidden Secrets of Bumblebee Cottage by Christie Barlow

Author:Christie Barlow [Barlow, Christie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780008413163
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

After using the bathroom, Jinny made her way out to the street. She looked around for Gabe, and found him standing with his back to her outside the village shop on the opposite pavement. She ambled across the road towards him then stopped. He was still talking on the phone and the conversation sounded heated. She didn’t mean to eavesdrop but Gabe was sounding stressed. His words were getting faster, his hands animated as he spoke. Then Jinny realised he was speaking in French.

‘Pas de mère. Cela fait dix ans et nous avons réussi à rester à l'écart des projecteurs aussi longtemps. Je ne veux pas de cette vie.’

Jinny’s French wasn’t up to much but she could ask for a gin and tonic and where the nearest metro station was. But Gabe was clearly protesting about something and she managed to translate the words ‘ten years’ and gather that he ‘didn’t want that life’.

As Jinny began to edge backwards, Gabe spun round and met her gaze. He paled. Switching back to English, he said. ‘I have to go. I don’t want to speak about this now. I’ll call you tomorrow.’ He hung up the phone and stuffed it back into his pocket.

‘I’m sorry about that,’ he said. His eyes were downcast and he was avoiding eye contact with her. She didn’t need to be a genius to know something was troubling him. There was worry etched all over his face.

Jinny contemplated her next move. Gabe looked like he was in turmoil and she couldn’t ignore that. ‘Is everything okay? You look a little—’

‘I’m fine,’ he cut in, then exhaled.

‘Anyone who says they’re fine is not fine,’ she replied tentatively. ‘And French… You speak French?’

‘I’m sorry, that was a little sharp of me. I didn’t mean to snap. I’ve just got a few things on my mind,’ he admitted, raking his hand through his hair. ‘Come on, let’s walk you home.’ Gabe placed his hand in the small of her back and they headed towards Bumblebee Cottage.

‘You do look like you have the weight of the world on your shoulders.’

‘Sometimes it feels like that,’ he admitted. He stopped walking. ‘A lot of stuff has happened but it’s difficult to talk about.’

‘Nothing can really be that bad, can it? Sometimes talking to someone who isn’t involved can give you a different perspective on a situation. I can lend a confidential ear.’

Jinny could see that Gabe was out of his comfort zone. Maybe he hadn’t had anyone to open up to before except Dixie, who was no longer here. She didn’t want him closing down or being guarded but maybe his way of coping was by keeping whatever it was to himself.

They carried on walking down the high street in silence. As soon as they turned the corner, Jinny smiled at the sight of Donovan parked outside the cottage. ‘That car makes me feel happy. But I’m learning he can be temperamental… like most men, apparently.’

Gabe rolled his eyes then smiled. ‘Don’t you

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