It couldn’t go on. There had to be a solution and if it was the very last thing Robin did, she would find it.
CHAPTERTHIRTY-SEVEN
GINA
Babs had hadone too many already and by her own admission needed to sober up so, while she nipped to the loo, Gina scooped a very large spoonful of coffee into a mug and waited for the kettle to boil.
She was less stressed than an hour or so before, when Robin surprised them all with, ‘Ta-da, look whose joining us for tea.’
Gina had been recovering from her confessional with Robin when the arrival of Babs wiped out the lingering sense of gloom. Rosy cheeked from her power-walking, tipsy and in a foul mood, Babs had slammed an almost empty bottle of Prosecco onto the side. Then, as she yanked a full one from her rucksack, began to tell Gina what a raving pillock her Pete was.
The arrival of Robin and Willow stemmed the flow and in a heartbeat the conversation flipped from ripe language to welcoming words. As hugs were given, and chairs pulled from under the table Gina could feel the crackle of tension, like a spell that could be broken at any second. And judging by the wary glance Babs gave her, no doubt her friend could feel it too.
Nervousness was written on Robin’s face, but gradually the telltale lines eased, her shoulders relaxed. With the innate powers of sensory perception cultivated by womenfolk across the land, signals were read, leads were followed and eventually, they all relaxed.
Willow sat by Gina, who’d pulled her chair a bit closer, their hands linked, the gentle stroke of a thumb for reassurance, while Babs fussed, clearly thrilled to see her. Willow had nodded here and there, nibbled on this and that, smiled occasionally and drank half a glass of her favourite raspberry pop. Even though her concentration wandered and her energy waned, the time she’d sat with them was a gift, and the photos Robin insisted on taking, precious mementos.
By the time Willow asked to go back to her room, Gina could see that she’d almost left them anyway, retreating further into silence. Still, it was progress, Gina was sure of it. So rather than feel sad it had ended she told herself to look forward to the next time.
Footsteps on linoleum signalled the return of Babs who plonked herself on a chair while Gina passed her a mug of coffee.
‘Thanks, love. I need this. Got a bit carried away with the plonk.’ She took a tentative sip then placed it on the table. ‘Wasn’t it lovely to see our Willow. She looks well doesn’t she, a bit on the pale side but I suppose she doesn’t get out much. It made Robin’s day that she joined in, I could tell.’
Gina nodded her agreement and took a place at the table, wanting to speak quickly before they were interrupted. ‘Listen. I told Robin about Nate. It came out in the middle of another conversation, but it felt like the right time.’
‘Oh bloody hell. No wonder she looked a bit mithered when she came down and while I think of it, missy, you looked a bit tearful when I arrived. Is something going on?’ Babs had leant forward, her arms crossed on the table, a frown relaying her concern.
‘Yes, but I don’t want to mention it unless Robin does… just the vicar being his usual self.’
A noise overhead caused them both to look upwards and Gina changed the subject.
‘This spread is lovely, isn’t it. Have you tried one of these?’ she held up a tiny savoury and put it on her plate.
‘Yes, I had three, but you do know that you’re supposed to eat them not just look at them!’ Babs gave Gina the pursed lips, raised eyebrow look that she’d perfected to a tee.
The arrival of Robin saved Gina from a telling off and grateful for the distraction, she turned the focus of the conversation to Willow. ‘Is she okay?’
Robin flopped into a chair at the head of the table, nodding as she poured herself a glass of red wine. ‘Yes, out for the count. She’s had her night-time meds and will probably sleep straight through now. She’s exhausted.’
Gina and Babs watched as she took a glug of wine before replacing the glass on the table. ‘Isoneeded that! Are you two not joining me?’
‘No, I’m driving, and I promised Babs a lift later. I’m fine with tea. I’ll make myself one.’
Robin waved Gina in the direction of the kettle, while Babs gave a little chuckle and picked up her mug. ‘I’ll have this coffee and then join you for another. Sod it. I’ve been looking forward to tonight so I’m not going teetotal, but I will pace myself. And I’ll have another one of these sandwiches, they’re bloody lovely.’
After a lull in conversation, while Gina made a mug of herbal tea, Robin drained a glass of wine and refilled it. Babs munched away and no sooner had Gina plonked her bottom, than Robin made a surprise statement.
‘Men are total, utter bastards.’ A more genteel sip, followed by a less forthright comment directed at Babs.
‘Gina’s told me about Nate and frankly, I’m not in the least bit surprised. In fact, I’ve had my suspicions for a while. I suppose I convinced myself that he wouldn’t do that to Willow, but he has and now I can deal with it so thank you for being honest.’
Babs reached over and gave Robin’s hand a squeeze, the gesture reciprocated. ‘So what are you going to do?’
‘No idea yet. I’ll give it some thought but I know one thing. If he’s carrying on with some woman, he’s not living under my roof any longer. He can bugger off. I can’t imagine what Edmund will say when he finds out. Another sinner living under his roof… no doubt we’ll have a fire-and-brimstone lecture, and he’ll see it as some personal attack on his impeccable reputation.’
She took another sip, a breath, then rolled her eyes. ‘I mean, as if having a gay son wasn’t bad enough, then a daughter, a mere woman, wanted to take holy orders and then in the midst of despair tried to take her own life. And then there’s having me for a wife. Poor old Edmund, it’ll be worse than the ten plagues of Egypt all over again.’
Robin took a glug of wine this time, while Gina shifted uncomfortably in her chair, knowing full well that dirty Eddie’s reputation was far from impeccable. God, she bloody hated secrets.
