“Don’t be,” Dee said, softening. “And you’re not embarrassing anyone. I’m sure this hasn’t been an easy decision.”
Flick managed a smile of appreciation. “It hasn’t.”
“So how does your mum feel about this?”
Flick couldn’t bring herself to answer.
“You have told her, haven’t you?”
Again, she remained silent.
“So, Brenda doesn’t know about this meeting?”
Flick slowly shook her head, desperately trying to keep herself together.
“Oh, you poor thing.” Dee reached out with a comforting hand, an action that Flick appreciated. “It’s probably a bit beyond my remit and I wouldn’t normally offer, but would you like me to talk to her?”
“No,” Flick said, finally finding her voice again. “It’s better coming from me.” She dreaded breaking the news. “I just hope she understands.”
12
Pulling up in front of the chateau, Flick used the rear-view mirror to stare into the back of the car. Just like when they’d first arrived, she couldn’t see out of the window for all the stuff shoe-horned in. Except on this occasion she was looking at litre upon litre of white paint and bag upon bag of everything she’d need when it came to DIY decorating. During her trip to thebricolagestore, she’d bought a tonne of paintbrushes, wall paper scrapers, wood stainer, countless rolls of masking tape and numerous tubs of filler… the list went on. She sighed. Having loaded it all into the car, she dreaded having to take it back out again, especially when some of it was headed straight up to the dormer rooms. Heavy wasn’t the word for ten-litre paint buckets and her arms felt like they’d stretched a couple of inches already.
Unclipping her seatbelt and getting out of the car, she walked round to the boot ready to start unloading. In another case ofdéjà vu, however,a yapping dog made Flick look up to see Rufus rounding the corner, heading straight for her. “Hello, again.” He threw himself onto his back and Flick laughed, as she crouched down to tickle his tummy.
“Looks like you have a fan,” Nate said, also appearing from the rear of the chateau.
Flick stood back up, hastily tidying herself a little. “He heard the car again?” Trying to appear casual, this was the first time she’d seen Nate since her conversation with Dee and attempting to analyse his expression she just prayed the woman had kept shtum as promised.
“Everything okay?” he asked, obviously wondering what she was staring at.
“Fine,” she replied, quickly diverting her gaze. “Why wouldn’t it be?”
Nate glanced into the vehicle. “Wow! That’s some serious kit you have there.”
“Tell me about it. But needs must if I’m going to sell this place.”
“You’re selling?”
At least his surprise answered her question about Dee, she’d stuck to her word. Flick smiled to herself. Remembering all the gossip back home and the isolation she experienced as a result, it felt good to think there was someone other than her mother around that she could trust. Flick once again took in his expression. “Don’t tell me you’re disappointed.”
Nate laughed. “I’m sure I’ll survive.” He signalled to Rufus. “But him, on the other hand…”
Catching Nate’s eye again, Flick suddenly felt self-conscious. “I suppose I should get to it,” she said, her reluctance to move seemingly matching his.
“If you need a hand with anything, feel free to give me a shout.”
Acknowledging the work ahead of her, Flick glanced up at the top floor of the chateau and, unable to face carting her wares up the numerous flights of stairs, wondered if it was the time to take him up on his offer. Still feeling the ache in her own arms, she took in the strength in his, before turning to him with a mischievous smile. “You can help me get this lot inside if you like?” she said.
“I’d be happy to. Where do you want it?”
She watched him lift the boot lid and grab the first two paint buckets to hand. She didn’t feel too guilty for conning him, he easily swung them out, unlike herself who struggled with just the one. “We need three on the first-floor landing,” she said, as they made their way into the hall. “And three on the second.”
Nate looked from the staircase to her. “You’re joking.”
She smiled again, this time trying to appear innocent. “If you don’t mind.”
Nate shook his head, as if realising he’d been had.
