Staying at Daisy's (31 page)

Tara was having a great time. She hadn’t forgotten how to drive (hooray!), Josh had pronounced her reversing-round-a-corner maneuver faultless, and she was even remembering not to cross her arms over each other—heinous crime—when turning the steering wheel. Plus, the sun was still blazing down and from his jacket pocket Josh had produced a bag of strawberry sherbets, the irresistible kind that made the inside of your mouth shrivel up—but not enough to stop you having another one.

‘Did Daisy tell you?’ Tara was touched by his thoughtfulness.

‘Tell me what?’

‘That strawberry sherbets are my all-time favorite sweets.’

‘No.’ Josh shook his head. ‘I bought them because they’re my all-time favorite sweets.’

‘Really?’ Tara was delighted.

‘Well, joint favorites. I’m mad about those liquorice Catherine wheels,’ Josh admitted.

‘And liquorice comfits. When I was little I used to wet the red ones and use them as lipstick,’ Tara happily reminisced. ‘I thought I looked so great. God, even at seven I was a tart.’

‘Don’t put yourself down. And check your mirror before you signal,’ added Josh as they reached a junction.

‘So what happened to your friend after he broke his leg?’ Tara was dying to hear the rest of the story—going on holiday with Josh was evidently a perilous business.

‘Baz? He hung up his skis and took up tobogganing instead. Then three days later we all went out to this nightclub and guess what happened?’

‘He broke his other leg?’

‘
Wrong
. Far too predictable,’ Josh scoffed. ‘In fact he bumped into this girl—literally—on his way to the loo. She’d broken her leg as well and their crutches got into a complete tangle. So of course Baz being Baz, he bought her a drink. They spent an hour comparing fractures and boasting about how they’d got them, and the next thing we knew, they’d gone.’

‘Gone where?’

‘Hobbled back to her chalet together. God knows what they managed to get up to, but we hardly saw Baz for the rest of the week. He reckons it’s the best holiday he’s ever had.’

Tara giggled. ‘That’s so sweet. Oh, speaking of sweets…’ She opened her mouth to show that the strawberry sherbet was gone and waited for Josh to unwrap another one.

‘It’s like feeding a baby bird.’ He popped it into her mouth. ‘Now, take the next left and we’ll do a few three-point turns.’

Mirror, signal, maneuver. Tara turned left into a cul-de-sac and pulled up—brilliantly—at the side of the road.

‘By the way, I hope you didn’t pick up any girls out there.’ She gave him a stern look.

Josh grinned. ‘Of course I didn’t.’

Standard male answer.

‘But you could just be saying that,’ Tara argued. ‘How would we know?’

‘It’s the truth. That’s not why I go away on holiday. I’m not interested in getting up to no good with other girls.’

Tara relented. That was the thing about Josh, you could actually believe him. He wasn’t a cheating scumbag like some men she could think of.

Most men, in fact.

‘Well, glad to hear it. Right.’ She took a couple of noisy deep breaths and waggled her hands like an Olympic athlete going for gold. ‘Three-point turn. Silence please, ladies and gentlemen, as Tara Donovan of Great Britain heroically attempts the near-impossible in a
very
narrow cul-de-sac.’

‘Daisy hasn’t told you, has she?’ said Josh. A statement rather than a question.

‘Told me what? I haven’t seen Daisy today.’ Tara wished he wouldn’t interrupt when she was on the brink of something this momentous; couldn’t he see she was trying to concentrate?

‘We’ve called it a day.’

Called it a day? She paused, puzzling over the expression. Surely he meant that they’d named the day?

‘What?’

‘It’s over,’ Josh patiently repeated. ‘It wasn’t working out. We’re no longer a couple.’

Tara’s left foot jerked and slid off the clutch. The car, already in gear, kangarooed forwards and abruptly stalled.

‘Handbrake,’ Josh said automatically.

‘You mean you finished with Daisy?’ Tara’s mouth dropped open.

‘Technically, Daisy finished with me. But it was basically a mutual decision. We both knew it couldn’t go on. You’re still in gear,’ he added. ‘Put it into neutral.’

‘But I thought you were so happy together,’ Tara wailed. ‘You get on so
well
.’

‘And we’ll carry on getting on well. Probably until we’re eighty.’

‘I don’t believe this. Aren’t you upset?’

Josh flashed her a smile. ‘Relieved. Well, relieved that Daisy said it first. That way I didn’t have to feel guilty.’

Tara’s heart began to pound. ‘You mean there’s someone else?’

He shrugged. ‘Kind of.’

‘
Who?
’
Her voice rose.

Josh shook his head. Finally he sighed and said, ‘Bloody hell, Tara, who d’you think?’

And then he kissed her.

His mouth tasted of warm strawberries. Tara couldn’t believe this was happening. But all the tumblers were clicking into place now. The secret code had been cracked. It had never occurred to her before to fancy Josh, because he was her best friend’s boyfriend. It simply wasn’t something you even considered. In your mind, they were mentally neutered, Tara realized. Best friend’s boyfriends just weren’t an option.

Yet all this time, buried deep inside her, had been the subconscious acknowledgement that if Josh hadn’t been involved with Daisy, she might find him very attractive indeed.

And now she was allowed to find him attractive, she found that she did. Giving herself up to the kiss, Tara decided that his mouth actually tasted better than strawberries. As for his hair—his mad, tousled, red-gold tufty hair—she simply couldn’t stop running her fingers through it. And his face, with those baggy eyes and that broken nose and those faint golden freckles scattered across his cheekbones—how could she never have realized how perfect he was before now?

Finally, reluctantly, Josh pulled away. Just an inch. ‘This is the moment,’ he murmured, ‘when we find out.’

Tara blinked in confusion. ‘Find out what?’

‘Whether you’re about to slap my face.’

Oh. Phew. She managed a shaky smile. ‘No.’

Josh’s eyes twinkled with relief. ‘Good job I’m not a real driving instructor. I’d probably get struck off for this.’

Wonderingly, Tara murmured, ‘I never knew, I never
knew
.’

‘I know you didn’t.’ His smile was rueful. ‘That’s why doing that just now was so scary.’

‘I thought we just got on really well.’ Tara shook her head in bewilderment.

‘So did I. Well, to begin with,’ Josh amended. ‘And then it started to creep up on me.’

‘When?’ She was trembling all over with delight. ‘When did it start to creep up on you?’

‘A couple of weeks ago. We were doing hill starts in Tetbury. You were telling me about your acting auditions.’

Tara winced; she’d only bared her soul to Josh because he was so completely off limits. It wasn’t the kind of stuff you’d ever want to confide to a potential boyfriend.

‘The sleazy ones? Where the casting directors wanted more than just an audition?’

‘And you told them to take a running jump,’ said Josh.

‘Oh.’ She squirmed guiltily. There were times when it had been a close-run thing.

‘When you told me,’ he went on, ‘I wanted to punch them.’

‘
Really?
’
Tara was absurdly touched.

‘I wanted to kill them,’ Josh declared. Clumsily, he kissed the tip of her nose. ‘That was when I realized what was happening.’

‘But you didn’t drop any hints,’ Tara marveled. ‘I mean,
none
.’ And let’s face it, she was the world’s expert when it came to picking up hints.

‘I was with Daisy.’ He shrugged.

Daisy. Tara was instantly awash with guilt. ‘I feel terrible.’ So terrible she could barely bring herself to think about it. ‘What’s she going to
say
?’ Worst of all, she knew that from this day forward until the day she died, she would associate the taste of strawberries with kissing Josh.

‘Don’t worry about Daisy. She’s fine about it.’

Slack-jawed, Tara turned her face up to his. ‘You mean… she
knows
?’

‘I told her before she left to go shopping. Well, I told her how I felt about you,’ Josh amended. ‘I didn’t know if you’d feel the same way, of course. You might have told me to take a running jump. But it seemed only fair to let Daisy know. So I did.’ He broke into a huge grin. ‘She was delighted.’

‘Really?’ Tara was desperate for reassurance—lots of reassurance. ‘Not mad at all? You’re sure she doesn’t mind?’

‘She truly doesn’t mind. I told you, we weren’t a real couple,’ said Josh. ‘We were pretending to each other that everything was great, but we both knew it wasn’t. When I went to Austria, you were the one I missed,’ he explained. ‘And when I got back this morning, you were the one I couldn’t wait to see. There’s one thing we do have to sort out though,’ Josh went on seriously. ‘You have to promise me you won’t have any more to do with Dominic Cross-Calvert.’

Oh, the relief!

‘I promise.’ Tara nodded vigorously. ‘There is
no
chance of that happening. It’s all over between me and Dominic, I never want to see him again.’

‘That’s what you told Daisy.’

‘It’s the truth!’

‘You might change your mind,’ said Josh.

‘Oh, give me a break.’ Tears of happiness sprang into Tara’s eyes as she wound her arms round his neck. Her voice cracking, she whispered, ‘Why would I want to when I’ve got you?’

‘…the party’s carrying on,’ Dev shouted down the phone above a babble of background noise, ‘and Kate doesn’t want to leave, so we’re going to book into a hotel up here for the night.’

Daisy gazed across the living room at her mini mountain of shopping bags and thought sourly, I’ll bet Kate doesn’t want to leave.
Tart
.

You knew your attempt at retail therapy hadn’t had the desired mood-lifting effect when every single thing you’d bought was still sitting unopened in glossy carriers at eleven o’clock at night.

‘This is all very interesting, but why are you telling me? You’re over eighteen,’ she reminded Dev. ‘You don’t need my permission to stay out.’

‘It’s Clarissa. I told Adam we’d be home around midnight. Look, I’m sorry, but I’ve just rung his room and there’s no reply. Could you find Adam, have a word with him, and see if he wouldn’t mind keeping an eye on her until tomorrow afternoon?’

While you
gallivant
in London?

‘Don’t you think you’re being the tiniest bit selfish here?’ Outraged, Daisy said spikily, ‘Adam was planning to go to Longleat tomorrow. Now I suppose he’s expected to cancel
his
plans, just because
you
can’t be bothered to—’

‘OK, stop, I didn’t know about Longleat,’ Dev cut in.

Not too surprisingly, seeing as even Adam didn’t know about Longleat.

‘So what are you going to do?’ If she got caught out later, Daisy hastily decided, she’d claim to have misheard what Adam had said. With his gruff adolescent Aussie twang, that was feasible, surely? (‘Oh, you meant you were going to be
lonely
on Sunday! Silly me, I thought you said you were going to be at Longleat!’)

‘Looks like I’m stuck.’ Dev paused. ‘Unless you could look after Clarissa.’

Yes!

‘
Me?
I can’t do it, I’m busy.’ Daisy’s voice rose. ‘Dev, you can’t expect me to drop everything, just to—’

‘OK, OK,’ Dev said hurriedly. ‘It was just a thought. Right then, I’ll sort something else out.’

‘What does that mean? Phone round everyone you know until you find someone willing to take her?’

‘I don’t—’

‘Someone who’s never even
met
Clarissa? Oh, for heaven’s sake.’ Daisy heaved a hurricane-force sigh. ‘I’ll look after her.’

‘No. Absolutely not. I’ll drive back,’ Dev said firmly.

‘Don’t be stupid. I’ll do it.’

‘But you’re busy.’

‘I know I’m busy, but somebody has to take care of Clarissa.’

‘Now I feel terrible,’ said Dev.

‘Good.’ Triumphantly, Daisy hung up.

***

She found Adam and Clarissa downstairs in the bar, listening to Hector murder ‘Mac The Knife.’ Well, listening to Hector and half a dozen guests from Chicago
all
singing ‘Mac The Knife.’

Very badly indeed. It was clearly going to be one of those noisy Saturday nights.

In response to Daisy’s beckoning, Adam tipped Clarissa off his knee and they both ambled over.

‘Dev’s been held up. He’s staying overnight in London,’ Daisy explained, ‘so I’ll take over looking after Clarissa.’

Adam’s face fell. ‘I don’t mind. We’ve had such a great time. She can stay with me.’

‘Yes, but Dev won’t be back until tomorrow… night,’ Daisy improvised.

Eagerly Adam said, ‘I’m not doing anything tomorrow either. Honestly, I’d be happy to keep her for another day.’

‘That’s very sweet of you, but I told Dev I’d look after Clarissa.’ She gave him her most businesslike look, the one that signaled: I’m the manager of this hotel and I get the dog.

‘Oh. Well, OK.’ Adam took a slurp of Coke and gave Clarissa a regretful pat on the head. ‘See ya then, girl. Be good now.’

Clarissa wagged her tail then licked his hand. It was all very Disney.

‘Come on, sweetheart, it’s past your bedtime.’ Daisy felt like Cruella de Vil, luring Clarissa away under false pretences. Although obviously she wasn’t planning to turn her into a coat.

Thankfully Clarissa didn’t whimper and wrap her paws round Adam’s ankle. She trotted happily after Daisy as together they left the bar.

Paula Penhaligon was in reception, sticking stamps onto letters and posting them into the wooden collection box. Despite Hector’s urging, he had never persuaded her to join in with his impromptu sing-along sessions. She claimed to be resting her voice but Daisy suspected she felt it was beneath her. Crikey, one quick chorus of ‘Roll Out The Barrel’—how much damage could that do? Paula just didn’t want to perform for free.

Still, she was Hector’s lady friend. Be polite.

‘Hi, Paula… oops.’ As she called out the friendly greeting, Clarissa darted between her legs. Ears flattened, she cowered at Daisy’s feet.

‘Oh. Hello.’ Paula Penhaligon smiled briefly back at Daisy.

But how weird. Why was Clarissa trembling?

‘Dad’s in full flow in there.’ Daisy indicated the bar. ‘Are you joining him?’

‘Oh no, I don’t think so. Those awful Americans keep pestering me to have my photograph taken with them.’ Paula pulled a genteel face. ‘I wouldn’t mind, but they keep telling me about their last trip to Graceland. As far as they’re concerned, the only music worth listening to is fifties rock’n’roll.’

Daisy heard low-pitched growling coming from around her feet. How completely embarrassing—Clarissa was actually baring her teeth at Paula Penhaligon! Appalled, she swept the dog up and said, ‘Sssh, what do you think you’re doing?’

‘Hrrrrrrrhr,’ Clarissa growled ominously, quivering in her arms.

‘God, I’m really sorry.’ Mortified, Daisy shook her head at Paula. ‘She’s never done anything like this before.’

‘That’s the trouble with animals. They’re unpredictable. You can’t let a dangerous dog just run around the hotel,’ said Paula. ‘You really should put it on a lead.’

***

‘What made you
do
that?’ Daisy chided when they were safely inside her apartment. ‘Of all the people to get funny with.’

‘Woof,’ agreed Clarissa, leaping unrepentantly onto the bed.

‘That woman could end up being my stepmother, you know. And that’s your bed over there,’ Daisy added, pointing to the basket she had taken from Dev’s room. ‘Your basket, your blanket, your lovely squeaky ball… oh well, never mind. Come here.’ Collapsing onto the bed, she let Clarissa jump onto her lap and gave her a cuddle. ‘Oh, it’s so lovely to have you here. Shall we get ourselves some biscuits and watch a video?’

Clarissa wriggled ecstatically and thumped her tail.

As she flicked on the TV, Daisy said, ‘I wonder what Dev’s doing now.’ Then she stopped, because she didn’t want to wonder what Dev might be up to. ‘Anyway, never mind him. What d’you fancy, custard creams or chocolate biscuits?’

Clarissa yapped and lovingly nuzzled her neck.

‘Fabulous idea.’ Daisy nodded with approval. ‘Let’s have both.’

***

It had knocked her for six at the time, but the idea that Freddie was actually Steven’s son was one that Daisy was getting used to.

Now, on Sunday morning, she and Clarissa watched from her bedroom window as Mel, kneeling on the hotel lawn with her arms outstretched, encouraged Freddie to take a few tottering steps towards her.

Three
tottering steps, in fact, before he lost his balance and landed with a bump on the grass.

He really was an angelic-looking boy. It wasn’t his fault Steven was his father.

Leaping down from the window seat, Clarissa raced across to the door and whimpered in a ladylike fashion.

‘OK, OK.’ Hastily dragging a brush through her hair, Daisy followed her. Clarissa had her legs metaphorically crossed and was desperate to relieve herself. ‘We’ll go out the back way.’

But if Clarissa understood, she chose to ignore this instruction. As far as she was concerned the front staircase was quicker. Suppressing a sigh, Daisy followed her. Oh well, she couldn’t spend the next goodness knows how long avoiding Mel and pretending she didn’t exist.

Clarissa decorously emptied her bladder behind a yew tree before speeding across the grass like a bullet to join Mel and Freddie. Belatedly remembering why she’d brought the lead downstairs with her, Daisy yelled, ‘Clarissa,
stop
, come
here
.’

Nightmare newspaper headlines flashed before her eyes: small mongrel with ridiculous name mauls angelic toddler. But all Clarissa did was greet Mel like an old friend and nuzzle joyfully up to Freddie before turning and sauntering back, her tail still wagging like a metronome.

Daisy clipped the lead to her collar with relief.

Scooping Freddie up, Mel made her way over.

‘I haven’t had a chance yet to thank you properly.’ With her free hand, she pushed her bangs out of her eyes. ‘For saving Freddie… letting us stay here… well, everything.’ Another pause. ‘I know it’s feeble, but what else can I say? Thank you.’

Didn’t have a lot of choice, thought Daisy. When someone was throwing a baby out of a burning house you felt morally obliged to catch it. Otherwise people were going to call you a butterfingers for the rest of your life.

Awkwardly she muttered, ‘That’s OK.’

‘I never meant to hurt you,’ Mel went on bluntly. ‘I swear I didn’t. If I hadn’t met Barney, you’d never have found out about Freddie.’

‘I know.’ Daisy had already worked this out for herself. Plus, of course, if she hadn’t given Barney a job he’d never have got involved with Mel. This whole mess was practically her own fault.

‘Sometimes these things just happen,’ said Mel. ‘I’m really not a horrible person. And I do love Barney.’

‘Everyone loves Barney. Where is he, by the way?’

‘Up at the cottage. We’re off to see him now. The accident investigators have confirmed it was an electrical fault. All that ancient wiring,’ Mel shuddered. ‘It doesn’t bear thinking about.’

Daisy shook her head, guiltily recalling the moment when she’d thought Mel might have started the fire herself.

‘But you’re insured?’

‘Yes, thank God. The claims man came out yesterday. We’ll be able to get the place fixed up. Why are you keeping her on that thing?’ Changing the subject, Mel gestured at Clarissa. ‘I’ve never seen her on a lead before.’

‘Oh. One of the guests wasn’t too happy about her running around.’

‘But Clarissa isn’t dangerous!’

‘She growled at someone,’ Daisy admitted. ‘It’s not like her at all, but better safe than sorry.’

‘And you’re looking after her while Dev’s away. You know, I did wonder…’

‘Wonder what?’ prompted Daisy when Mel’s voice trailed away.

‘Well, the other night when you found the cottage on fire. You and Dev were together—’

‘There’s nothing going on between us, if that’s what you think,’ Daisy interrupted. ‘Nothing at all.’ She felt herself getting hot. ‘God, he’s the last person I’d want to be involved with.’

‘Why on earth not?’ Mel raised her eyebrows in disbelief. ‘He’s attractive, he’s successful—and
brave
. Now that’s what I call a catch.’

‘He’s what I call a womanizer,’ Daisy shot back, because the last thing she needed, frankly, was a lecture from Mel on the subject of bedworthy men. ‘And I’ve already been married to one of those, thanks very much.’

Mel ignored the jibe. ‘I just asked,’ she said calmly.

‘So you did. And now I’ve told you.’

‘I just don’t think you should let it mess up the rest of your life.’