Page 48 of A Change of Location
“Prawn flavored.”
They chose a booth beside a window. As soon as Hannah was settled onto the cushioned banquette, Jewel leaped up beside her.
“Springs in those legs,” Poppy observed. “She’s a natural for agility. You’ll have fun training her.”
Hannah covered her ears. “Stop it!” She gave the off command, and the dog obeyed. “Good girl.”
Andy Riddell brought their drinks and crisps on a tray. Tucking it under his arm, he said, “That one’s from Holly Cottage.”
Quickly Hannah said, “She’s Poppy’s now.”
“Untrue.” Poppy passed him a twenty-pound note. “Back in a second.” She headed in the direction of the lavatory.
Andy laid down two beer mats for the brimming glasses. “Her Millie’s healing from the operation?”
“Quite well, according to the vet.”
“Shame what happened. She shouldn’t of got so close to—she shouldn’t go wandering off like that.” His face reddened, and he beat a swift retreat.
She recalled seeing Andy on a quad bike, riding at high speed, shortly before she and Martin found the injured Millie. His anxious question about the dog, followed by a hastily corrected comment, made her suspect that he was withholding information about the accident. Or perhaps had caused it.
Feeling Jewel’s weight pressing her calf, she placed one hand on the smooth head. “Beware of wheeled vehicles.”
Poppy slid into the opposite seat. After a couple of swallows of ale, she ripped open the crisps packet.
They talked at length about dogs and horses before dwelling briefly on parental loopiness. Poppy hadn’t fully accepted that her father left Somerset for a foreign country, no matter that it was both sunnier and more economical for a retiree. Hannah confided a few of her lesser issues with Mum and Dad. Coping with their eccentric employers was another common theme of their dialogue.
“Liz Gregorio is incredible. I’ve known her forever, and we’ve always been simpatico,” Hannah said. “But personally, and professionally, she lives on a higher plane than ordinary mortals. Either she forgets or doesn’t realize I have a stress-inducing workload and an unpredictable income. Liz was born with a silver spoon in her mouth, and it’s entirely possible that Paul Revere made it. Her mother belongs to one of Boston’s oldest families. Her dad descends from Portuguese merchants who arrived shortly after the American Revolution. If New England had aristocrats, she’d be one.”
Poppy’s head bobbed. “I can relate. Mart is mad as a bag of badgers. To his credit, he doesn’t give a toss about the title. Mind you, the shit he deals with on a regular basis would drive me right round the bend. Anyone who’s lived here a long time takes him for granted. But upwardly mobile nouveau riche and city transplants try ever so hard to batten on, as if his magical marquess dust will rub off and make them super-special.”
Ordering a second round, they compared musical tastes and identified additional areas of compatibility.
Poppy, pressing her empty packet into accordion folds, glanced up at her through half-shuttered eyes. “I’ve been of two minds about telling you, but what the hell? Mart fancies you rotten.”
Taken aback by this forthright pronouncement, Hannah said, “Impossible.”
“Don’t sell yourself short. If you tell me you don’t fancy him back, I’ll call you a liar.”
“You’re a mean drunk, Poppy Deane. Careful, or I’ll sic my dog on you.” From the floor, the drowsing Jewel heaved a deep sigh. “I’m not trying to steal him from you,” she insisted. “Honest.”
“You couldn’t.” The other girl’s chuckle became a cackle. “There’s nothing between Mart and me. Never was. Or will be. Crikey, I’ve known him since I was in nappies. I’m interested in somebody else.”
“A man?”
“As a matter of fact, yes. My cousin is the only lesbian in our family. That I know of.”
“Who is it? You can tell me.”
“Keep your voice down, or he’ll hear.”
She followed the direction of Poppy’s gaze. “Andy? Isn’t he kind of young?”
Poppy snorted. “Not him.”
“Jack?”
“He’s years older than me. Not that I care. But he would.”
