Page 21 of The Life She Wants
‘I’m well, thanks. I’ve just been planting a few containers.’ She held up her hands. ‘I hate the feel of soil underneath my nails, but I don’t like wearing gloves either.’
‘I don’t know if I dare tackle our garden.’ Juliette sighed. ‘I’m sure I’d be pulling out flowers and leaving weeds behind.’
‘You can learn a lot from books.’ Sarah threw athumb over her shoulder. ‘I have a few in the house. Would you like to borrow them?’
Juliette beamed at her. ‘That would be great, thank you! I really want to take an interest in it all.’
As Sarah disappeared into the house, Juliette shielded her eyes from the sun and looked across her neighbour’s garden. It really was beautifully laid out. She knew Richard tended the lawns as she’d seen him sitting on the lawnmower.
As she stood there, he emerged from his studio. He got to her just as Sarah came out of the house with the books.
‘Hi, Juliette. Everything good?’
‘Yes, fine thanks,’ she told him. ‘I was just telling Sarah how I want to help out in my own garden and she offered to lend me some books.’
‘Ah, yes, she has to refer to those often, don’t you, my love?’ Richard rolled his eyes as Sarah drew level. ‘She’s useless at remembering what to do from one year to the next.’
Sarah smiled at him and handed the books to Juliette without a word.
Juliette had to admire her restraint. She almost wanted to say something in Sarah’s defence. Why was Richard so rude to her? Didn’t he see what he was doing? It seemed very unlikely. Maybe she could give Sarah a few minutes’ respite from him.
‘I don’t suppose you’d like to come round and pointout some plants for me?’ She turned to her. ‘If you have time, you’re welcome to have a coffee too.’
Juliette saw her glance at Richard. Was she after his approval? She saw him nod and Sarah smiled.
‘I’d like that,’ Sarah replied.
‘How about this afternoon? Shall we say around two?’
‘Maybe not this week. I have a lot to do.’
‘Next week perhaps?’ Juliette persisted.
‘I’ll let you know.’
‘Okay.’ She knew when she was beat. She held up the books. ‘Well, thanks for these. I’ll see what I can do with them. I’m sure I can learn a lot.’
In the kitchen, Juliette poured a glass of fresh orange and sat at the island for a few minutes. What a weird couple Richard and Sarah were. She couldn’t get an edge on their relationship. Perhaps she was better not getting involved. But there was something so vulnerable about Sarah.
Afterwards, she rinsed out her glass and was about to put it on the drainer when a child’s laughter came through the window. She glanced next door to see a little girl with long blonde hair. She wore a red summer dress and sandals with ankle socks. She was running up and down the garden like a free spirit.
Juliette wondered who she was. Richard and Sarah must have had visitors shortly after she’d spoken withthem. She looked again but there was no one there that time. Going round to the front of the house, she couldn’t see any cars in next door’s drive except their own.
She gasped, hungrily taking in air as tears poured down her face. She was sure she’d seen a child. But she missed Emily so much that just the sight of a child could start her off. During their last weekend in London, they’d had to leave brunch at a coffee shop when a young girl had come in with her mum. She’d been wearing a coat similar to the one she’d bought Emily for her fifth birthday – the one she never got to wear – and it had set her off. She’d run out crying and, although Danny had soothed her, they’d gone straight home.
It was particularly hard to see other mothers with their children, which was why they’d chosen a property that wasn’t near a school. She couldn’t bear to see children walking past all the time. The school in Mapleton was at the other end of the village.
Grief weary, she climbed the stairs, deciding to lie on the bed for a while. It was cooler and she could cry herself to sleep. Grabbing a blanket for comfort, she covered herself over and closed her eyes. Images of Emily invaded her mind. The sound of her laughter. Her moods and tantrums. Her interest in clothes at such a young age.
Emily always had to have her hair just so. When the time was right, Juliette would let her choose what shewanted to wear. Emily could be a diva, but she could make her smile with a single word, or a certain look. And she’d been clever too. She was going to be a star in the world. And now she was a star in the sky.
Juliette would make sure they got the garden memorial ready soon. It would give her something to do. A project to concentrate on. The books she’d borrowed would have to do for now.
Even though she was back at work from next week, she’d get going on it.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
2015
