Page 7 of Scandal Queen

My cheeks flushed. “Thanks, but I think I’m done.”

“I’ll keep my schedule open to give you time to change your mind.” Patrick winked at me, but I just rolled my eyes in response. We’d had this conversation too many times over the years—to be fair to him I could understand why he was pissed with me now.

I stepped closer to where he stood on the rug and wrapped my arms around him tight. “Thanks for being a good friend.”

“Group hug!” Molly launched herself towards us and for an awkward half a minute we stood in a tight huddle. Until tears prickled my eyes again.

“Thanks, guys.”

The hug tightened until we all let go. Patrick fished his car key out of the front pocket of his jeans. “Molly, we’d better get back on the road if we are going to be home at a decent hour.”

“Already? You guys are going back to London now?”

“Sorry, Leia. Are you going to be okay? Do you want me to ask Janine if I can have a day off tomorrow?” Molly asked.

“No.” I straightened myself up. “Daisy will be up soon. Maybe if she’s feeling better, we can walk to shop together.”

Worry tightened Molly’s lips. “Oh that reminds me. I called Doctor Fenwick while you were asleep and he’ll pop around in the morning. I’ve written his number down and popped it on the coffee table, though he says any emergency call 999. I hope she’s going to be okay.”

“Molly. I won’t let anything hurt her. The doctors said she had to rest, eat small meals and let her body recuperate. I wouldn’t have taken her out of the hospital if she was still at risk.”

Molly bit her lips but held back from voicing her concerns.

“We will be fine, we just both need to rest.”

“Shall I go to the shop quickly in case you can’t get out?”

“It’s fine, guys. You need to get home safely. I’ll be okay.”

Molly hesitated. “What if the press finds you here? We won’t be able to help you.”

“No one will find me here, don’t worry. Just drive back safe. Text me when you get home.”

Molly nodded but she couldn’t hide her indecision. Patrick hugged me again, lingering for a moment longer than I wanted.

“Go.” Shit, I couldn’t stop the tears, they dripped down my face. “I’m going to be absolutely fine, I promise.”

Molly grabbed her bag. “Call me and I’ll come right back.”

Stupid tears. I brushed them off my sticky cheeks. “I will. But it will be fine. I’ll be back in London soon, I promise.” My lie slipped out easily. I didn’t think I’d ever be going back to my home town. Not for a long time. Not until the press had forgotten my name and the tabloids had sold all the stories they had on me. “Thanks for lending me the cottage.”

Patrick gave me a wave while Molly went for an extra tight hug.

“Go. I need to check on Daisy.” I waved them out of the front door and then closed it before they could witness the full-scale panic attack that threatened to consume me.

I was alone.

Again.

Daisy and I against the world together.

I turned for the stairs leading to the purple room containing the centre of my universe.

This was good. The sea air would help her. We’d get some time to heal our wounds and get ourselves back on track. Maybe Nana could come down at the weekend.

It was all good.

Just so long as I kept the lid locked tightly shut on that box containing my raw memories of Oliver. If I didn’t think about him, I’d survive this; after all, I’d survived worse. Far worse.