Page 91 of Be More Octopus

You weren't spying on him, were you?

Em wasn't going to admit to that.

No, I was already up. I heard his car tyres on the gravel. Did Mark catch his flight?

Em was curious about the situation with Lucy and Mark.

Yes. Got there early. Had time to get to know him better before he left.

Best not to think too hard about what Lucy meant by that.

Keeping in touch with him then?

Three dots appeared then

He's coming back to see me in 3 weeks. Don't tell Nancy

CHAPTER SIXTY-FOUR

There was a break in the rain at last. The week was dragging without Jack to talk to. Em usually did admin on Thursday mornings, but the weather forecast predicted rain again that afternoon. Nancy was going to be out all day learning to hang-glide with her WI friends, so Em could do the admin later.

She grabbed her sketching bag. Car or walk? Her ankle could still be dodgy sometimes. And if she drove down into the village, she'd have an extra 20 minutes of drawing time. Car then.

Fifteen minutes later, Em was sitting outside the beach cafe.

'You've not been down here on your own for ages. Man trouble again?' Mary sat down at Em's table and pulled out her vape.

Em put down her pencil.

'Yeah. I'm beginning to think they're not worth it.'

'I thought something was up. His lordship was asleep in his car when I arrived on Monday morning.'

'His lordship?'

'Your Jack.'

'I don't think he's ever been my Jack.' Sadly, whatever she'd kidded herself.

'I took him a coffee to make sure he was alright.'

'And was he?'

'He said he'd been walking on the beach since sunrise and wanted to think. He just needed a nap before he drove back home. I couldn't get anything else out of him. He looked upset.' Jack must have better resolve than she had if Mary had failed to extract any gossip. 'Is that it then for you two?'

'I think so. I haven't seen him since Sunday. He's avoiding me.'

'Shame - you made a lovely couple. You could tell he was in love with you.'

'Could you?'

'Yes, the way he looked at you. And he was so impressed by your paintings. He was telling me about the ones you sold when you two were here last week. He couldn't wait to see the portrait you were painting of him. I can't remember why you weren't there. I think you'd gone to the gallery to talk to them about something.'

'He's got a new woman now, so it doesn't matter any more.'

'What woman? You don't mean Daisy?'

'What made you suggest her?'