her house.
Beth lived in a semi-detached cottage, in a quiet street. Her mum had made it a nice cosy home for the three of them. Jo loved spending time there and often kept Beth company when she looked after Jack.
Jo wanted to make a list of things to take on their trip, knowing the boys would probably forget the essentials, and concentrate more on food.
“How are things going between you and Spencer?” Jo enquired as Beth sat on the floor adjusting the gas heater. “I mean, leave out the finer details, I just think it’s part of my duty as your best friend to ask.”
Beth smiled at her. “It’s going great. I wish mum was a bit more relaxed, but she can’t afford for me to be all moody and rebellious.”
Jo sat on the sofa with Jack and helped him turn the pages of his favourite touchy, feely book. He loved the sensation, and giggled every time she put his hand over one of the various textures. “You’re too level headed and responsible for that." Jo smiled.
“Mum’s the only close family I have, and I don’t want to cause problems. She tries so hard to make a good life for me and Jack.”
“Yeah, we’ve both been lucky. Sarah’s great. It must have been a challenge to take us on, so soon after she married Peter. She always said she’d been blessed to have us three.”
Beth nodded. “Well, I hope mum comes around. I think Spencer’s plan to take Peter with us, will work. I just hope Peter won’t mind.”
“He doesn't go away very often and they have a nice pub in the village where his friend lives. And Sarah will enjoy the peace and quiet after a busy Christmas.”
Jo was suddenly reminded about the strange phone call she’d taken earlier.
“Beth can I use your phone, my mobiles out of charge?"
“Yeah. Of course. I’ll go and make Jack a snack, do you want anything?”
“Tea, would be great, thanks”
Jo went into the hall and rang the farm. Spencer answered.
“Hiya Spencer, it’s Jo, is Sarah there?”
“Yeah, she’s in the hothouse up to her neck in potting mix. Can I give her a message?”
“Can you check if she’s spoken to someone called Dan? I left a note on the fridge but she might have missed it. It sounded important.”
“I’ll go and ask.” She heard a clunk as he put down the phone.
It took a few moments before the phone was picked up. “Jo, did you take that call?” Sarah asked, sounding breathless.
Jo frowned, surprised Sarah had left her precious hot house to ask that. “Um …Yeah, he rang about half eleven. I just wanted to check you’d got the message, it sounded urgent and he seemed a little ... um ... odd.”
“Yes, I've already spoken to him ...," There was a long pause. "Did he say anything else to you?”
Jo’s frown deepened. “No. He just said he’d call at one o'clock and left his name. Why did he ring the home phone? I thought you didn’t give that number out to clients.”
“I um ... don’t usually but it’s an important project and he’s a very important client so I gave him both numbers.”
“Okay…”
“Well thanks for ringing and checking. What time shall I expect you home?”
“Around eight. Beth’s bringing me home when her mum finishes work. She wants to see Spencer again anyway.”
“Tell her she’s welcome regardless. We enjoy seeing her. I better get back and leave the house before it smells like a cow shed. Thanks for packing the decorations away today and for um ... taking that message.”
“That’s alright. I’ll see you tonight.”
Jo put the phone back in its cradle and stood for a moment. There was something odd about the call from Dan. And Sarah was acting weird. Jo gave a small shrug. It was probably nothing. She went back into the lounge to play with Jack, shaking those uneasy feelings from her mind.
TWELVE
As Beth drove up the drive to the farm, Jo noticed Spencer’s car parked near the outbuildings.
“I feel a bit sorry for James. Spencer’s obviously made him go to an
Beth lived in a semi-detached cottage, in a quiet street. Her mum had made it a nice cosy home for the three of them. Jo loved spending time there and often kept Beth company when she looked after Jack.
Jo wanted to make a list of things to take on their trip, knowing the boys would probably forget the essentials, and concentrate more on food.
“How are things going between you and Spencer?” Jo enquired as Beth sat on the floor adjusting the gas heater. “I mean, leave out the finer details, I just think it’s part of my duty as your best friend to ask.”
Beth smiled at her. “It’s going great. I wish mum was a bit more relaxed, but she can’t afford for me to be all moody and rebellious.”
Jo sat on the sofa with Jack and helped him turn the pages of his favourite touchy, feely book. He loved the sensation, and giggled every time she put his hand over one of the various textures. “You’re too level headed and responsible for that." Jo smiled.
“Mum’s the only close family I have, and I don’t want to cause problems. She tries so hard to make a good life for me and Jack.”
“Yeah, we’ve both been lucky. Sarah’s great. It must have been a challenge to take us on, so soon after she married Peter. She always said she’d been blessed to have us three.”
Beth nodded. “Well, I hope mum comes around. I think Spencer’s plan to take Peter with us, will work. I just hope Peter won’t mind.”
“He doesn't go away very often and they have a nice pub in the village where his friend lives. And Sarah will enjoy the peace and quiet after a busy Christmas.”
Jo was suddenly reminded about the strange phone call she’d taken earlier.
“Beth can I use your phone, my mobiles out of charge?"
“Yeah. Of course. I’ll go and make Jack a snack, do you want anything?”
“Tea, would be great, thanks”
Jo went into the hall and rang the farm. Spencer answered.
“Hiya Spencer, it’s Jo, is Sarah there?”
“Yeah, she’s in the hothouse up to her neck in potting mix. Can I give her a message?”
“Can you check if she’s spoken to someone called Dan? I left a note on the fridge but she might have missed it. It sounded important.”
“I’ll go and ask.” She heard a clunk as he put down the phone.
It took a few moments before the phone was picked up. “Jo, did you take that call?” Sarah asked, sounding breathless.
Jo frowned, surprised Sarah had left her precious hot house to ask that. “Um …Yeah, he rang about half eleven. I just wanted to check you’d got the message, it sounded urgent and he seemed a little ... um ... odd.”
“Yes, I've already spoken to him ...," There was a long pause. "Did he say anything else to you?”
Jo’s frown deepened. “No. He just said he’d call at one o'clock and left his name. Why did he ring the home phone? I thought you didn’t give that number out to clients.”
“I um ... don’t usually but it’s an important project and he’s a very important client so I gave him both numbers.”
“Okay…”
“Well thanks for ringing and checking. What time shall I expect you home?”
“Around eight. Beth’s bringing me home when her mum finishes work. She wants to see Spencer again anyway.”
“Tell her she’s welcome regardless. We enjoy seeing her. I better get back and leave the house before it smells like a cow shed. Thanks for packing the decorations away today and for um ... taking that message.”
“That’s alright. I’ll see you tonight.”
Jo put the phone back in its cradle and stood for a moment. There was something odd about the call from Dan. And Sarah was acting weird. Jo gave a small shrug. It was probably nothing. She went back into the lounge to play with Jack, shaking those uneasy feelings from her mind.
TWELVE
As Beth drove up the drive to the farm, Jo noticed Spencer’s car parked near the outbuildings.
“I feel a bit sorry for James. Spencer’s obviously made him go to an
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