Magpie, p.18
Magpie, page 18
‘And then?’ Nathan prompted gently.
‘And then, when she was bored of us, depressed by a rainy Devon winter, she’d disappear to another job. Waitressing in Sorrento or serving chips in Mykonos.’ Beth gave a hard laugh. ‘I can never fault my mother’s work ethic, she’s always found jobs to do.’ She paused, trying not to sound bitter. ‘Just never wanted to put the effort into mothering us.’
A silence landed, only broken by the relentless tide and the gulls wheeling overhead.
‘That must have been very hard.’
‘I suppose, when I got the job at the timber merchants it would have been easier, safer, to stay there. I had my own little house in Exeter, I was well paid and, most importantly, had security. When the redundancy rumours started flying I went into panic mode. Hated the idea of change, was frightened to death of what might happen, of what I might lose. It was my lovely gran who talked some sense into me. She knew I’d always liked making things.’ She glanced sideways again. ‘I’d always loved painting, the messy craft stuff at school.’
‘But you didn’t pursue that as a career?’
Beth scowled. ‘Too precarious by half. I wanted a job for life and a down payment on a two-bed terrace in Polsloe.’
‘Completely understandable. So what did your gran suggest?’
‘That I find something I could do to make a living but that I enjoyed more than paper pushing in an office. We investigated some courses. Evening classes and the like.’ Beth gave a short laugh as she remembered she and Judith discussing the possibilities: reiki healing, massage, reflexology, paper making, custom-made clothes. ‘Nothing was quite right. Eventually found a soap-making course. It was two days of practical sessions and an eight-week long course of all the other stuff you need to know.’
‘Like what?’
‘Labelling, allergens, marketing and branding, selling platforms and pricing. Your unique selling point. I still haven’t pinned my USP down.’
‘Wow.’
‘Yes, there’s a lot to it if you’re thinking of going into it professionally as a business. Gran said with my experience in the office, and my creative streak, it might be the solution.’
‘But, at this point, you were still working at the timber merchants?’
‘Oh yes. Couldn’t quite make that leap into the unknown. Far too comfortable being where I knew and where I’d worked for the last ten years.’
‘That’s understandable.’
‘Leaving a secure well-paid job seemed daft. It would be like emigrating to a whole new world or leaving for the moon. But then the decision was forced as, thanks to Brexit, anything import–export suddenly looked uncertain and I was offered redundancy. A nice fat little package of money, plus the proceeds of selling my house brought me to Clappers Lane and Tenpenny House.’
‘Brave taking on such an old property. It must be listed?’
‘It is but I had no need to change the exterior and my surveyor, to whom I paid a small fortune, assured me it was in as good a nick as any building of that age could be. It was also weirdly well-priced.’ Beth went silent, wondering what the real reason was behind what she’d seen as a bargain. Didn’t estate agents have to declare ghosts? Shaking the thought out of her head, she carried on talking. ‘I reckoned, if it had lasted all that time, it was good for another fifty years or so by which time I’d be retired and out. And besides, somehow, it seemed right. The building seemed to call to me. Daft, I know.’ Beth’s lips twisted. ‘Have to confess I went into it all not really knowing anything about half-timbered buildings. I’ve since read some horror stories online.’
‘That’ll teach you to google.’ Nathan laughed.
‘Yup. So you can see it took a real leap of faith to start the business up, step out of my comfort zone, and that’s why I’m so stressed it doesn’t seem to be working.’
‘Early days though, Beth. And the road closure can’t be helping.’
‘That’s true. I’m wondering if my decision to close down the shop while they resurface is me being a wuss and not facing up to getting the business running properly. Is it actually all about cold feet and lack of confidence?’
‘Maybe,’ Nathan said honestly. ‘Or maybe it’s the sensible way to deal with a problem out of your control and give yourself some prep time. And I don’t mean for making more stock. More about getting your head in the right place.’
‘Florence said something similar.’
‘Wise woman is that Flo.’
‘Are you good friends?’ Beth shoved the chocolate ice cream-stained tissue deeper into her pocket as the wasp had returned and was buzzing annoyingly around. Still, if she was stung, she had her new good friend the GP to take care of it. After looking after herself for so much of her life, it was a strangely comforting thought.
‘I suppose we are,’ Nathan said thoughtfully. ‘We’ve known each other from childhood. She’s local too and we went to the primary school together. She’s a little older though.’
A noisy family with three small sand-covered children strolled past. The youngest child, not more than a toddler, was obviously reluctant at having to leave the beach and trailed behind, his bottom lip jutting out in furious fashion and trailing his plastic spade. He scowled at Nathan as he passed.
It made Beth laugh. She turned to Nathan and blurted out, ‘How old are you?’
Nathan didn’t miss a beat. ‘Thirty-eight.’
‘Married? Divorced? Children?’
‘No children that I know of, to my regret, as I’d like some. One long-term relationship, which began at medical school but fizzled out as we got older. No one since. Never married so not divorced.’ His eyes flickered. ‘I’m open to another relationship though. I like being with someone. Gets lonely going home to an empty house after a long day. And running only fills up so much time.’
‘Where do you live?’ Beth was aware it was an inquisition, but she was curious about him.
‘In a thirties semi two streets away from where my parents live. I left to go to university, lived in the south-east for a while then came back to my hometown.’ He pulled a face. ‘Does that make me boring?’
Beth laughed again. ‘Not in the slightest. I’ve only managed to move twenty-five miles away from my roots. Sometimes I feel a touch of my mother’s wanderlust and realise there’s a big world out there, but I’ve always been too scared to seek it out. My mum’s in Vietnam at the moment,’ she added, almost as an afterthought. ‘Think she’s working for some sort of relief organisation.’
‘Wow.’ Nathan’s brows rose. ‘That’s impressive. It’s perfectly understandable you haven’t wanted to go too far from where you felt secure though.’
Somehow his validation made Beth feel better. She’d always felt too safe, too boring for staying so close to her grandparents, but reliving her childhood through the lens of the brief summary she’d recounted to Nathan made her realise why she’d stayed near. ‘Perhaps I’m not such a failure after all?’
‘A failure? Whyever would you think that? You look nothing like a failure from where I’m sitting,’ he said robustly. ‘You’ve dealt with one of life’s biggies with practicality and logic. Being made redundant is one of the big stresses. You met that challenge and changed your life, worked hard to get your business going. How is that in anyway a failure?’
‘Thank you.’ Beth blew out a breath. ‘That means a hell of a lot. My sister, Lorna, has her children and is an amazing mum. She’s found fulfilment that way. I’ve always measured myself against my mother, though. Always felt I had nothing to stop me from doing as she has: go abroad, work my passage. I’ve nothing holding me here.’ Or I didn’t, she added silently. Her feelings for this man had begun as a whammy from nowhere and were continuing to spiral out of control.
‘But it isn’t for everyone, nor should you feel that it should be,’ Nathan said gently. ‘Come here.’ He opened his arms.
Beth slid into them. Being held was exactly what she needed. Nothing could beat the reassurance of someone holding you close and warm. And nothing could top the feeling of strong male arms holding you against a firm chest. Such a simple pleasure but one she’d been denied for too long. She could really fall for this man. He was kind, understanding and the sexual attraction, which had been the initial and unexpected draw, nagged insistently. ‘You said you had something you were mulling over?’ she said, her voice muffled against his T-shirt.
‘Oh, it’s nothing really. A job offer. Like you, it would mean moving out of my comfort zone so it’s taking some thinking over.’
He obviously didn’t want to expand so Beth let it go, content to lie against his ribs, feeling his heart thump steadily. ‘You smell lovely,’ she said as she breathed him in.
‘I could say the same of you.’ He kissed the top of her head lightly. ‘Soap and something earthy?’
‘Sandalwood. One of my favourite oils. One of the bonuses of hanging out with a soap maker is I usually smell good. Beats mahogany sawdust any time.’
She felt his laugh vibrate through his body as she pressed her cheek against the hot cotton of his shirt. He was lean and muscular and wholly exciting. The sexual frustration left her dry-mouthed. She could happily stay like this forever.
CHAPTER 21
JULY 2018
Nathan came back to Tenpenny House. The hot sunshine and the sickly ice cream had them craving tea. Feeling wired, Beth led him up to the flat, trying to remember what state she’d left it in. On the beach, Nathan’s sexiness had been a siren call and she could feel her stomach fluttering, not unpleasantly, in anticipation. As they entered the sitting room, she blew out a breath in relief. It was tidy and, better still, Frank hadn’t appeared to have done any damage in her absence. After winding around her legs and crying piteously, she fed him his disgustingly stinky food, flicked the kettle on and emerged from the kitchen to find Nathan staring out of the tiny window of the sitting room at Clappers Lane and down to the sea. Jittery, her nerve endings on fire, she admired the length of his lean body. What would it be like to have it wrapped around hers?
Nathan appeared to have his mind on other things. ‘It’s an extraordinary view,’ he said dampeningly. ‘Can’t have changed since this building was built.’
Beth’s libido dulled a little. ‘Apart from the roadworks.’
‘Apart from them.’ He looked around, at the heavily beamed wall studded with nail marks, at the beam that split the sloped ceiling in two. Shifting his weight, he winced at the creak of the uneven floorboards. ‘It’s very atmospheric.’ Looking at her intently, he asked, ‘Do you ever get freaked out being here alone?’
If only you knew. ‘Sometimes,’ she admitted. This wasn’t going quite as she’d hoped. Kiss me, she willed him in her head. ‘At least now I have Frank to blame for any unexplained noises,’ she blurted out. Go, Beth. Sexy talk!
‘Have there been many?’ Nathan’s eyes narrowed. ‘You said you hadn’t been sleeping well.’
Beth put a hand to her throat. She could sense the rough rope from her nightmares eating into her tender skin, scratching it raw. ‘I’m sure it’s just stress. Florence has given me some tea to drink. That’ll probably help. And I’ll start looking after myself properly. Eat better, cut down on all the caffeine, alcohol, that sort of thing,’ she said, wishing he’d be less the doctor and more the man. She was definitely getting friend vibes. Concerned vibes but nothing more. The disappointment hollowed her out.
‘All excellent things to do.’ He gave her a mild look. ‘Or you could just take the sleeping pills.’
Beth’s phone rescued her from having to answer. As a seduction scene, it hadn’t gone exactly to plan. Seeing who was ringing, she said, ‘Excuse me, I must take this.’
‘No problem. Shall I make the tea? That’s if you don’t mind me poking about in your kitchen.’
‘Thanks.’ Beth fled into her bedroom, swearing under her breath in frustration. Taking the call from her brother-in-law, she snapped out, ‘Steve, hi.’
‘Beth, you okay?’ he said, sounding taken aback.
Forcing herself into politeness, she answered, ‘Sorry. I’m fine. Just a bit of a day.’
‘Ah. Haven’t long. End of term stuff taking over. Just catching five at lunchtime. Got some news on your review troll.’
A gulp snatched in her throat. Steve never wasted words and, for once, Beth was glad he got straight to the point.
‘The vast majority of the really nasty stuff all stems from the same IP address,’ he continued.
‘The what?’
‘It’s the address that identifies which computer is sending the message.’
‘It’s only one person?’ Beth felt the room spin. She let out a shuddering breath. ‘So can you tell me who’s trolling me?’
‘That I can’t.’
With shaky legs, Beth perched on the edge of the bed, disappointment flooding her. She’d come so close to finding out.
‘But I can tell you the rough area where the computer in question is. It’s on the outskirts of Exeter. On the east side.’
‘You can’t be more specific?’
‘Really sorry. That’s all I’m able to find out. I did dig out some legal advice about online trolling though. I’ll ping it through.’ In the background someone called his name. ‘Got to go. Ring me later if you’d like to talk more.’
Beth said thanks but the line went dead; Steve had already rung off. She tapped the mobile on her palm, thinking hard. She knew quite a few people who lived in the area he’d mentioned. And she couldn’t imagine any of them wanting to ruin her business. Her phone vibrated as Steve sent the email through as promised.
Going back into the lounge she saw Nathan had made the tea, found a packet of biscuits and was sitting on the sofa with Frank kneading at his stomach, purring like a tractor. The scene was purely domestic. Any hopes for a sexy afternoon shrivelled. Besides, she had other things on her mind now.
‘Always thought of myself as more of a dog person but think I’m converted,’ he said as Frank headbutted his hand.
‘Looks like he’s taken to you too.’ Beth collapsed onto the sofa and poured the tea. Nathan had made it the old-fashioned way in her one and only teapot. She handed over a mug and drank half of hers in one go, clattered it back on the coffee table and lay back with a sigh.
‘Bad news?’
‘Good news. Sort of.’
‘That’s clear as mud then.’
Beth gave a short laugh. ‘Sorry. Didn’t mean to be enigmatic. That was my brother-in-law. He promised to look into the background of all that horrible trolling.’
‘I remember you mentioning it.’ Nathan sipped his tea thoughtfully. ‘Still coming in then?’
‘Oh yes. If anything, it’s got even more vitriolic.’
He shook his head. ‘It’s crazy. Why would anyone do such a thing?’
Beth blew out a breath. ‘Beats me. Steve couldn’t identify exactly who’s been doing it, but he tracked it down to one computer in Exeter. Looks like it’s one person who’s on a mission to destroy my business.’
Nathan put his mug down and returned to stroking an ecstatic Frank. ‘Tough thing to deal with.’ He frowned. ‘Why, though? Why would anyone want to do this? Has your brother-in-law got any ideas on how to combat it?’
‘He sent me this through.’ Beth scrolled down the email Steve had sent. ‘“Keep track of any online mentions using an automated search engine tool”,’ she read out. ‘That’s an idea. I don’t currently use one.’ She sat up. ‘“Respond to any complaints calmly and provide evidence to back up your counter argument”. That’s interesting. I’ve been studiously ignoring all the comments as I thought it would just fan the flame. You know, give the reviewer the attention they crave.’
‘I’ve no idea about any of this I’m afraid, but it sounds a good strategy,’ Nathan said ruefully. ‘At the surgery we have set procedures we have to go through, but it’s all dealt with by the office staff. It all sounds time-consuming though, Beth.’
‘You’re not wrong there, but I suppose I have to look on it as an investment of my time to create a good online image.’ Beth’s brows rose as she read on. ‘It says further down to “seek legal advice, which might provide damages, injunctions or formal apologies”.’ She pulled a face. ‘Sounds serious.’
‘And expensive.’
‘Isn’t getting anyone legal involved always expensive?’ She concentrated on the email again. ‘Oh, here’s some stuff I can do preventatively. “Create positive content”.’ Pulling a face, she added, ‘Thought I was doing that. “Share any content that highlights my strengths”. Suppose I could add in a few pages on the site quoting some positive reviews. As well as the vile stuff, some customers have been really appreciative. They’ve even sent photos showing my soaps in action. Those would look good up on the site.’
‘Feel better?’
Beth looked at him questioningly.
‘You were very pale when you came in.’
‘Well,’ Beth shook her phone gently, ‘this gives me something practical to work on, which appeals. But I still don’t know who it is who wants to destroy everything I’m trying to achieve. It’s a really horrible thought that someone out there is sitting in front of their computer right now planning the next message. It’s so random but incredibly hurtful.’
‘Chances are that it is someone completely random and not an orchestrated campaign.’
Beth put her phone down with a sigh and reached for her mug. Nursing it, she said, ‘Has the same effect though, doesn’t it? Eats away at my self-belief and dents confidence in the business. It doesn’t help that I’m nowhere near established yet.’
‘Show me your website,’ Nathan said decisively. ‘Let’s have another look at these comments.’
She picked up her phone again and passed it to him, watching as he read down the list of vitriol.
