Summer Loving by Rachel Ennis Read Free Book Online Page B

her. ‘No, I mean Sean being like he is.’
    ‘In a wheelchair?’
    ‘Coming on four years now. Still, at least he got good compensation.’
    ‘I think he’d probably rather be able to walk,’ Jess replied.
    ‘’Course he would. All I’m saying is if the machine had belonged to the farm instead of being hired in for the job, it could have been a lot worse. The money made their place easier for his wheelchair. Jimmy looks after their older vehicles and he said Sean have got this handsome great office where he do all the farm paperwork. But he said Sean have changed.’
    ‘Of course he has. It can’t be easy for either of them.’
    On Thursday morning Elsie opened Jess’s front door and peered in after knocking. ‘I aren’t interrupting am I?’
    ‘No. Come in.’ Jess held up floury hands. ‘I’m just making some fairings. How are you?’
    ‘I’m all right, my lover. I’m catching the two o’clock bus. You sure you aren’t busy?’
    ‘Why? What is it?’
    ‘If you got a minute while I’m gone, would you look in on Tegan?’
    ‘Of course I will. Why?’
    ‘Something’s wrong but she won’t tell me what ’tis. Looking proper wisht she is, and gone all quiet. She idn like herself at all. These past two mornings she’ve come down with her eyes all pink and puffed up. I don’t want to go on to her. Poor little maid get enough of that from Annie. But she like you, so maybe she’ll tell you what’s wrong.’
    Jess thought of the research she had planned. Then she remembered asking Tom to talk to Jimmy. When friends needed help, you gave it. ‘I’ll do my best, Elsie.’
    ‘That’s all I ask, my bird. I’ll be back in a couple hours. Anything you want while I’m in town?’
    ‘Not this time.’
    As the door closed, Jess finished rubbing finely grated lemon peel into the bowl containing flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, and powdered ginger. Rinsing and drying her hands she switched off the oven. Butter, sugar, and treacle waited in one small pan, half a pint of milk in another, and a bowl containing a frothy beaten egg stood on the worktop. It would come to no harm.
    As Tegan opened the door, Jess understood Elsie’s concern. The girl’s face was pale and blotchy, her lank hair needed washing, and her eyes were swollen. ‘Nan’s gone in to town.’
    ‘I know.’
    ‘So why have you come?’
    Despite the girl’s obvious unhappiness, Jess knew teenagers believed no one in the entire world had ever felt the way they did so could not possibly understand. If she offered sympathy Tegan would push her away.
    ‘I’m wondering the same thing. I was in the middle of baking. Then I have some research to do. But your nan is my friend. I think the world of her and she’s worried about you.’
    As Tegan opened her mouth, Jess raised a hand. ‘Before you tell me you don’t need anyone worrying about you, you should look in a mirror. Elsie doesn’t want to nag. She says you get enough well-meant advice from Annie. So she kept quiet hoping you would tell her what’s bothering you. But you haven’t. She loves you dearly, Tegan, and she’s doing her best to make you comfortable and happy. It’s not kind to shut her out.’
    Anguish crossed Tegan’s face and her mouth trembled. Pulling her smartphone from the pocket of her dressing gown, she quickly thumbed keys then shoved it at Jess.
    Taking it and reading the cruel, spite-filled messages, Jess found it hard to hide her horror. ‘What kind of people write this stuff?’ She handed it back swiftly. ‘Shall we talk inside?’ As Tegan turned away, Jess stepped over the threshold and closed the door.
    ‘That’s why I didn’t tell Nan,’ Tegan dropped her mobile onto the kitchen table and folded onto a chair. ‘She’d have got mad. She thought because she hasn’t got internet I couldn’t log on to Facebook. She doesn’t know about Wi-Fi hotspots.’
    Her eyes filled and tears trickled down her cheeks. She wiped them away with her