Read Online Lola's House (Lola Series) by Suzie Groers - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Suzie Groers
Ads: Link
to the back of the shop to put the kettle on and she follows me replacing the handbag on display on the way.
She appear s by my side in the back room. ‘So, how was the date?’
I give her a little smile. ‘Oh, it was good thanks. We had a nice meal and plenty of wine.’
She looks at me expectantly. ‘And?’
‘And we’re getting back together.’ I start messing with the cups so as not to face her. ‘Just taking it easy though.’
Her eyebrows furrow up together like two caterpillars and she puts her hand on my arm to stop me from getting the tea bags out of the cupboard. ‘Are you sure that’s what you want?’
‘I don’t know, I think so , Muriel.’ I look at her helplessly. ‘How can I be certain?’
‘What does your heart have to say about it?’
‘Oh I don’t know, I think my heart is on strike, it’s not telling me anything.’
‘Well that statement speaks volumes, Lola. Just be careful, I don’t want you being taken advantage of. You’re too nice and people see that in you and take it as a green light to get away with murder.’ She look s thoughtful and then adds, ‘James especially.’
‘But he seemed so different , Muriel, like he really was trying.’
‘Just don’t go falling hook, line and sinker. Make sure he deserves you first.’
‘I will.’ I give her a big hug. ‘I don’t know what I’d do without you, Muriel.’
She return s my hug briefly then pushes me away again. ‘Just make sure you listen to my advice in this case, I don’t want to see you hurt again.’
As she disappear s back in the shop I pour the water into the cups and watch it bounce off the puffed up tea bags, wondering whether I am making a fool of myself getting back together with James. Shouldn’t I have learnt my lesson the first time? I have told myself I am over him so many times, but I’m not sure whether it’s a mantra I am so used to saying in order to dull the hurt I felt when we broke up. Like wearing shoes that give you blisters, but you still wear them anyway and ignore the pain. I am still no closer to knowing what my heart wants, yet in the back of my mind something is nagging away at me, although I can’t quite put my finger on it. I have been turning this over and over in my mind for days now. I thought once we had been on the first date I would know what I wanted to do. As it is, it all feels a bit rehearsed, like I’m going through the motions. I shake my head and try to dismiss all thoughts of James and get myself into work mode instead. No good can ever come of over analysis.
From that point in the day, everything in the shop goes chaotic. We serve a long stream of customers and business is brisk. Coming up to closing time it calms down again so I let Muriel go early, to rest her aching feet and I serve the last few customers and then lock up the shop for the day. I feel quite pleased that business has been picking up, but to be fair that always makes me happy, although physically I feel exhausted. Chrissie had tried to get me to go out with her and Cal this evening, but I cried off as I just want to spend some time on my own and recharge my batteries. All I want to do now is lie in a massive bubble bath then watch a trashy movie in bed and hopefully drift off into a deep sleep.
When I pull up on the drive at home there is a strange car parked in my space, so I have to squeeze in behind it. God only knows where it has come from. I feel slightly irritated about it though, and lock up my car and let myself into the house, dropping my bags on the floor and my keys onto the table. My feet are killing me so I kick off my shoes and step onto the cold floor tiles, my feet sighing with relief.
A movement to my left side catches my eye and I nearly fly out of my skin as a Staffordshire bull terrier comes bounding out of the sitting room and crashes into my legs, knocking me flying against the wall. I
She appear s by my side in the back room. ‘So, how was the date?’
I give her a little smile. ‘Oh, it was good thanks. We had a nice meal and plenty of wine.’
She looks at me expectantly. ‘And?’
‘And we’re getting back together.’ I start messing with the cups so as not to face her. ‘Just taking it easy though.’
Her eyebrows furrow up together like two caterpillars and she puts her hand on my arm to stop me from getting the tea bags out of the cupboard. ‘Are you sure that’s what you want?’
‘I don’t know, I think so , Muriel.’ I look at her helplessly. ‘How can I be certain?’
‘What does your heart have to say about it?’
‘Oh I don’t know, I think my heart is on strike, it’s not telling me anything.’
‘Well that statement speaks volumes, Lola. Just be careful, I don’t want you being taken advantage of. You’re too nice and people see that in you and take it as a green light to get away with murder.’ She look s thoughtful and then adds, ‘James especially.’
‘But he seemed so different , Muriel, like he really was trying.’
‘Just don’t go falling hook, line and sinker. Make sure he deserves you first.’
‘I will.’ I give her a big hug. ‘I don’t know what I’d do without you, Muriel.’
She return s my hug briefly then pushes me away again. ‘Just make sure you listen to my advice in this case, I don’t want to see you hurt again.’
As she disappear s back in the shop I pour the water into the cups and watch it bounce off the puffed up tea bags, wondering whether I am making a fool of myself getting back together with James. Shouldn’t I have learnt my lesson the first time? I have told myself I am over him so many times, but I’m not sure whether it’s a mantra I am so used to saying in order to dull the hurt I felt when we broke up. Like wearing shoes that give you blisters, but you still wear them anyway and ignore the pain. I am still no closer to knowing what my heart wants, yet in the back of my mind something is nagging away at me, although I can’t quite put my finger on it. I have been turning this over and over in my mind for days now. I thought once we had been on the first date I would know what I wanted to do. As it is, it all feels a bit rehearsed, like I’m going through the motions. I shake my head and try to dismiss all thoughts of James and get myself into work mode instead. No good can ever come of over analysis.
From that point in the day, everything in the shop goes chaotic. We serve a long stream of customers and business is brisk. Coming up to closing time it calms down again so I let Muriel go early, to rest her aching feet and I serve the last few customers and then lock up the shop for the day. I feel quite pleased that business has been picking up, but to be fair that always makes me happy, although physically I feel exhausted. Chrissie had tried to get me to go out with her and Cal this evening, but I cried off as I just want to spend some time on my own and recharge my batteries. All I want to do now is lie in a massive bubble bath then watch a trashy movie in bed and hopefully drift off into a deep sleep.
When I pull up on the drive at home there is a strange car parked in my space, so I have to squeeze in behind it. God only knows where it has come from. I feel slightly irritated about it though, and lock up my car and let myself into the house, dropping my bags on the floor and my keys onto the table. My feet are killing me so I kick off my shoes and step onto the cold floor tiles, my feet sighing with relief.
A movement to my left side catches my eye and I nearly fly out of my skin as a Staffordshire bull terrier comes bounding out of the sitting room and crashes into my legs, knocking me flying against the wall. I
Similar Books
