It Started With A Tweet(106)

‘Buying a wreck of a farm was pretty extreme. You could just have talked to me, I’m not a monster.’

‘I know, I know. It’s just that I know how much you love your job; I never thought that you’d change it – for me, or for our family. I thought it would be easier if I made a grand gesture, that you might accept it a lot more easily.’

He nods. ‘I just about understood why you did it, even if it was a crazy idea.’

‘But, it’s not. Not with Daisy’s plan,’ she says, pulling away from the hug and pointing over at me.

Rupert looks up as if he almost forgot I was here, and I feel my cheeks flush red with embarrassment of having witnessed such a personal reconciliation.

‘I still don’t understand how it’s going to be any better for us,’ says Rupert.

‘Don’t you see? Daisy’s going to run it for us,’ she says, staring at me for confirmation.

‘If you’ll let me. I’d essentially live here, do all the marketing and run the courses. I’m guessing it will be a bit of a slow start, so I’ll probably pick up some freelance marketing work to tide me over.’

‘That’s brilliant. You’d be perfect.’ The smile on Rosie’s face is infectious and I’m grinning too.

‘So you’ll let me do it?’ I ask.

‘Of course, isn’t it a wonderful idea?’ says Rosie to Rupert.

‘It’s pretty good,’ he says, ‘but I’d like to see a proper business plan drawn up.’

‘Absolutely,’ I say nodding, as if I know what would go in one. ‘I’ve got loads of ideas. Especially for generating PR. I’m thinking that the story of the tweet that got me fired would make a great backstory to founding a digital detox company.’

‘You’re willing to be open about it?’ gasps Rosie.

‘It’s already out there, what with the Mail Online article I found online, plus the coverage Dominic is getting about his company. Long story,’ I say, seeing the confused looks on their faces. ‘It least this way I’d be able to get my side of the story out and get some benefit from it, rather than Dominic.’

‘It sounds like you’ve got it all planned out,’ says Rupert, smiling. ‘I’m sure you’re going to make a great success of it. So are you going to show me the progress you’ve made since my last visit?’

‘Of course,’ says Rosie, guiding him into the living room, ‘you start here and I’ll be in in a sec.’

She turns back to me and squeals as she goes to fling her arms around me, stopping short when she realises she’s covered in paint. ‘Thank you,’ she whispers as she gives me a delicate hug, trying not to get too close. ‘For saving me and my marriage.’

‘It’s me that should be thanking you; you’ve given me a new life.’

‘I can’t believe that it’s taken me all these years to realise how good a friend my sister is,’ she says.

‘Ditto. Now, you’d better get back to your tour-guide role. I want you to impress one of the investors.’

Rosie gives my hand a squeeze, and she looks as if she’s about to start crying again, which is about to set me off.

‘Aren’t you going to help me?’ she asks.

‘I think you’ve got it under control. I’m going to see if Jack’s on board.’

‘Oh, right,’ she says doing an exaggerated wink, before she practically skips over to Rupert. I watch as she takes his hand and he leans over and snuggles her head with his nose before kissing the top of her earlobe. My heart melts with happiness. This time, I’m not bitter that she’s got her happy ever after, as I know how much she deserves it.

I don’t think they hear me as I leave, and I suspect that when I return Rupert’s clean jeans and jumper will be marked with paint splodges, but with the look in their eyes, I don’t think either of them will care.

Thankfully, the rain has stopped, although it’s left a quagmire in its wake. I stop off at Rosie’s Land Rover, and cupping my hands to look through the window, I see a pair of wellies in the boot. I figure she won’t mind if I borrow them, and I set off to Jack’s house.

The little cottage comes into view and I immediately hear Buster the dog barking furiously. I wonder if I’ve got time to run away before he comes, but I take a deep breath and remember to be brave. It’s only when I knock and no one answers that I look around and realise that the driveway’s empty.

Bugger.

I’d hoped I wouldn’t have to go back to Upper Gables so soon. Rosie and Rupert have a lot of making up to do. It was bad enough being caught up in their reconciliation with words, I don’t want to be caught up in the middle of anything else.

I slip the handbag off my shoulder and I find a stray receipt and a pen.



Dear Jack,

I am an idiot. I do listen too much to other people. I do rely on the Internet when really I should learn to find out about people in real life. I need to trust my instincts not my Facebook.

This digital detox was the best thing that ever could have happened to me. Not only because I’ve learnt to be free of my phone, which was controlling my life and stopping me from living it properly, but also because it meant I got to meet you.

I wanted to tell you in person what I’ve realised, and I wanted to tell you that I’m staying. I’m not going back to London and Rosie’s going to let me run digital detox retreats at Upper Gables. With a little help with some people in the village running workshops, and – ahem – you, if you’ll do them too. I think it could be a great little business.