Birds Of A Feather Episode 40
After Shauna left, Jess sat in the kitchen, going over in her mind what she could have said or done that might have made a difference.
She wished Maggie were feeling better so that she could pour her heart out to her.
As if the wishing had made it so, her mobile phone rang and the caller was Maggie.
“How are you feeling now?” Jess asked her friend.
“A hundred times better, thanks.
“For the first time in I don’t know how long I’ve been able to eat something and keep it down.
“Never have scrambled eggs tasted so good.”
“I’m so pleased. I must say, you gave us all a scare.”
“I know.” Maggie’s voice was serious.
“That’s why I wanted to reassure you that I really am back in the land of the living and have every intention of staying that way.”
“I’m glad to hear it,” Jess replied. “How’s your mother taken the news?”
Maggie laughed.
“Let’s just say she’s not exactly over the moon at the prospect of becoming a grandmother.
“I don’t think she’ll be breaking out the knitting needles any time soon.
“So, how are things with you, Jess?” she added. “We didn’t have time for a proper chat before.”
“I’m fine, thanks.” Jess made an effort to sound more upbeat than she actually felt.
“I’m working on a new commission for some bridal jewellery which is going well.”
There was a slight pause.
“I didn’t mean how’s your work going,” Maggie admitted. “I can tell something’s wrong, Jess. Is it Ben?”
Now that Jess had been given the chance to unburden herself, she found she couldn’t do it.
As she hesitated, Maggie went on.
“I’m sorry. Tell me to mind my own business. I just need you to know that if you do want to talk, you know where to find me.”
“Thanks.” Jess’s throat tightened, making it difficult to talk. “I appreciate it, Maggie. I’m just a bit down at the moment, that’s all.
“I’d much rather hear about Mexico. Did you have a good time?”
“It was fabulous! And we’ve got thousands of photos to bore you silly with.
“Fancy coming up to dinner soon?”
Jess ended the call, promising to do so as soon as Maggie felt up to it.
She prowled around the kitchen, unable to settle to anything.
She had some designs for a new jewellery collection to sketch out, but her head was too full of worries to concentrate.
Instead, she went up to her grandfather’s studio.
She always felt closer to him here and she loved to sit among his things, flicking through his sketchbooks and bird books.
Jess picked up a book and walked across to the large window.
She really should devote some time to studying bird identification.
She returned the book to the shelf and picked up his binoculars, intending to scan the wood on the other side of the valley for signs of bird life.
As the binoculars swept across, she stopped when she saw signs of movement at the back of Billington Grange.
She recognised the stocky figure of Kevin Brigstocke. But who was he talking to?
She trained the binoculars on the other man. The man whose hand he’d just shaken.
She almost dropped the binoculars as she recognised the private detective Harry Manvers.
Had she been wrong to trust him? Certainly the pair of them looked very friendly.
Was this why Harry had refused to help her and Rob?
Was he involved in some way with the shady Kevin Brigstocke?