Calling All Neighbours (Calling All... Book 4)

by Tara Ford

  “Wow,” uttered Tiff. “This looks amazing.”

  “It is – trust me. Just wait until you start eating it.” Hayley took two quarters of her triangular-cut sandwich and placed them on her plate, followed by a handful of crinkle-cut crisps.

  Tiff followed Hayley’s lead and did the same with her tuna sandwich. She’d never been to such a quaint little tearoom like this before. Her mum’s birthday sprang to mind – her mum would really like something like this. “My mum would love this place – she likes things like this. I’m just thinking about taking her to one of these places for her birthday.”

  Hayley let out a giggle. “I did that for my mum’s birthday a couple of years ago. Actually, to tell you the truth, I bought a voucher for afternoon tea for two and she invited me to share it with her.”

  “Oh, they do vouchers do they?”

  “Yes, just ask at the counter when I pay for this. You can get a voucher for any value you like and you can use it in any of their cafés around the south coast. The one I got, covered the cost of two deluxe cream teas – like we’re having now.”

  “OK, that’s great – thanks. I think I have seen one of these cafés in the town where my mum lives. She’d enjoy this. Thank you again – it’s truly delicious.”

  “Stop thanking me and just eat.” Hayley grinned before biting into her first quarter of egg and cress sandwich.

  Two hours later, Tiff had found the perfect place mats, a black leather-bound set of four table mats and four matching coasters. In addition to these, she hadn’t been able to resist a brilliant white tablecloth too. “Later on, when we can afford it, I would really like a black and white kitchen.”

  “That’s the trouble when you buy your own home. There are so many things you need to buy or do that the big things, like a new kitchen, have to wait a while.”

  “Well, I suppose we’ve got all the time in the world.”

  “Exactly,” replied Hayley. “It’s taken us four years to get to where we are now. Ours was very run-down when we bought it.”

  “Joe says we should take one step at a time and not worry too much. He says that the house will evolve before our eyes and we should take photos as we go.”

  Hayley giggled. “Same as we’ve been doing then. We have a lot in common don’t we?”

  “Yes, we do.”

  “Would you and Joe like to come along to a quiz night at the community centre, next week? We have such a giggle there.”

  “That sounds like fun and I’ve been meaning to check it out. Betty, next door to me, was telling me about the fayres they have there.”

  “Oh yes, they do those quite often – helps raise money for the elderly people who run clubs there. Why? Are you thinking of selling things there or just buying?” Hayley appeared genuinely interested.

  “I make a lot of greetings cards and crafty things, usually try to sell them at car boot sales, places like that,” said Tiff, proudly.

  “Sounds like fun. You’ll have to show me sometime.”

  “I will.” Tiff grinned widely. “Right, I’d better go and pay for these place mats – then I’m done.”

  “OK,” said Hayley. “I’m done too. We can head off home if you like.”

  “Yes, that’s fine by me, and Hayley?”

  “Yes?”

  “Can I just say thank you again for a lovely day and for the scrummy food.”

  “No you can’t.” Hayley laughed. “You can just say – when am I coming out to lunch with you?”

  Nodding her head, Tiff giggled. “I will, I promise. I’ll check arrangements with Joe and ask you very soon.”

  “Quick – hide!” Suddenly, Hayley grabbed Tiff by the arm and pulled her around the end of an aisle, while trying desperately to stifle a giggle.

  “What?” whispered Tiff, as she crouched alongside Hayley, unaware of who she was hiding from.

  Hayley peeped around the end of the aisle and pulled back sharply. “Quick – this way,” she whispered through her tittering. “Follow me.”

  Edging along the aisle, Tiff followed to the end. They moved around the corner and stopped. “Who are we…?” she began to question.

  “Snodgrass – look,” Hayley whispered, pointing her finger towards the checkouts. “Don’t want to bump into that creepy bloke – we’d never get away.”

  “Oh – him. What’s he buying? Looks like a…”

  “A bright red dog lead? What’s he buying a dog lead for – he hasn’t got a dog,” Hayley remarked.

  “And a big studded collar,” muttered Tiff, amusedly.

  “Really?”

  “Unless he has got a dog…”

  Hayley and Tiff watched as Alvin Snodgrass stood waiting in the small queue. His shifty stare around the shop and his arrogant stance made him look like a suspicious character.

  “Couldn’t have a dog, could he? He’s away a lot. On his secret missions.”

  “Maybe he’s bought it for Georgie’s dog,” said Tiff, without thinking.

  “Why would he be buying a lead and collar for Georgie’s dog? She hates him. Her dog probably does too.”

  Tiff giggled and cupped a hand across her mouth. “Oh yes, of course, I forgot she hated him.” She tried to backtrack on her words. “Perhaps he’s got a mission coming up that requires a dog then.”

  “Hmm... whatever it is, he’s a bit of a weirdo.”

  “I agree with you. We’ll have to watch his space – in Sycamore Close – see if a dog appears on the green.”

  “As long as it doesn’t wear gold speedos, eh?” Hayley let a burst of laughter out before she too, smacked a hand over her mouth.

  As Alvin waited impatiently in the queue, swinging the dog lead and collar backwards and forwards, he was completely unaware of the two women sniggering uncontrollably behind the nearest aisle.

  Chapter 14

  She was at the front door. In broad daylight. How could she be? Why?

  Feigning ignorance, Tiff climbed out of Hayley’s car and grabbed her bags. “Thank you. I’ve had a great day.”

  “Yes, me too.” Hayley locked her car and joined Tiff on the pavement. “Looks like you have a visitor,” she said, looking across the green.

  “Oh, yes. It’s… err… it’s Georgie isn’t it. Wonder what she wants.” Tiff replied, waveringly.

  “Probably being a pain. Has she asked to borrow any sugar yet?” Hayley winked an eye. “Oh, and please don’t mention that I told you about her parents – I think she’d kill me.”

  “Absolutely not. I wouldn’t dream of saying anything. I promise you.” Tiff forced a grin at her new friend. Her mind was now frantically worrying about something else. “So, I’ll see you next Friday night – all being well with Joe.”

  “OK, let me know. Text me,” called Hayley as she walked down the path, towards her house.

  “I will. Bye.”

  Joe was leaning against the front door frame and thankfully, fully dressed. “Hi babe, had a good day?” he called out.

  His wide-eyed expression suggested he was worried. Worried that he’d been caught out again? “Great, yes thanks.” Tiff approached the garden gate apprehensively. She had to be polite. She had to play things cool. She wanted to scream – what the hell are you doing here again? “Hello Georgie, everything OK?” Peering at Joe, Tiff opened her mouth again and couldn’t stop the words coming out. “You’ve got some clothes on today.”

  Wearing a pair of tatty jeans, muddy trainers and a sloppy t-shirt, Georgie still looked gorgeous even when she looked a mess. She was one of those types of women who Tiff envied. She could be wearing a black, plastic bin liner and still look appealing.

  Georgie turned and sneered. “I do wear clothes…” Glancing up at Joe, she giggled, “sometimes.”

  Joe’s cheeks began to colour. “Err… Georgie, here… she, err… wanted to know if we wanted a fence panel. She’s got a spare one in her garden.”

  Tiff could hear the fear in Joe’s voice. She sensed he was on edge again. Nervous. C
aught out. Guilty?

  “Might be something to think about.” Tiff couldn’t help her deadpan expression and the wooden tone in her voice. “Thanks,” she mumbled.

  “Well, you’ve got my number if you do want it, give me a call – or just pop round, any time,” said Georgie, directing her flirtatious gaze at Joe.

  Joe smiled awkwardly and nodded his head as he scrunched the tiny piece of paper in his hand and shoved it in his trouser pocket.

  “See you again soon Tiffany.” Georgie turned away from Joe and smirked as she passed by Tiff and trotted out of the gate.

  “It’s Tiff – I prefer to be called Tiff. Remember?”

  “Of course.” Georgie turned her head to one side as she entered her front garden. “Sorry Tiff, I forgot you prefer Tiff, rather than Tiff-an-y. I prefer Tiffany myself.” Georgie opened her front door, waved to Joe and went indoors.

  Fumblingly, Joe went to raise a hand to wave goodbye but was both too hesitant and also too late. He grinned sheepishly and stepped aside to let Tiff through the front door.

  “You don’t need to hide her phone number in your pocket.” Tiff eyed him sharply before walking through to the kitchen.

  “I was not hiding it.” Joe followed her into the kitchen. He pulled the piece of paper from his pocket and threw it on to the worktop. “Here, I was going to show you. I thought maybe you would prefer to have her number. There’s no need to be so nasty to her.”

  “What do I want her number for? And I haven’t been nasty to her.” Tiff couldn’t help the rising anger in her voice.

  “You could text her if you want the fence panel. And you weren’t very polite – commenting on her clothes.” Joe reached for the kettle and began to fill it.

  “Firstly, I’m not doing your dirty work for you – she hardly talks to me – she gave the number to you. And secondly, I merely stated the fact that she had proper clothes on today.”

  “What do you mean by ‘dirty work’?”

  “Oh for heaven’s sake Joe.” Tiff slumped down in a chair and rested an elbow on the dining table. “Can’t you see what she’s doing?”

  “No I can’t.” Joe’s face had changed from the fearful, caught-out look he had a few moments ago to one of disappointment. “So what’s she doing then?”

  “Well…” Tiff stumbled. “Actually… I wouldn’t be surprised if she had a glass tumbler stuck on the wall outside or… or a telescope out on the fields.” Tiff paused to take a breath. “To watch us arguing over her.”

  “I’m not arguing. You’re the one getting irate about things.”

  “I’m not getting irate! All you seem to do is protect her – stick-up for her if I say something bad about her.”

  “OK,” muttered Joe. “I’m going to make you a coffee, then we’ll talk about this in a cool, calm way.”

  “Don’t patronize me.”

  “Tiff,” Joe turned around from the kettle. “I am not patronizing you. This is getting a little bit silly, don’t you think?”

  “Silly – silly is it? Then why does she always come round to see you when I’m not here?”

  Shaking his head despairingly, Joe heaved a deep sigh. “Oh babe, she’s been round here twice. She must have seen me come home. I had only just taken my jacket off at the door, when she came round.”

  “Obviously been looking out for you then. Why did she give you her number? She could have said, just knock on the door if you want the fence panel?” Tiff’s face was burning. She knew she was being a little unreasonable. But Joe didn’t know what the woman was really like – or did he and he was actually more than happy to have a romp in her garden?

  “Err… I don’t know,” Joe replied falteringly. “She just gave it to me. I didn’t ask for it.” His eyes averted before he turned round to finish making the coffees.

  “Joe?”

  “Yes?”

  “Are you telling me the truth?”

  Turning around with a coffee in his hand, he snatched a glance at the piece of paper on the other worktop. “Yes, I am. Can we leave this now?”

  “Why are you home early anyway?” Tiff peered up at the wall clock in the kitchen. “Thought you didn’t finish till five.”

  Joe shrugged. “I got fed up. I had enough staff in from three o’clock so I came home.”

  “You have been to work haven’t you?”

  “Yes Tiff – I have been to work. Where the hell do you think I’ve been?”

  Forcing an exaggerated shrug, Tiff turned down her mouth. “I don’t know. You’re the boss – you can go anywhere you like.”

  “Here,” said Joe, fumbling in his pocket for his mobile phone. “Do you want to phone work and check?”

  “Now who’s getting silly?” Storming into the kitchen, Tiff took the coffee from him. “This is getting us nowhere. I’m going to have a bath and tidy up – we’ve got your parents over tomorrow.”

  “Fair enough. And I’ll help you clean up. We’ve got to stop this babe.”

  As Tiff left the kitchen/diner her eyes began to sting. Two arguments in less than three days. That was not good. Especially when the heated exchanges were over a woman. The deliberately sly, surreptitious woman next door who obviously fancied Joe and would do anything to upset Tiff’s relationship with him. Carrying her coffee and a carrier bag up the stairs, Tiff threw the bag on the bed, placed her coffee on the windowsill and went through to the bathroom to run a bath. The housework could wait. She needed a good long soak and a think. Maybe even another cry.

  Sinking into the bubbles, she lay still as the hot water surrounded her and soothed away her pent up anger. Joe had to be telling the truth. There couldn’t be anything cagey going on. He wouldn’t do that to her. But that wasn’t to say that Georgie wouldn’t stop trying to get her long, manicured nails into him. Desperate bitch.

  The sound of the hoover ripped Tiff away from her tormented muse. Obviously, Joe was trying to creep around her by doing the cleaning downstairs. ‘Guilty’ was becoming the word of the week. Tiff couldn’t help the negative thoughts that were stomping through her mind with steel-cap military boots on. Or was ‘paranoid’ actually the real word of the week?

  “Did you give her your number?” Tiff was standing in the doorway of the living room, dressed in her pyjamas and a pink toweling dressing gown.

  Joe turned round from the television unit, a duster in one hand and a can of polish in the other. “No…I… err.” He stalled for a moment. “Err… no, I didn’t. Can we forget about it now?” Turning back to the television, he wiped the cloth along the top, then walked through to the dining room. “Do you want another coffee?” he called back.

  “I’ll make it.” Tiff joined him in the kitchen. Scanning the worktops, she added, “where’s that bit of paper gone?”

  “Paper?”

  Tiff rolled her eyes and tutted. “Yes – the one with Georgie’s number on.”

  “I threw it in the drawer. If you want the fence panel you can contact her. I’m fed up with all the drama to be honest, babe.”

  “Do we want it?”

  “Well she doesn’t want anything for it.”

  Joe still sounded a bit edgy, but then Tiff wasn’t really surprised after her outburst earlier. “Look, I’m sorry Joe. I didn’t mean the things I said. I find it hard to like that woman when she is so stand-offish with me all the time and so obviously accommodating to you.”

  “I’m sure you’re imagining it babe. She likes you… well, I’m sure she does.”

  “That sounded like you know she likes me. Like she’s spoken about me.”

  “No, err… she hasn’t. I’m sure she must like you though. Why would she want to be helpful by offering us a fence panel for nothing?”

  “Because she fancies you – you just can’t see it can you?”

  “I really don’t care,” said Joe, moving towards Tiff. “You’re the one I’m interested in.” Sweeping his arms round her waist, he pulled her into him. “You’re the one I want, even when you are being co
mpletely paranoid.” Bending his head down, he kissed her softly on the lips. Then again, harder. “You must know it. I want you… I need you, babe… I love you more than you could know.”

  Joe kissed her repeatedly, slowing the pace as she responded. She was reluctant at first, but then she submitted and succumbed to the passionate temptation. It didn’t matter that they were standing in the kitchen. The desire was too great. She allowed him to untie her dressing gown. She assisted him in removing her cropped pyjama bottoms. He pulled at his own trousers, loosening the belt and unzipping them. Lifting her up, he pushed her against the edge of the worktop. Resting her hands back on the kitchen surface, she let him in. A crescendo of intense devotion brought their frenzied intimacy to an end within minutes.

  “I love you too,” she whispered, as a tear welled in her eye. “I’m sorry to keep going on about things. You must hate me sometimes.”

  “Never.”

  Downstairs done. Upstairs done. Bed changed – tick. Ironing finished – tick. Washing on – tick. Domino’s pizza, garlic bread and potato wedges ordered – tick, tick, tick.

  Tiff and Joe slumped down on the sofa with hot cardboard boxes on their laps. They’d worked so hard, cleaning the house from top to bottom in preparation for Joe’s parents coming for the day tomorrow. The fresh smells of the polish and other cleaning fluids were slowly diminishing as the potent aroma of warm garlic bread filled the air. Two large glasses of white Blossom Hill stood on the coffee table in front of them and the TV was tuned into the movie channel. This was Tiff’s favourite kind of evening – eating pizza and drinking wine before she snuggled up with her dream man and watched a romantic comedy. Heaven.

  “Do you want to let Georgie know that we’ll have the fence panel?” Tiff spoke softly.

  “I don’t mind babe. You can do it if you want to, or I’ll do it if you want me to. Whatever you want babe.”

  “You can tell her and offer her something for it. Some money, I mean.” Tiff shot a wry grin at Joe.