Read Online Rumor Has It by Jill Mansell - Free Book Online Page A

interesting.' The woman, having put down the phone, was now giving her an unashamed once-over, her confident gaze taking note of Tilly's wind-blown hair, lack of makeup, battered jeans, and pink spotted wellies. Evidently having decided that her visitor didn't present any threat—Tilly felt like announcing that she did scrub up well—she said, 'You must be Max's new girl. He told me you were starting this week. He mentioned your name too, but I've forgotten it.'
        'Tilly Cole.'
        'That's right. Funny name! And I'm Stella, Stella Welch. Pleased to meet you. Aren't you the lucky one, working for Max. I'm quite jealous!'
        'Well, I'm enjoying it so far.' Tilly smiled, keen to make a good first impression even if her hair and wellies were letting her down. 'And Lou's great.'
        'So what d'you think of him?' Stella leaned forward, her tone conspiratorial. 'Pretty dishy, wouldn't you say?'
        Flummoxed, Tilly said, 'Um…'
        'And so funny. I just love that Liverpudlian sense of humor. He cracks me up. I bet you secretly fancy him, don't you?'
        OK, getting weird now. Was Max's sexuality not as widely known as she'd assumed? Tilly hesitated, then said, 'I don't secretly fancy him, no.'
        'Oh, come on! You must do! I think he's really attractive.'
        No, they'd talked about it last night; Max had definitely told her everyone knew. 'But he's… gay,' said Tilly.
        'Oh that.' Stella dismissed the protestation with a shrug. 'Not completely, though. Only semi-gay. He was married to Kaye for long enough. They had a kid together. So it's not as if he only likes men.' Twizzling a ballpoint pen between her fingers, she added blithely, 'There's definite room for maneuver.'
        'Right. Um, I hadn't realized.' Hastily, Tilly said, 'But I still don't fancy him.'
        'Why not? Are you gay?'
        Blimey.
        'No, he's not my type. And I just split up from my boyfriend so I'm taking a bit of a break from all that stuff.'
        'Hmm, but it's all right for you. You're younger than me. How old are you?' Stella was alarmingly forthright.
        'Twenty-eight.'
        'And how old do you think I am?'
        Tilly hesitated. 'Um…'
        'Thirty-seven. I know I don't look it, but I am.' Stella was alarm ingly modest too. 'And my husband and I broke up six months ago. He just left me high and dry. At thirty-seven! So it's not as if I have time to take a break. I want babies before it's too late. All those years we were married, we held off having children so we could enjoy ourselves. We always said we'd wait a bit longer, have fun while we still could. The plan was that this year— this year,' she pointed em phatically at the table in front of her, 'we'd start trying. Then out of the blue, he tells me he's off, that our marriage is over, and he wants a divorce. Bam, just like that. Talk about selfish. I mean, this is my whole life he's messing around with here. My whole future!'
        'Crikey, poor you.' The woman might be scary but, given the circumstances, it was a valid grievance. 'And is he'—Tilly wavered; how could she put this tactfully?—'seeing someone else now?'
        'No, no. Definitely not.' Vigorously Stella shook her head. 'No way. You know, I reckon he had one of those mental crisis thingys, a kind of panic attack at the thought of so much responsibility. I mean, I'm on the prowl for another man just in case it doesn't happen, but I can't help thinking that sooner or later, he's going to come to his senses and beg me to take him back.'
        'And would you really want that?'
        'God, yes, of course I would. He's my husband. I want babies. He'll be a great dad.'
        The bell went t-ting above the door and a middle-aged couple wandered into the shop.
        'He'll come back. He has to.' With a nod of determination, Stella changed the subject. 'Anyway, let's get you what you came for.'
        'Thanks,' said Tilly as