'I told you. I'll make the money up out of my own pocket. Forget it.'
'What did you call me over for if you intended to cover it up?'
'I don't know.'
We were silent for a minute or so, searching for a way to discontinue hostilities. Tentatively I asked, 'Do we have a home address for Jamie, maybe someone should call to see if...?'
'Yes, he lives in one of Andrew's flats. Let me deal with it. You're acting for Andrew, so you had to know what happened. It's best for me to sort it out. Thanks for coming over, but you don't need to do anything.'
'If that's how you want it.' I left the shop insulted and offended. Evidently his occasional critical comments, for example that I did not know my daisies from my dandelions, had not been mildly humorous reproofs but were signs of serious dislike. How totally misconceived my earlier thoughts had been about us perhaps being compatible in a relationship.
***
The next morning he had recovered his temper and rang in a conciliatory mood wanting to tell me more about the theft. When he called I was about to set off for Vincent's offices and had to put him off until the evening. He was locking up when I arrived at the garden centre, and he took me upstairs where he made a pot of tea. We found it difficult to know how to start, and uncomfortably I asked, 'Have there been any developments?'
Ignoring my question he said, 'I know what you're thinking, but there's been nothing between Jamie and me for a few months.'
'There was something between you, earlier?'
'Everyone knows there was.'
'Everyone who works here, maybe. I didn't. If Jamie was around we said hello, that was about it. No one ever said anything to me about... you and him.'
He looked at me doubtfully. 'You'd better hear the whole story. Andrew will have to know sometime, one way or another.' He had grey shadows around his eyes and looked miserable.
Knowing nothing of my problems, as well as resenting having to report to me while Andrew was away, he probably imagined me having a contented comfortable life, smugly looking down on those who were less happy.
'Talk to me then. Andrew always speaks well of you. We'll do the best we can, he can't expect more than that.'
'I'm sorry for dragging you into all this. You really didn't know about Jamie and me?'
'No.'
'I shouldn't have spoken the way I did yesterday, the situation is driving me nuts. You remember the two men who were downstairs when you came into the shop? They were trying to make trouble. The whole mess had got beyond me by the time I came up here to see you. All of this is my own stupid fault. You knew Jamie - enough to say hello to, you said?'