Chapter 16
With the hens soon settled and Mags’s words ringing in my ears about taking the van off her hands by the end of the week, and also not forgetting the need to order a new shower, of course, I knew another bike ride to Wynbridge was inevitable. I wasn’t particularly looking forward to the journey, but on the plus side the trip would at least give me the opportunity to talk to Jemma about the plans she had hinted at for the Bailey.
Since Matt’s visit to assess the work, and the party, I hadn’t had a chance to pay the caravans much attention at all, but I couldn’t wait to turn my focus back to them, especially now with the extra expenditure adding up. My spirits were on the rise again and now more than ever I needed to find a way to make my new life at Cuckoo Cottage pay its way, and I hoped I would be able to do that without having to travel further afield for work. In my heart I still really believed that there was some gold mine of an idea just waiting for me to strike upon and set me off on a new and exciting path. One, I hoped, that Gwen and Gran would have been proud of.
Fortunately for me, the week dawned cloudier and with the lengthy cycle ride ahead I was grateful that the dial had been turned down on the searing summer heat. Just as before, Minnie refused to be left behind and stood, front paws perched on the very edge of the bike basket, like some regal figurehead, rather than my scrappy little companion.
There was no sign of the hare as we slowly made our way along the drove road and it wasn’t long before Minnie was panting and turning around in the basket trying to get comfy.
‘Don’t you dare tell me you’re wishing you stayed at home,’ I told her crossly as I wiped my brow, wobbling a little as I pedalled one-handed.
If she was thinking of her bed in the cool shady kitchen she didn’t dare let on, but I was surprised by how hot it still was, even though the sun was hidden.
‘I should think not,’ I said, my own temperature rising with the exertion and my ears conscious of a vehicle approaching from behind.
Thankfully it was moving at a snail’s pace so I could get away with just pulling over rather than stopping completely. I might have been reasonably fit, but the bike was old and heavy and getting momentum going again would take more effort than I wished to exert at this point in the journey.
‘Can I give you a lift?’
It was Will. He slowly pulled alongside and Minnie jumped back up, her tail wagging and her tongue lolling the second she caught sight of her former caretaker.
‘Hello, Minnie,’ he laughed as I grabbed her collar lest she leap out of the basket and into his cab.
‘I’m heading to town,’ he said with a nod in the general direction of Wynbridge. ‘Let me take you the rest of the way so you can save your legs for the journey home. Assuming that’s where you’re off to?’
‘Yes,’ I nodded, thinking what a different response Minnie gave Will when compared to the one she inflicted on Matt. ‘Thanks.’
‘Let’s see if we can make it as far as the market square without falling out again, shall we?’ Will smiled as he loaded my bike into the back and opened the passenger door.
‘Well, I suppose that rather depends on whether or not you’re going to quiz me about the work I’m having done at the cottage, doesn’t it?’
‘I’m not going to say another word about it,’ he said, jumping in and turning over the engine again.
‘Good.’
‘Other than . . . ’
‘Oh here we go,’ I sighed.
‘Other than,’ he continued, one hand stroking Minnie’s head as she tried to climb on to his lap, ‘that I hope two of the things on your list are the shower and that dodgy fuse box.’
‘Well, in that case,’ I said, lifting Minnie back on to the seat next to me, ‘you should be well pleased that Matt has come to my rescue.’
‘So you’re definitely giving him the work then?’
‘Because,’ I carried on, ignoring his suspicion of the builder I still couldn’t really remember employing, ‘both of those things were at the very top of his list. In fact, that’s why I’m heading to town today,’ I added with a sniff. ‘I’m going to order a new shower.’
‘Brilliant,’ Will smiled. ‘Just don’t go for anything too powerful. The water pressure isn’t great and . . . ’ he looked across at me and shook his head. ‘Sorry,’ he said. ‘It’s none of my business. How are the hens?’
I was pleased he had changed the subject, especially to one that I had quickly become so fond of.
‘Enchanting,’ I told him. ‘They’re so funny.’
I didn’t mention that they were also extremely pretty as I wasn’t sure Will appreciated their aesthetics as much as I did.
‘I’ve had two eggs already,’ I said, thinking of the smooth, warm beauties I had discovered when I went to let them out of their coop earlier that morning.
‘So you’re pleased you’ve got them?’
‘Definitely,’ I nodded. ‘Even though I was rather railroaded into it, I think we’re going to get along just fine.’
‘And what about taking on Mags’s minivan?’ he asked. ‘You were rather railroaded into that too, weren’t you?’
‘Sort of,’ I said. ‘Although I have to admit I was slowly coming round to the idea of buying a car. I just didn’t expect it to happen quite so soon.’
‘Sometimes,’ he said, carefully negotiating the bridge over the River Wyn, ‘I think we all need a bit of a shove in the right direction.’
‘Are you speaking from experience, by any chance?’
‘You have no idea,’ he said, ‘but I meant what I said about driving around with you until you get your confidence back.’
‘Thank you,’ I swallowed. ‘I had wondered if you might have changed your mind about that.’
‘Not at all,’ he said, competently pulling into a parking space. ‘And I promise I won’t come over all sergeant major if you over-rev the engine a time or two.’
I couldn’t help but laugh. That was exactly what I had been worried about.
‘Well, thank you,’ I said, ‘and thanks for the lift. That distance from the cottage alone is enough to make me think that I’ve made the right choice about the van.’
‘I’m sure you have,’ he said, hopping out to retrieve my bike.
‘And if you need any help with anything,’ he said, as I climbed out and took hold of the handlebars, ‘anything at all, then please just ask.’
‘I will,’ I nodded, not quite able to meet his gaze.
Perhaps we really had just got off on the wrong foot. I mean, stark naked wasn’t usually how you’d introduce yourself to your new neighbour, was it? There was bound to be some initial awkwardness after an encounter like that, wasn’t there?
‘I’m sure Gwen would have wanted us to be friends,’ he said huskily.
‘I’m sure she would,’ I agreed.
He was right, of course. Gwen was the best judge of character I had ever known. If there had been anything even remotely remiss about her neighbour she would have sniffed it out in a heartbeat.
‘Thanks for the lift,’ I said, lifting Minnie back into the basket.
‘Any time,’ he smiled, stroking Minnie’s head. ‘See you later, Lottie.’
‘Lottie!’ called Jemma in greeting, the second I pushed open the café gate and carefully wheeled the bike and Minnie inside. ‘I’m so sorry I haven’t had a chance to get back to you. We’ve been run off our feet here.’
‘Not to worry,’ I said, propping the bike out the way of the other customers and lifting Minnie out of the basket. ‘I’ve been rather busy myself.’
‘So I heard,’ she laughed. ‘Hens now, isn’t it?’
‘Yep,’ I confirmed.
‘Quite the countrywoman already, aren’t you?’ she teased good-naturedly.
‘Apparently,’ I laughed, wondering if I was ever going to share a single piece of news that everyone didn’t already know. ‘And I’m almost sorted with a car.’
She nodded but didn’t say anything, so I guessed she was already privy to that little titbit as well.
‘What can I get you?’ she asked. ‘I’m still doing breakfasts if you fancy a rasher or two after the ride in?’
‘I’m all right, thanks,’ I said, thinking I’d had enough pork courtesy of the hog roast and morning-after rolls to last me a week or two, ‘and I didn’t cycle in, actually.’
Jemma looked at the bike.
‘Will gave me a lift.’
‘Did he now?’ she said, her eyebrows raised in interest. ‘You two are finally getting along, then?’
‘So just a coffee please and some toast and the Wi-Fi code, if that’s OK?’ I said, thinking it really wasn’t necessary to add any more fuel to her fire. ‘I’m looking for a new shower.’
‘You can use my laptop if you like,’ she offered, disappearing back inside. ‘It’ll be far easier than trying to work on your phone.’
‘Thanks,’ I called after her.
‘And,’ she said, rushing back out and setting it on the table I had sat at with David during my first visit, ‘when I’ve got a sec I’ll come and tell you all about what I want you to do with that Bailey.’
My heart leapt when she said that. Clearly it was going to be my project after all, and if Amber’s suspicions about Jemma wanting the café to go mobile were correct, it was going to be a hugely exciting one at that.
With the speediest connection in the area it was mere minutes before I had my new (but not too powerful) shower ordered, and with the guarantee of express delivery, it was going to be delivered by the end of the next day at the very latest. I closed my eyes as I finished my coffee, revelling in the thought of showering in safety and not having to worry about the dreaded complexities of the fuse box from hell in the cupboard under the stairs.
‘Well, well, well,’ boomed a voice, pulling me out of my moment of indulgent contemplation. ‘If it isn’t Lottie Foster.’
‘Hello, Chris,’ I said, opening one eye and then the other. ‘How are you?’
‘Very well,’ he beamed. ‘And how are you?’ He didn’t wait for me to answer. ‘From what I’ve been hearing, you’ve beaten me to the punch on both fronts!’
‘Both fronts?’ I questioned, wishing he would lower his baritone a little.
‘First you bag yourself one of the handiest fellas in the county, and now you’re sorted with four wheels as well.’
‘Well, the four wheels bit is right enough,’ I said loudly enough to hopefully set the record straight with the customers closest who were soaking up every word. ‘But the fella in question has only been bagged, as you put it, to carry out some work at the cottage, nothing more,’ I added, assuming he was talking about Matt. ‘Like I said the day I moved in, I’m very happily single, thank you very much.’
‘Yeah right,’ he said with a conspiratorial wink, which did nothing to suggest that he was convinced. ‘We’ll see. But you did tell me you needed someone to manhandle those pesky pickle jars, didn’t you?’
‘Oh Chris,’ chastised Jemma as she handed him an insulated cup. ‘Leave the poor girl alone. She’s had enough to contend with during the last few months without throwing the complexities of love into the mix. Isn’t that right, Lottie?’
‘Totally,’ I agreed, momentarily grateful for her timely interruption.
‘At least give her time to settle in,’ she grinned.
‘Well, I’ll think about it,’ said Chris with yet another wink, ‘and I haven’t forgotten about that promise of a Sunday cuppa, Lottie.’
‘You’re more than welcome any time,’ I told him. ‘As long as you haven’t got the local singles ads with you, and besides, I reckon I owe you and Marie rather more than a few cups of tea given how you got the cottage ready for me before I moved in.’
‘Well, I don’t know about that,’ he said, ‘but according to David, we do need to have a chat about Gwen’s little collection of . . . ’
‘No need,’ I jumped in before he announced to the world that my benefactor had been collecting caravans. ‘Jemma’s going to fill me in about all that right now.’
‘Fair enough,’ he chuckled, ‘I’ll be round for my Sunday cuppa soon, then.’
He handed Jemma the money for his drink and strode back to his stall.
‘He really is incorrigible,’ she said, shaking her head. ‘Why ever did you tell him you’re looking for a relationship?’
‘I didn’t,’ I insisted in a low voice. ‘I was just joking about it the day I moved in and now he won’t let it drop. Anyway,’ I reminded her, ‘I didn’t pedal all this way to talk about my non-existent love life.’
‘You didn’t pedal here at all,’ she reminded me with a nudge. ‘The most handsome man around drove you in, remember?’
There was no point contradicting her.
‘So,’ I said, ‘come on. Tell me. What are these “crazy plans” you have for the Bailey I’ve got sitting back in the barn?’
‘Well,’ she began, edging her chair a little closer and laying her order pad and pencil on the table. ‘I don’t even know if it’s doable of course, but Lizzie and I have been thinking about the possibility of having the van converted into a sort of mobile, but very chic, Cherry Tree Café.’
‘Wow,’ I smiled, delighted that Amber had been on the right track and thrilled by the prospect of being the one responsible for the potential conversion.
‘And don’t worry about dropping Amber in it,’ said Jemma, giving me another nudge, ‘I bet she’s already said something to you about it, hasn’t she?’
‘Well,’ I began. I could feel my face going red so there was no point denying it.
‘It’s all right,’ she said. ‘I don’t mind. In fact, it was because of the weddings at the farm that we first came up with the idea.’
‘Well, I think it all sounds wonderful,’ I told her. ‘And yes, it’s completely doable. I worked on something similar for a guy last year who had a hankering to make crêpes on the go.’
‘Excellent,’ she gushed, bobbing up and down in her seat. ‘So you’ll do the work for us and then once it’s finished we’ll buy it from you, but only if that falls in with your plans, of course?’
‘Absolutely,’ I told her. ‘I’d be honoured to do it and if you’re happy to work to an estimate after we’ve talked through what exactly it is that you want, how you want the space to work in terms of storage and so on, then I’ll be able to get going straightaway.’
‘And you’ll make it look beautiful, won’t you?’ asked Jemma, her expression serious. ‘It has to look the part.’
‘Oh, it will,’ I told her, spinning her laptop around so she could see the screen. ‘What do you think of these?’
A quick online search had pulled up a dozen or so pretty vans and Jemma grabbed her pencil and began making notes and taking down the details of those she liked the best. Personally I favoured anything that included red polka dots and Cath Kidston rose-patterned fabrics, and for the most part Jemma was in complete agreement.
‘How are you getting on?’ said Lizzie, as she peered over her friend’s shoulder.
‘Brilliant,’ said Jemma, clasping her hands together before pointing at the screen. ‘Lottie has agreed to do the conversion work and then sell us the van.’
‘That’s wonderful,’ Lizzie smiled. ‘I had a feeling you would. Oh, I rather like that one.’
‘Very practical, isn’t it?’ I agreed. ‘A perfect example of how to squeeze in all those tables and chairs you’ll no doubt want to travel with you.’
‘And I like this big awning,’ said Jemma with a nod. ‘At least if the weather lets us down we can still serve people in relative comfort if we have an awning the size of that one. It covers the entire van and all of the outdoor seating.’
‘But have you told her the catch?’ Lizzie asked, bending down so her head was level with Jemma’s.
I swallowed, keeping my eyes on the screen.
‘It’s not really a catch,’ said Jemma, clearly keen to smooth the way.
Lizzie sighed and I felt my stomach sink. I’d only just agreed to take the project on and I certainly didn’t want to be beset by problems and hold-ups already.
‘Has she not told you when we’d like it for?’ said Lizzie, looking at me.
‘No,’ I said, shaking my head. ‘But there isn’t a rush, is there?’
My heart picked up the pace as I thought of the potential stress of working under the pressure of a tight timeframe on my first solo project.
‘Harriet and Rachel are having a party to launch their nursery,’ said Jemma, smiling winningly, ‘and ideally, we’d like it ready for that if possible.’
‘OK,’ I said, looking from one of them to the other. ‘And when exactly is the launch?’
‘It’s in six weeks,’ said Lizzie.
I have to admit, I was rather glad I was sitting down when she said that.