Maddie looked up at the sound of furious barking. The dogs were circling the yard, running to the gate and back again and dancing with excitement. A figure stood beside it, looking around as if wondering if she was in the right place.

Maddie smiled to herself. She scarcely noticed the dogs now, but she remembered all too clearly the day she had first arrived at Joy’s Acre. The thought brought a flush to her cheeks. She had behaved like a spoiled, arrogant brat, and it was surprising that Seth had even let her across the threshold. She got up to go and welcome Trixie.

She opened the front door and waved. ‘Hang on a minute, I’ll come rescue you!’

Perhaps Trixie didn’t hear because, after returning the wave, she opened the gate anyway, entering the yard. The dogs charged over, intent on giving her a full-on welcome and, to Maddie’s surprise, Trixie dropped to her knees, holding her arms wide as first Bonnie and then Clyde rubbed up against her in delirium. Tails wagging furiously, they writhed around at her feet as if they hadn’t seen her for years, tongues lolling and eyes rolling in their heads.

Eventually Trixie straightened, grinning broadly up at Maddie. ‘Crikey, those two can stand any amount of fuss, can’t they? What are their names?’

She walked over to where Maddie was standing, the dogs close on her heels.

‘The blue-eyed one is Clyde, and the smaller of the two is Bonnie, his sister.’

Trixie brushed at her jeans and jumper, shaking off a cloud of fur which had transferred onto her.

‘I might have guessed. They look like a couple of scoundrels.’

She turned her head, taking in the full extent of the house and its yard. She gave a low whistle.

‘Blinkin’ ’eck, this is a bit of all right, isn’t it? Are you really sure you want me to come and live here? I might lower the tone.’

Maddie smiled at her. ‘I don’t think you need to worry. There’s no tone set. No one stands on ceremony here. The house is pretty big, but it’s not grand at all. Besides, everyone is really keen to meet you, although Seth is away at the moment, but he gets back tomorrow and will catch up with you then.’

‘Yeah, well I’ll be telling him to do something with the bloody driveway when I see him. How are folks supposed to find their way down here? I couldn’t see a thing, the hedges are so high.’

Alleluia, thought Maddie.

‘Come on, let’s go inside. Would you like a drink first or should we just go and say hello? Clara’s dying to meet you.’

‘I’d love a cup of tea, if that’s okay, we’d got no blooming milk this morning, and I’m gagging for one.’

Maddie could feel her shoulders relaxing; Trixie was going to fit in just fine.

---

Clara was standing in the middle of a large rectangle of mud, leaning on a fork. Her face was turned to the sky and her eyes were closed, a gentle smile on her face. Her hair, blowing in the wind, billowed out around her, showing off her mass of freckles.

Maddie stopped on the path, not wishing to make her jump. Trixie, a few steps behind, came to stand beside her.

‘Whatever she’s on, I’ll have some,’ she whispered, and Maddie smiled. Clara did indeed look beautiful, peaceful and serene, totally at one with the space around her.

Clara was still some distance away, and Maddie doubted she could have heard Trixie’s soft voice but she opened her eyes and looked in their direction, breaking into a smile as she caught sight of them. She wasn’t at all embarrassed by having been spotted in such a reverie.

‘Isn’t it beautiful?’ she called. ‘Days like this just make you feel glad to be alive.’

The sun was warm on her skin, and Maddie realised it was lovely being able to wander outside at will. So much of her life before had been spent indoors that she rarely thought about the weather. She had certainly never been made to feel grateful for her place in the world by it. It was a nice thought.

She turned to look at Trixie, whose mouth was hanging open in wonder. ‘Come and say hello,’ she said.

But Clara had already thrust the fork deeper into the soil so that it would stay upright of its own accord and was marching down the path towards them. She held out her hand, covered in mud as usual.

‘I’ve heard so much about you,’ she said. ‘It’s lovely to have you here. I’m Clara.’

Trixie blushed a little, perhaps unused to such a warm greeting.

‘I’m just amazed to be here at all,’ she said, ‘but it’s fantastic. Look at what you’ve got here.’ She swung around as if to illustrate her point, her gaze settling on the bed that Clara had obviously been digging. ‘Do you really look after all this, all by yourself?’

Now it was Clara’s turn to blush. ‘Mostly,’ she said. ‘Seth gives me a hand with some of the heavier stuff when he can, but other than that, yes, it’s my little kingdom.’

Trixie watched her for a moment. ‘Is everything okay now? I read about what happened of course and…’ She stopped suddenly. ‘Sorry, you probably don’t want to talk about it any more.’

Clara flashed Maddie an anxious look. ‘Well, it was years ago and I… but yes, I’m fine, thank you.’

There was something else in that look too, thought Maddie, something she couldn’t quite put her finger on. Guilt perhaps? Whatever it was, the subject matter was clearly not something Clara was keen to dwell on, or let Maddie be party to.

She gave a slightly nervous smile, pointing to the far end of the garden. ‘Would you like the grand tour?’ she asked.

Trixie nodded vigorously. ‘Oh, yes please!’

And the moment, whatever it was, passed as the two of them moved forward.

Of course the garden held a lot more than just vegetables, but as they walked around it was clear to see where Trixie’s interest lay. In fact, she and Clara were chatting as if they’d known one another for years, and in many ways their combined interests fitted together perfectly. Clara was a knowledgeable and instinctive gardener and Trixie a natural and intuitive cook. So, as Clara explained the various crops and how she grew them, when they were at their best, and what varieties she used, Trixie provided a running commentary on how she might use them in her recipes, what worked well with what and asked endless questions to check what everyone liked.

‘I feel like I’ve been let loose in a sweet shop,’ she said as they made their way back to where they started. ‘Honestly, I’ve never seen so much variety, imagine what it will be like come the summer.’

Maddie could see Clara swell with pride as she showed off her hard work.

‘We’ll probably get a glut of certain things, that always happens. One hundred and one ways to use a courgette, now there’s a book someone should write.’

‘I guess,’ replied Trixie, clearly thinking. ‘But that’s what’s so amazing too, being able to use fresh ingredients, but more importantly seasonal ingredients. A while back I used to live above a greengrocer’s shop and I often had just enough time when I got back from work to pop in before he closed and grab whatever was left. It was much cheaper for one, but because I didn’t always have a choice it made me try out new recipes, things I probably would never have attempted before. It was good experience, I suppose.’

Maddie stood back, enjoying the ripples of excitement and enthusiasm that were coming off the pair of them in waves. Whatever doubts she might have had about them not getting on had vanished in an instant. Their mutual love of food, one in growing, the other in cooking, would stand them in very good stead.

‘And of course if there’s anything you particularly like, let me know. It’s key sowing and planting season over the next couple of months, so if I’ve missed anything just shout.’ Clara pointed over at the bed she’d been digging. ‘New potatoes are just about to go in there, and I’ve got leeks, broad beans and parsnips lined up. Plus, the ubiquitous runner beans, which will be coming out of our ears in late summer.’

‘But they’re great preserved, have you ever tried it?’

Clara shook her head. ‘I’ve often thought we should be doing more of that, but I haven’t got the time, and what surplus we have at the moment I sell at the local farmers’ market.’ She frowned. ‘Which is fine, but what we have a glut of so does everyone else, so produce often ends up getting sold much more cheaply than it should.’

‘Could we add value by offering preserves or homemade savouries, cakes, soups even perhaps?’

‘Definitely! Would you be up for that?’

Trixie grinned at her. ‘Try and stop me,’ she said. But then she pursed her lips, anxiety flooding her face. ‘Bloody hell, would you listen to me? Sorry, Maddie, I’m shooting my mouth off; I haven’t even moved in yet and I—’

Maddie gave Clara an amused look. ‘Should we go and show her the barn now, do you think? That will totally blow her away.’

---

‘I can’t believe I’m even here, let alone that you’re doing all this for me. I mean, you don’t even really know me.’

They were standing in the open space of the barn, looking up at the timbers above them.

‘True, but I’m a great believer in going with my hunches.’

She received a sideways glance. ‘You really did like my mushrooms, didn’t you?’

Maddie thought for a moment. ‘What I liked was the fact that you had a shitty job, in a shitty pub, serving shitty food, and yet you weren’t happy to settle for that. You made me the most beautiful mushrooms on toast, not because anybody was paying you to, or because it would have done you any favours, but because you could, and because you wanted to. I liked that about you. You had your own standards to maintain whatever the circumstances, and that takes integrity.’

Trixie flashed her a wide grin. ‘Not sure I know what that means, but it sounded like a compliment, so thank you. And you’re really going to put a proper kitchen in here, and a place for folks to eat?’

‘That’s the plan,’ replied Maddie, ‘which is all going to take a little time. The builders are going to be working morning, noon, and night. Meanwhile, you’ll have to slum it with us in the house.’

‘Are you sure I won’t be in the way?’

Maddie gave her a pointed look. ‘Trixie, I’m not being funny, but you don’t actually have anywhere to live, do you? And coming here will be doing us a massive favour. It’s a win-win situation as far as I’m concerned.’

She gave her watch a quick glance. It was nearing half past ten. Clara caught her look of frustration.

‘No, I haven’t heard from him, either,’ she said, knowing exactly what Maddie was thinking. ‘Although, if I know Tom, he’s probably still lazing in bed.’

‘I was hoping to introduce him, that’s all,’ she remarked. She turned to Trixie. ‘Tom is our thatcher,’ she explained, ‘and he’s a tad unreliable at times,’ she added, seeing Clara’s look of disapproval.

He’d been completely unreliable while Seth had been away, but she didn’t want to moan about him when Trixie had only just arrived. She’d save that for when she and Clara were alone. It was just one of the reasons why she’d be glad to have Seth return in the morning.

‘Anyway, why don’t I show you the rest of the house and where your room is going to be? There’s a bit of a junk room downstairs that we’re planning to clear out – not done yet, I’m afraid, but hopefully it will be ready by the time you move in. We thought you could put your books in there.’

Trixie beamed. ‘You really don’t need to go to so much trouble, and I’d be more than happy to clear out the room myself, it’s the least I can do.’ She gave them both a rather shy look. ‘I haven’t got to rush off anywhere today, so I wondered whether you might like me to stay and cook tea?’

---

It was late by the time Maddie was ready to turn out the light and go to sleep. After helping Clara dig the garden for several hours in the afternoon, Trixie had made them both the most sublime risotto, and coupled with the rest of the white wine that hadn’t made it into the dish, they had stayed parked at the kitchen table for hours, talking. Parts of Trixie’s past were colourful indeed but they made for entertaining listening.

Lying in bed, Maddie was just about to put her book to one side when a scrabbling noise at her door caught her attention. She pulled it open, only to see a flash of ginger streak past her.

‘Oh, no you don’t,’ she said, picking up Rumpus, ready to deposit him back outside the door. He was warm and heavy in her arms. She sighed. ‘Okay then, just this once… and only because the master of the house is away.’

The cat needed no further invitation. The moment she put him down he jumped on the bed, where he waited for her to climb under the covers again. He turned around several times before finding a spot sufficiently warm for his liking and settled down. Within minutes both Maddie and Rumpus were fast asleep.