Chapter 13
It was a relief to have the party to look forward to at the end of the week because, with the cottage in far worse repair than I’d initially realised, and the prospect of so much work to be done, I could feel that I was in very real danger of being completely overwhelmed by the magnitude of everything that lay ahead. Just as my nemesis in the café had predicted, it was suddenly and dishearteningly all ‘a bit too much to cope with’ and I was devastated by my downturn in spirits, especially given how upbeat I had been feeling after Amber’s visit.
I thought back to the months I’d been stuck in my horrid house-share in Lincoln, with my breath held, waiting for the blow which would snatch away my hope to strike and just knowing that becoming the proud and lucky owner of Cuckoo Cottage was simply too good to be true.
I had assumed that once the legalities were dealt with and I was making friends and daring to dream of an exciting future, my fears would be consigned to the past, but I was wrong because they were still right there and I was heading back to that god-awful place in my mind. Only now I had the responsibility of a deteriorating property weighing heavy on my shoulders on top of everything else.
‘Is this place really in as bad a state as Matt reckons it is?’ I asked Minnie, as I tried to decide which outfit to wear to the party. ‘Am I going to come home tonight and find you sitting on top of a crumbling pile?’
Funnily enough, the little dog didn’t have a competent answer, but she did yap at the mention of Matt’s name nonetheless.
‘I know,’ I said, hoping that she was thinking of my sanity rather than Matt’s ankles. ‘I know. I need to stop getting things out of all proportion, don’t I?’
She yapped again and I thought back to what Mags had said about how a person can stagnate if stuck in the same environment for too long. Perhaps everyone was right. Perhaps four wheels of my own would give me the freedom to lubricate the creative juices and stop me brooding. I recoiled at the thought of climbing behind the wheel, but I knew I wouldn’t be able to put it off for much longer, not living here in the flat, and sometimes unforgiving, Fen.
‘My goodness, don’t you look smart!’ gasped Mags as I opened the door when she came to pick me up.
I ran my fingers over my sunflower earrings and looked down at my home-made fifties-style marigold-patterned skirt, and then at her jeans and creased T-shirt and realised I’d got completely the wrong clothes on.
I’d agonised over what to wear for hours, even poring through some of Gwen’s old books for more clues as to what Lammas was all about. Yellow and orange, early harvest, grains and bread were overriding themes and consequently I’d made a batch of very misshapen rolls as a gift and teamed my outfit to the corresponding colours.
‘Shit,’ I muttered, thrusting the basket of rolls into Mags’s arms. ‘Please tell me I’ve got time to change.’
‘What on earth do you want to change for?’
‘Well, this is a bit over the top, don’t you think?’ I said, pointing at myself and then at her. ‘You’re in jeans for goodness’ sake.’
Mags began to laugh.
‘Firstly, no, there is no time to change,’ she grinned, ‘and secondly, Amber invited you because she wants you to be there and she wants our friends to get to know you, the real you.’ She added pointedly, ‘And to my mind, that outfit is totally you.’
She pulled me over the threshold, reminding me to lock the door and hurry up, then marched back to the van and threw open the back doors.
‘Come on!’ she called as I fussed over Minnie and my keys. ‘Get a wriggle on. Your carriage awaits.’
I’d completely forgotten her little yellow minivan only had two seats and braced myself for a bumpy journey and inelegant arrival.
‘Hello there, Lottie,’ called her passenger as I approached and was wondering what would be the best way to hang on to my dignity as I climbed in the back. ‘I bet you don’t remember me, do you?’
‘Yes, I do,’ I said, rushing over to the window. ‘Of course I do. Mags has been telling me all about her lovely neighbour, but I had no idea it was you. I’m so sorry, George,’ I admitted, ‘but I didn’t make the connection until now.’
Gwen had taken Gran, Grandad and I down to see George in his house, which was built just a stone’s throw from Hecate’s Rest, quite often when I was little. From what I could remember, he had the best vegetable garden in the area.
‘Not to worry,’ he said. ‘It’s been a long time. I was going to talk to you at Gwen’s funeral, but I never got the chance. I did pop along to the pub, but that solicitor chap had collared you before I did, so that was that. He didn’t half set tongues wagging when he took you off like that.’
‘Well,’ I said, ‘I’m glad we’ve finally been reacquainted.’
‘As am I,’ he nodded. ‘You’ll have to let me know if you want a hand sorting out the veg patch,’ he added with a nod to the currently weed-strewn plot.
‘Oh yes,’ I said. ‘I know it’s a bit late to get going now.’
‘Not at all,’ he quickly cut in. ‘We could have that cleared, manured and dug, then leave it over the winter, that way it’ll be in peak condition for a fresh start next year.’
The little patch certainly deserved a fresh start and I have to admit I felt a little bolstered by the idea of making such a long-term commitment.
‘Hey!’ called Mags. ‘This is all very lovely, you two, but time isn’t moving any slower.’
‘Sorry,’ I said, rushing to the back and inelegantly bundling myself inside. ‘Where’s Ed?’
‘He’s already at the farm with his dad,’ said Mags, passing me the basket of rolls and waiting until I’d found the least uncomfortable position on the cushions she had provided as a concession to comfort. ‘They’ve been there all afternoon helping to set up.’
‘Sorry,’ I muttered again as she huffed impatiently while I shifted position and thought how much I was looking forward to finally meeting Ed’s dad. ‘Well come on,’ I scolded when I was finally settled. ‘Isn’t it about time we got on?’
She slammed the door, plunging me into near darkness and then we were off on what was probably the most uncomfortable journey of my life.
Skylark Farm, as far as my jangling bones could tell, was about the same distance as the cottage was from Wynbridge, not that I had any idea in which actual direction we were heading, of course, because I was more focused on hanging on to my basket of rolls as we bounced through the potholes. When Mags finally drew to a halt, turned off the engine and ran around to throw open the back doors, I sat temporarily stunned and a little dizzy as my eyes grew accustomed to the change in light levels again.
‘We never thought you were going to get here,’ tutted Ed, as he helped me stand up with a fine disregard for the fact that my skirt had ridden halfway up my thighs. ‘Practically everyone else is here already.’
I took a deep breath and checked my outfit over to make sure I had arrived in one piece, even if that piece was now slightly crumpled around the edges.
‘You look nice,’ said Ed, wrinkling his nose. ‘Bit posh, but Mum’s always telling me “you never get a second chance to make a first impression”,’ he mimicked.
‘Is that right?’ I muttered, reaching for the basket of tumbled rolls. ‘Well, thank you, Ed, I’ll take that as a compliment.’
As Mags helped George out of the passenger seat, I took the opportunity to look at the other cars parked in the yard. The first I saw made my stomach drop to the floor. Will’s truck was there, but then, I countered, so was Matt’s work van, so I hoped the evening would balance itself out on the man front.
‘Come on, then,’ said Ed, who was growing impatient. ‘Come and say hello to everyone.’
Taking a deep breath, I set off with him, Mags and George, past the beautiful old farmhouse and flower-packed garden, towards the orchards, which I could see were draped in pretty bunting and beginning to sparkle with hundreds of fairy lights in the fading early evening light. There were straw bales arranged in squares to serve as seating and a delicious smell of hog roast filling the air along with laughter and the faint strains of music.
‘Lottie!’ waved Amber, when she spotted me.
She rushed over, taking my arm and steering me towards the bales where everyone was chatting.
‘Thanks, Ed,’ I called over my shoulder, but he was already gone.
‘He’s on car park duty,’ said Amber. ‘And he’s taking his role very seriously.’
‘Talking of rolls,’ I said, trying to offload the basket of my first ever attempt at bread-making. ‘I made you these. They aren’t very good, I’m afraid, but I thought as this was a Lammas party.’
‘Oh Lottie,’ she beamed, squeezing my arm, but not taking the basket. ‘That’s lovely. You can give those to Annie. She’ll be thrilled. Then I’ll introduce you to everyone and give you that tour of the bungalow I promised.’
Amber’s Auntie Annie was a formidable woman. Barely taller than me and with paper-thin skin, she could unnervingly look me in the eye with her periwinkle gaze which suggested that she could see much more than just my physical form. She weighed me up for some seconds before taking the basket and I gabbled on about what I had discovered about Lammas and harvests and sunflowers.
‘Well, aren’t you a breath of fresh air,’ she smiled when I eventually ran out of steam. ‘I swear most of this lot only turn up for the free cider these days!’
I could tell she was teasing her guests, but I could also see that she was pleased I’d made the effort and I began to relax as Amber poured me a glass of Skylark Scrumpy and introduced me to the rest of her friends.
Harriet, Rachel and Lizzie I already knew of course, but there was also Lizzie’s partner Ben, who was in deep conversation with Matt (who looked up and gave me a butterfly-inducing wink as Amber called out names), Jessica and her husband Henry, and finally Simon and Jude, who ran the vintage store in Wynbridge. Thankfully there was no sign of Will.
I was disappointed to learn that Jemma and her husband Tom wouldn’t be coming because their babysitter had let them down, but listening to the sound of laughter and the crackling of the fire pit Amber’s handsome partner Jake had just lit, I guessed this was not the night for talking business anyway.
‘Have I missed the introductions?’ asked a chap who wandered up accompanied by Ed, just as Amber slipped off to check her daughter Honey was being entertained from the comfort of her buggy before she was put to bed.
Truth be told, there were no need for introductions, as this guy was a carbon copy of Ed, or perhaps I should say, Ed was a carbon copy of him. Thick curly, dark hair and glasses, this was obviously Ed’s father.
‘I’m so pleased to meet you at last,’ I said, pumping his hand and feeling that through his son I had actually met him already.
‘I’m guessing you’re Lottie,’ he said, smiling Ed’s smile.
‘Yes,’ I said. ‘I’m Lottie Foster, your new neighbour.’
‘Pleased to meet you, Lottie,’ he said, ‘and I’m Liam, but I’m not your neighbour.’
I was going to ask what he meant but was cut off by Amber who called to me from the edge of the orchard.
‘Sorry,’ I said, ‘I have to go. Amber’s promised to give me a tour.’
‘No worries,’ Liam smiled. ‘We’ll catch up again later.’
Amber and I strolled through the orchards; she introduced me to the animals and then unlocked Meadowview. It was every bit as beautiful and authentic as I imagined and I could have easily spent the entire evening ensconced on the sofa admiring her handiwork.
‘We’ve got guests arriving in the morning,’ she told me. ‘Sunday isn’t our usual handover day, but these are honeymooners who are travelling down after their reception tonight.’
‘Well, it’s the perfect spot to hide away in for a few days,’ I said. ‘It’s truly wonderful, Amber. You’ve certainly a great eye for detail.’
‘Thank you,’ she smiled, as she straightened a cushion and ran her hands over the rose-patterned curtains. ‘I was lucky Annie had so much treasure in the loft because these days it’s getting harder and harder to find bits and pieces like this for sensible money.’
My own experience confirmed that she was right and I knew I was going to have to shop carefully if I was going to add some authentic touches to the vans I had hidden away in the barn. Fortunately, however, her next comment reassured me that I might not have to look too far from home.
‘Simon and Jude take trips to French sales now on the lookout for bits and pieces that will suit what their UK customers are looking for,’ she explained as she began to lock up. ‘Not that that’s a hardship, of course.’
Their shop sounded like the perfect local starting point should my fledging business idea ever make it out of the nest.
I could hear the noise of the gathering had increased since Amber had spirited me away and guessed that the delicious Skylark Scrumpy was playing its part in loosening tongues and adding more warmth to the occasion. I was relieved to find I wasn’t the focus of attention as we rejoined the group and felt that, here at least, I was amongst friends rather than a nosy group of tittle-tattlers like those I had seen and heard in town.
‘Lottie!’ called Jake, handing over the responsibility of the hog roast to Henry. ‘So tell me, what do you make of the place?’
‘It’s wonderful,’ I told him. ‘You have so much going on here. I think it’s amazing.’
‘Well, thank you,’ he said, looking suitably flattered, which was my intention as I meant every word. ‘And from what Amber tells me, you’re going to have a lot more going on at Cuckoo Cottage after tonight.’
‘Am I?’
‘Is she?’ asked Matt, who had wandered over to join us, bringing with him another glass of cider for me.
I made a mental note that this was already my second and I hadn’t eaten anything yet. This one was definitely for sipping.
‘You’re going to pick out some hens, aren’t you?’
‘Oh yes,’ I nodded, feeling relieved.
For a horrible moment I had thought Amber had told him about the vans and that he was going to spill the beans to all and sundry. I had no intention of keeping them under wraps forever but until I had the plans for them settled in my mind I didn’t want them to be common knowledge.
‘I’d forgotten all about that.’
‘Come and do it now,’ said Jake, pointing back towards the house, ‘before it gets too dark.’
‘Well, I . . . ’
‘Ed said you were all set up with the coop and run and I can give you some straw and grain to tide you over,’ he added encouragingly.
‘Come on,’ said Matt. ‘I’ll help you choose.’
‘All right,’ I said nervously. ‘But you have to help me pick the most robust because I haven’t got a clue what to do with them. If they’re going to thrive at Cuckoo Cottage they’ll need to be pretty self-reliant.’
Together we walked back towards the house and then Jake, pointing me in the right direction, went on a quick detour with Matt in search of a crate or box that he could use to keep the chickens in overnight.
My gaze dropped to my now dusty shoes when I spotted Will standing at the run with Ed, looking at the hens before they were shut up for the night.
‘Lottie,’ said Will, stepping forward before I had a chance to say anything. ‘I almost didn’t recognise you . . . ’
‘Please don’t say with my clothes on,’ I cut in under my breath.
‘That wasn’t what I was going to say at all,’ he said, sounding surprisingly embarrassed.
‘So what were you going to say?’
‘Other than that you look lovely, sorry, I suppose,’ he said, burying his hands deep in his pockets. ‘Because I had no idea I’d run you off the road and into those nettles.’
‘Well, you should be sorry,’ I scowled. ‘I could sue you for the damage you inflicted on my legs.’
His gaze dropped to my skirt and I felt myself bristle under his scrutiny.
‘You were driving far too fast down that road,’ I swallowed.
‘I won’t any more,’ he announced, his eyes flicking back up to my face. ‘I’ve learned my lesson and, for what it’s worth, I really am very sorry, and if it’s any consolation, I did manage to save Mr Tibbs’ dog, Tess.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘I was heading to an emergency,’ he explained. ‘The crazy pooch had managed to get under the wheels of a delivery lorry and had come off worse. Although the driver was pretty shaken up,’ he added, biting his lip.
I was pleased he had saved the dog but couldn’t help wondering if another emergency explained the speedy driving I’d witnessed on previous occasions. However, I was let off having to ask as Jake and Matt came back empty-handed and shaking their heads.
‘Believe it or not, I can’t find anything suitable,’ said Jake. ‘Nothing big enough to keep them comfortably tucked up in overnight anyway.’
Exactly how many chickens was he expecting me to have?
‘I think we’ll have to do this another day, Lottie. I’m ever so sorry.’
I was just about to say it didn’t matter when Ed rushed in to save the day.
‘Why don’t you just put the ones Lottie wants in the other coop?’ he said, pointing across the yard to a little wooden house that didn’t have a run. ‘Then transfer them to one of the small pet carriers in the shed in the morning for the trip to the cottage. It’s only up the road, after all.’
‘I really don’t want to be any bother,’ I insisted. ‘Let’s just do it another day.’
‘No,’ said Will. ‘Ed’s right. If someone can drop them to you early tomorrow that will work a treat.’
‘No one will want to turn out early on a Sunday,’ I said, ‘especially after such a late night.’
‘I don’t mind,’ Jake shrugged. ‘I’ll be up for the animals anyway so I could bring them.’
‘Well, as long as you’re really sure,’ I said, biting my lip.
‘Absolutely,’ he said, striding into the hen run with Ed hot on his heels. ‘It’ll give me a chance to talk to you about my truck.’
His arrival in the hen’s domain was met with much squawking and flapping, so I didn’t have a chance to ask what he meant, but the rolling in my tummy suggested it wasn’t going to be something I particularly wanted to talk about.