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‘And you with more talent in your little finger than him in his whole body.’
‘I’m not sure some of his girlfriends would agree with you,’ Holly retorted, feeling like she was scratching at an old scab.
***
Holly opened one oak door after another but many of the cupboards were empty. She came to the conclusion that she must plead with Emma for a trip to the retail park. Her fridge was full and the local general store had supplied many of her needs, but she was used to having all the ingredients she needed to hand and all the equipment required to cook them in. She piled such things as she did have onto the huge central reservation with its drawers and units underneath a spacious granite top. Running her fingers over the cool surface she thought about how lucky she was.
Holly opened the door to the garden, at right angles to the one that led into the studio. She couldn’t resist taking a quick peek into the studio and imagined what it would be like when it held more than just her mother’s table. She gave her head a little shake, as she did most times when she thought of her beloved parents and the cruel fate that had taken them from her.
The outside area must at one time have been quite beautiful but English cottage country gardens didn’t look after themselves and Mrs Foster hadn’t employed a gardener other than to cut the grass. Holly picked some of the herbs that were growing outside the back door, thus far her only attempt at cultivation, and sighed. So much to do. For the time being though it would have to wait.
Back in the kitchen she set to with a will, using the few implements and pans she had and grateful for the large foil containers she’d bought locally. She spent the whole afternoon cutting, preparing, and cooking while listening to music on her iPod. Finally she left everything on the granite top and settled down in her very comfortable armchair – offering up silent thanks to Mrs Foster – to make a couple of calls while she waited for things to cool down enough to put in the fridge or freezer. She began with Emma and, finding her at home, invited her and Tom over for the meal she’d promised her as soon as she’d settled in.
‘Do you want to come in the evening by yourselves, or would you rather make it Saturday and bring the boys for lunch?’
‘Every single moment of Saturday’s already accounted for but tomorrow’s Friday, they don’t have to get up early for school next day, and since it’s half-term they’ve got time to catch up on sleep. Is that too soon? What if we bring the boys in the evening, if you don’t mind eating early?’
‘I’d love that. Can Tom manage six o’clock? Will that be early enough for the twins?’
‘I’ll make sure he can. And if they start to fall asleep we can each carry one home.’
‘What!’
‘Only kidding. Do you know how much a six-year-old weighs? Perhaps we’d better bring the car. See you tomorrow.’
Holly’s next call was to Kate. Since the party they’d become firm friends and it had become part of nearly every day for them to have a natter. Phoebe too.
‘Phoebe and I are going to Bath next Thursday if this glorious weather carries on. We were wondering if you could come with us if you’re free.’
Holly jumped at the offer and Kate arranged to pick her up the following week.
Kate was a kept woman. She and Charlie had been married for about six years but Kate was a homemaker, not a working wife. The kind of situation Harry had wanted for Holly – but where it hadn’t suited Holly at all Kate thrived on it. Holly was really looking forward to a day out with her and Phoebe. She had no idea what Phoebe did for a living or how she managed to run around the country on a weekday – somehow the subject had never come up – but she was glad to have the opportunity to get to know them both better.
She’d left friends in London, of course she had, but Emma had always been her best mate and until recently she’d been too far away to see very often. Most of the people in London had been joint friends, hers and Harry’s and, while there were one or two she would miss, leaving the rest behind wasn’t the wrench it might have been.
Things had cooled off in the kitchen and Holly portioned and packed, keeping something out for dinner before putting the rest in the freezer. She hadn’t had a proper meal for two days and she ate her supper on her lap and curled up for the rest of the evening with a good book. Life was, she figured, pretty wonderful.
***
After nearly flooring Holly again outside the post office Adam had hurtled off down the street to the safety of his Land Rover. Once inside he gripped the steering wheel, though he didn’t start the engine. Bloody woman. Why does she have to reduce me to a blithering idiot every time I meet her? For the truth was that although Adam did have patients to see he was only on his daily round and there was no need at all for him to rush. It was panic that instigated his flight.
He had to face the fact that Holly had made a profound impression on him. After his disastrous engagement he’d learned to face the world with an outward air of assurance that had now become more real than assumed. Adam was a bloke’s bloke but he could usually turn on the charm to make most women his slaves. In a work environment he was assertive and confident. Seemingly that confidence deserted him in the presence of this tiny girl with the bubbly hair.
The first time he’d met Holly he’d been angry, very angry, because his commitment to his patients was absolute and he was genuinely worried about Buttercup. But his behaviour at Kate and Charlie’s was inexcusable and though he’d tried to make amends by asking for a fresh start his sangfroid had completely deserted him. He ran his hands through his thick hair, sighed deeply, and set off in the direction of his first call. As it happened he was going to see Buttercup’s orphaned calf.
‘She’s doing really well, Bert. Taking the bottle with no trouble?’
‘We got off to a shaky start but she soon got the hang of it.’
‘Okay, I’ll pop in again next time I’m passing but don’t hesitate to call if you need me. Anything else while I’m here?’
‘Just a small cut on Sunshine’s left hind if you wouldn’t mind taking a look. Otherwise, touch wood all is fine. We’ve called her Ada, by the way. The calf. After you, considering you’re the reason she survived.’
Adam was touched by the gesture, shaking Bert’s hand by way of thanks but without embarrassment. He found himself thinking about Holly again as he drove away. He’d believed after their first meeting that she’d brought what he imagined to be her London ways to the country. His ex-fiancée had been from London too and perhaps he carried with him an unreasonable bias. It was obvious at the party that Holly wasn’t like that. She’s got spirit, is all. I like that. Why can’t I just behave normally around her? He wasn’t too happy about the amount of time he spent thinking about her either.
Chapter Five
On Friday morning Holly went straight to the print shop armed with her leaflet design. After a bit of discussion they decided on royal blue to be printed on yellow paper. This would match the colour scheme Holly had in mind for the gallery and studio.
‘Next Wednesday suit you?’
‘Yes, thank you, that’ll be fine.’
Now that she’d got this big decision out of the way Holly decided to busy herself resuming the search for chairs that she’d had to abandon previously. There were a number of other things she wanted to pick up as well and while she still didn’t have any students she realised she could hardly advertise if she had nowhere to put them. Previously it seemed a bit like a chicken and egg situation but in the time she was waiting for interest in the classes there was no reason she could see why she shouldn’t get the chairs. Even if things didn’t work out the way she wanted them to the table still needed chairs.
Having justified her decision she popped in to get some more ingredients and dropped them at home, reflecting on how nice it was that everything was virtually on her doorstep. She’d been seriously worried that she’d miss the capital’s shops but it hadn’t happened so far. Right, she thought after unpacking her shopping, time to look for those chairs.
Holly bypassed the first two antique shops she came to, having been in them several times before and knowing neither carried the sort of thing she was looking for. The next one was double-fronted and for some reason, though she remembered looking in the window, she’d never been in there. A little brass bell rang as she pushed open the door and Gordon appeared from behind a desk.
‘How lovely to see you, Holly. Were you looking for me or have you come to be nosy?’
‘Not looking for you because I didn’t have the slightest idea you’d be here. Is this yours?’
‘Yes, even the dust is mine.’
It wasn’t dusty at all but Holly liked his sense of humour.
‘Would you like to be shown around or do you prefer to browse?’
‘Browse, if you don’t mind. At least to begin with.’
Gordon moved away, leaving Holly to her own devices, but he reappeared about ten minutes later and put a cup of coffee in her hand.
‘You look like you need caffeine.’
Remembering back to Kate and Charlie’s party – what a long time ago that seemed now – it was apparent this man was going to make a habit of plying her with drinks every time they met, be they alcoholic or not.
‘Does it show?’
‘No, but it takes one to know one. Anyway, it would be less than hospitable of me not to offer you some kind of sustenance, seeing as how we’re friends.’
‘We are? Nice of you to say so, particularly on such short acquaintance,’ but it gave her a warm feeling. After a little while he was back, asking if she’d like to see the rest of the premises.
‘There’s more?’
‘Much more,’ he said and proceeded to give Holly a guided tour of what was plainly his pride and joy. She loved the musty smell of the place and was delighted when Gordon didn’t rush her but told her to take as long as she liked.
‘As you can see, I’m not overwhelmed by customers at the moment.’
Holly picked up a piece by Clarice Cliff, loving the way she used colour and wishing she could buy it. This was not the time, however, for self-indulgence and regretfully she put it back in its place.
Gordon put a ‘please ring’ notice on the front door, slipped the latch, and led her through to the back. This was a much larger area even than the shop and it housed all sorts. There was a beautiful ancient spinning wheel that she immediately wanted, seeing her parlour as a perfect setting for it. She wouldn’t have had a clue how it worked but it would make a lovely ornament. She rather liked the picture she’d conjured up and for a moment felt a bit dreamy.
‘Earth to Holly. Where are you, Holly?’
‘Picturing this at home in my parlour. Anywhere else and I would have called it a lounge or a sitting room, but parlour definitely suits the cottage.’
‘I’d love to see it.’
It was an innocent enough remark but Holly couldn’t help feeling there was more than politeness in Gordon’s statement. He sounded a tad eager. She wasn’t quite sure how to respond but then her attention was drawn to a magnificent old pine chest that she lost her heart to – it would have really set off her studio table and the, for her, awkward moment passed.
‘I could keep masses of stuff in here,’ she said, pulling out one of the drawers. ‘And the room is big enough to take it.’
Reluctantly she turned her back on it. A glance at the ticket had told her the price and there was no way she could justify spending that much money on something that wasn’t a necessity. Gordon wasn’t a fool. He summed up the situation without her uttering a word.
‘I could give you first refusal if anyone shows any interest.’
It sounded like Mrs Foster all over again.
‘I wish, and thank you but no.’
She moved from one beautiful piece of furniture to another, this being mainly what the back area was given over to. More than once she ran her hand over smooth wood, marvelling at how it could feel cool and warm at the same time.
‘You’re so lucky to work with such fabulous craftsmanship. How can you bear to part with any of it? I’d go under in no time because I’d never be able to let any of it go.’
‘So what do you do when someone wants to buy one of your paintings or any other piece of artwork that you’ve made with your own fair hands; put your heart and soul into?’
He had a point. He also had chairs! Exactly what she wanted, six of them and at a price that made her wince but which she could afford. She didn’t haggle but he still gave her a discount, insisting that he’d have done the same for any customer who tried to push the price down. It was how his business worked. People expected him to be beaten down and he built it into his asking price. He also promised to deliver them.
‘How about this evening, after I close?’
‘Thank you. That would be fantastic.’
Then she remembered that Emma and Tom and the boys were coming for supper, so of course she asked Gordon if he would like to come too and she was delighted when he said yes. The twinkle in his eyes that she’d seen at Kate and Charlie’s was back. Interesting.
As it was close on lunchtime and supper was going to be early Holly thought she’d better go home and start preparing, particularly as Gordon was coming as well. He was her first new grown-up visitor and she felt one should try to make a good impression. Who did she think she was kidding? Then she thought of Harry again and the bleakness returned as she remembered the dinner parties they’d had with friends, how proud he’d always seemed to be of her, how badly he’d let her down. She gave herself a mental shake. I’m moving on now. I’ll have my own dinner parties.
***
It was a fantastic evening! As Easter wasn’t too far away, Holly had cut some yellow cardboard into egg shapes and drawn a line just below the middle to represent a belt. Using different coloured card, buttons, and paints, she’d put everything on the newspaper-covered studio table, together with scissors, glue, and cotton wool.
Gordon was the first to arrive and together they unloaded the chairs and set them around the table. Holly was delighted with them and grabbed a couple of scatter cushions from the parlour to raise the seats for the twins. Being little herself she knew how uncomfortable it was if you couldn’t quite reach. They’d just finished organising the furniture when the Carters arrived.
‘Come on, this way, you’ll have to work for your dinner,’ Holly said, herding them into the studio. ‘We can’t eat without tablemats,’ she declared seriously, totally ignoring the fact that the table was already engraved with her childhood carvings. ‘As I haven’t got any, we’ll have to make them. We’ve got half an hour before dinner will be ready, so let’s get to it.’
After Holly tied an apron around the neck of each twin to save Emma washing their clothes …
‘No chance. If it’s not paint, it’ll be dinner.’
… they all spent a hilarious half an hour cutting and pasting and painting until each had a Humpty Dumpty, though no two were alike, and one definitely had a squint!
‘Okay, dinner’s ready. Sorry it’s paper plates and plastic cutlery. I haven’t got the real thing yet. I’m still waiting for Mummy to take me shopping.’
‘I’m ready whenever you are.’
‘After half-term then. It’s probably not a good idea to go while school’s out. Can you do a Sunday?’
‘Tom?’ Emma queried, looking across at her husband.
‘No problem.’
‘No problem, the man said. We’ll get it done.’
‘Wonderful. In the meantime let’s get this mess off the table and eat. Oh, and by the way, here are some I prepared earlier,’ Holly said, pulling out some tablemats she brought to the Cotswolds because Harry had never liked them.
‘But you said you didn’t have any.’
How do you tell a six-year-old that you lied, without saying that you lied?
‘I know, Jamie. But I knew the ones you made would still be wet, and in any case they are for you to take home.’
‘You told a fib!’
‘Er, well yes, I’m afraid I did.’
He looked thoughtful. Everyone else was thoroughly enjoying the exchange … everyone except Holly.
‘It’s naughty to tell fibs.’
This was getting worse!
‘Yes, but it’s okay,’ he said, brightening. ‘Mummy says it’s all right sometimes to tell a white lie if it’s for a surprise or something. Why is it called a white lie?’
Holly was rapidly getting out of her depth.
‘Do you know, I have absolutely no idea? I bet Mummy knows. Why don’t you ask her? I’ll go and get dinner.’
And she escaped to the kitchen, somewhere between panic and giggles. Dinner was really delicious! You can’t go wrong with meatballs in gravy, can you? And Holly was almost ashamed of the number of desserts she’d made, but she knew from staying with Emma and Tom that she wasn’t the only one with a sweet tooth.
It’s amazing how six people can all talk at once and still listen to everyone else’s conversation. It was noisy and hilarious but it seemed that everyone had a lovely time. Holly certainly did. Sure enough, somewhere around half past eight, Jake and Jamie became suddenly quiet and turned a bit pale and Emma started looking concerned.
‘I think it’s time we went home, don’t you, Tom?’
They spent a few minutes arguing over which Humpty belonged to whom and, when they were all happy that they’d got their own masterpiece, there were hugs and kisses all round and they left. All except Gordon. He insisted on staying to help clear up the mess, but instead they sat in the parlour and polished off the rest of the wine.
‘Thank goodness you brought the chairs. What I hope will eventually be my dining room is full of clutter and in any case I don’t have the furniture to go in there. It’s certainly not big enough to take the table I’ve got.’
‘Isn’t it? I don’t know the house at all. I never came when the Fosters lived here.’
‘Come on, then. I’ll show you. If you’re interested, that is.’
‘Of course I’m interested. Homes, well furnishing them, is a large part of my business.’
‘I wasn’t inviting you to buy anything. Just to have a look.’
They went straight across the hall from the parlour into the room that was destined to be the dining room. Though Holly had complained about Mrs Foster’s junk in the extension, this room was practically full to the ceiling with hers, most of it canvases and other art materials so not junk really.
‘Sorry about the mess.’
‘No worries. You’ve only just moved in. I can see what you mean, though. It’s a lovely room but a bit cosy.’
‘Are you always this polite?’
‘Okay, it’s small. But it’s big enough for a dining room. It’d be different if you wanted to put a three-piece suite in here.’
‘Do you want to see the rest or is that just a girly thing?’
‘It absolutely isn’t. I can be just as nosy as the next person.’
They went into the kitchen and Gordon said he liked the way they’d put the door on the side so it led straight into the studio. ‘Much nicer than knocking a hole in the parlour wall.’
‘Yes, nice too that there’s access from the studio to the side passage. It means people can come in that way without having to come through the house.’
‘So you’ll use that door when your classes start?’
‘Yes, fingers crossed – and now that I’ve got chairs. I was going to put the Carters on my four fold-up chairs and perch myself on a stool. I can’t tell you enough how nice it was to sit at a proper table.’
‘It was really nice to be included. I’m so glad you asked me.’
‘No choice really, seeing as how you were bringing the chairs. No, no,’ she said, holding her hands up in mock self-protection, ‘only kidding.’
‘How do you feel about opening another bottle? It seems much too early to be going home.’
‘Good idea. I wouldn’t normally eat at that time. Still, I’m pretty sure the twins enjoyed it. I wouldn’t like to do it every day though. By nine o’clock I’d be snacking again!’
Holly picked up a bottle of wine and followed Gordon into the parlour and, plonking herself beside him on the sofa, she was soon into her third glass of the evening and feeling very mellow. Mrs Foster had left all the carpets and curtains and Holly had paid her a nominal fee for the lounge furniture, which went so well with the house. Even the threadbare patches on the arms of the period-looking couch added a certain charm.
‘I saw some of your work while we were in the studio, Holly, and in the dining room. I have to say I’m very impressed! Did they give you any idea how long you might have to wait for permission to come through?’
‘I think it’ll be several weeks yet but I’m keen to get the classes up and running before then if I can.’
Gordon, an attentive listener, put his arm along the back of the sofa and started running his fingers through her hair. Well, he tried to, but it was so unruly he got caught up in a tangle of curls and, instead of reducing her to jelly as he’d so obviously planned, he reduced her to giggles instead.
‘Hang on. You’re going to spill that all over your lap,’ Gordon said, rescuing the glass from her unsteady fingers. He leaned across her to put it on the coffee table then turned his face towards her, close to hers. She stopped giggling. Well, she didn’t think it would be polite while he was kissing her. He was very gentle and it was a very nice kiss, and she hadn’t been kissed in a long, long time. He drew back, his face just inches away, his eyes holding hers. ‘Holly, I …’ And that’s when panic set in and she moved back. She wasn’t ready for this. Gordon leaned in again.
Sheer force of will enabled her to slide out of his embrace and away from the sofa. In spite of the amount of wine she’d consumed she was suddenly stone-cold sober and her thoughts were as clear as a crisp morning. But her face was on fire. She raised her hands to burning cheeks.
‘Gordon, I’m sorry. I can’t do this. It’s too soon. I hardly know you.’
He smiled and stood in front of her, a square man, large and reassuring, his hands taking hold of hers.
‘I know. It’s crazy. And you’re right, of course.’
He released his grip and raised his arms, cupping her face, forcing her to look straight at him.
‘But magic has happened here this evening, Holly. Magic doesn’t happen often, does it?’ He gripped her chin with a finger and thumb. ‘People shouldn’t fly in the face of magic, should they? But neither should they abuse it. We won’t abuse it. We’ll nurture it. Don’t look so worried, Holly. We can wait. I can wait.’
And he did – but not before he’d kissed her again and held her close. Gently, oh so gently, but she could feel the passion raging within him, a passion she didn’t share.
‘Sit down, Holly. Sit down and finish your wine. I’ll do the washing up and make coffee.’
She realised she must have fallen asleep, because she woke up on the sofa early next morning, covered with a duvet and with a crick in her neck – and alone. Inexplicably a vision of Adam’s face swam before her. It surprised her and she dismissed it, trying instead to conjure up a picture of Gordon – and failing.
It had been a fabulous evening. In a way she was sorry it had ended as it did but she was frightened too by the intensity of Gordon’s feelings, feelings that her own emotions didn’t reflect. She wasn’t yet ready to jump.
Holly found a note from Gordon on the kitchen table. ‘Can’t believe I’ve just spent an evening with six-year-old twins and had such a great time. The rest wasn’t bad either! Call you later.’
Pouring soya milk onto her muesli Holly realised she was humming to herself. Romance hadn’t figured in her life for quite a while and Gordon was behaving in a very romantic way. She asked herself why she’d really held back last night but she knew the answer. She was terrified. Couples seemed to jump into bed together at the drop of a hat these days. She’d been off the market for such a long time she didn’t know the rules any more.