Chapter 8
8
Sarah arrived to collect Ben just after nine the next morning and Jade told her about her prospective employee as they stood outside reception.
‘It sounds to me like you fancy the bloke,’ Sarah said, putting her head on one side. ‘How old is he and what does he look like?’
‘Thirtyish, I’d guess. I didn’t really notice what he looked like,’ Jade lied. ‘And of course I don’t fancy him. I just need some help. It’s not fair to keep asking Callum when I can’t manage.’
‘Callum doesn’t mind. And you know Ben loves it here. He’d far rather be with you, getting filthy, than at home doing boring stuff.’
‘It’s the animals he likes, not me,’ Jade protested, ruffling Ben’s fair hair and brushing some flecks of dried mud off his back. She didn’t know how he got so dirty; perhaps it was because he was closer to the ground than they were. ‘Isn’t that right, young man?’
Ben gave her the full benefit of his gap-toothed smile and shook his head emphatically.
Jade laughed. ‘You’re a right smoothie, you are. So are you telling me you’d still come and stay with me if I didn’t have all my waifs and strays?’
‘Course, Auntie Jade.’ Ben widened his eyes. ‘Anyway, I’m a big help, aren’t I?’
‘A big help’ was his latest catchphrase, which Aiden had started off when Ben had helped him catch a litter of puppies that he needed to vaccinate.
‘A big pest, more like,’ Sarah muttered. ‘Talking of which, are you still sure you don’t mind having him next week?’
‘Of course I’m sure.’ This was true, but Jade was also terrified at the prospect of being responsible for Ben for a whole week, especially as it was half term. Not that she had any intention of telling Sarah this because she knew how torn her friend was. Callum’s father was ill and Callum’s mother had asked if he could possibly go up and cover his shifts in the restaurant for a while. It was getting really expensive to pay for cover.
‘Callum still feels guilty about abandoning the family business,’ Sarah had explained, ‘so he’s keen to go, and it would give me the chance to meet his parents, seeing as things are getting serious with us two. But Ben’s adamant he won’t come with us.’
‘I’m looking forward to having him all to myself,’ Jade reassured her. ‘He’ll have a lot more fun here than traipsing up to Scotland in that campervan.’
‘Yes, that’s what he said. I’m going to miss him, though,’ she added, with an ache of longing in her voice. ‘It’s going to be really strange being childless for that long.’
‘You can Zoom call him every day,’ Jade said. ‘And he can tell you what he’s been up to, can’t you, Ben?’
But Ben wasn’t listening any more. He was in reception, trying to tempt a dove perched on the corner of Jade’s filing cabinet to land on his hand.
‘Dawn’s coming in every day next week, too,’ Jade went on. ‘ And with a bit of luck I’ll have a full-time handyman then as well.’
‘What time is he coming – this handyman chap? Maybe I should hang around and help you interview him.’
‘No, thank you. I’m quite capable of interviewing him myself.’ Jade knew Sarah wouldn’t be able to resist teasing Finn about sharing the cottage and she didn’t want him frightened off.
They went eventually and Jade breathed a sigh of relief. Finn probably wouldn’t take the job anyway. Not when he found out what she could afford to pay him. And even if he did, he wouldn’t stay long, she decided as she looked around the yard. He’d just stay until he got a better offer and then he’d be off again; but having someone around, even for a short while, would be a great help. She’d made light of it to Aiden, but it did worry her that the place needed so much maintenance and she didn’t have time to do anything about it.
Finn’s white Toyota drew into the yard just before ten and from the reception window Jade saw Finn get out and stand in the muddy yard, looking around appraisingly. He’d probably only turned up because he didn’t have anything better to do. In half an hour he’d be gone, shaking his head as he drove away, his impression of her as a batty animal lover entrenched. A tale to tell in bars across the country. No, she mustn’t pre-empt. He might be desperate enough to work for her. She took a deep breath and switched on the answer machine and fixed what she hoped was a welcoming expression on her face.
As she went out to meet him, Jade tried to imagine what Duck Pond Rescue must look like to a stranger. After all the rain they’d had lately, tracks of mud ran round the yard, and the outbuildings, although in better shape than they’d been when she’d moved in, thanks to her prowess with a paintbrush, and some help from Callum, still looked dismal and run down. No one in their right mind would want to work here.
‘I’m afraid you’re not seeing it at its best.’ She glanced at his unsmiling face, which told her nothing. His eyes were thoughtful. He was either very good at hiding his feelings or simply indifferent. She hoped it wasn’t the latter. But at least he didn’t look horrified, which was a good start.
‘Shall we just walk round and you can see what you’d be letting yourself in for?’
‘Sure.’
She took him through the gate that led up past the cattery and the horses’ paddock and on towards the kennels. This part of the sanctuary was on higher ground and wasn’t as muddy as the reception end. Above their heads, a weak spring sun was trying to push through the clouds.
‘There’s a lot to be done,’ Finn remarked as they went past the tatty pink caravan where she kept bedding for the dogs. ‘That’s not the accommodation you’re offering, is it?’
She glanced at him sharply, before realising there was humour in his grey eyes. She was about to make an appropriate retort when Diesel, who had the uninterrupted run of the place, strolled around the side of the caravan, almost at their feet, with a large wriggling mouse in his mouth.
Jade gasped and Finn looked at her. Swiftly, before she could react, he picked up Diesel by the scruff of his black neck. The cat was so surprised he dropped the mouse and it scurried away across the yard.
Diesel yowled in disgust and Jade burst out laughing. ‘You’ve just made an enemy for life. You realise that?’
‘By the look on your face, I figured that mouse must be one of the residents,’ Finn said, still holding the struggling Diesel in his arms.
‘Not that I know of. But I’m glad you stopped him. Diesel’s a cold-hearted monster. He’s always murdering things and I’d rather he did it out of my sight. This is an animal sanctuary, after all.’
As she spoke, Diesel gave another frantic wriggle, scratched Finn’s hand and leapt to freedom.
Finn looked so affronted that Jade started to laugh again. Then she remembered she was trying to get him to work for her and said solicitously, ‘He hasn’t hurt you, has he?’
‘It’ll heal.’ Finn glanced at her. Then his grey eyes warmed. It was in that moment that Jade knew it was going to be all right. He was going to take the job.
Twenty minutes later, she was proved right when he agreed to do a week’s trial – to see if it suited them both – starting the following Saturday.
Jade had to restrain herself from jumping up and down in excitement as he drove away. At least until he was out of sight anyway. Fortunately, the blast of her mobile diverted her. It was Aiden.
‘Hi, Jade. My Uncle Seth just got back to me about the test for Ashley. We can arrange it no problem, but it’ll take some time to get the results. In the meantime, he’s suggested moving Rosanna to another stables while she’s in season.’
‘I’m not sure I can afford to put her at livery, Aiden.’
‘No need. Uncle Seth’s got links with another animal sanctuary in the New Forest. They’re called Puddleduck Pets and the owner, Maggie Crowther, is happy to take her. Apparently she has a lone mare at the moment who’d enjoy the company.’
‘Really? That’s wonderful.’
‘Isn’t it? I think the duck connection helped. Apparently when Seth spoke to her she said, and I quote, “If we were towns, we’d be twinned with each other, wouldn’t we? How could I possibly refuse a request from a spiritual twin?”’
‘That’s amazing. Thank you so much. Did they say when they could take her?’
‘Today if that’s convenient for you. I can give you a hand this afternoon if you like? I’ll be finished by lunchtime. And I know where the place is.’
‘Aiden, thank you. That would be brilliant.’
‘About two thirty?’
‘Perfect.’
Aiden disconnected, and Jade walked back to reception with a smile on her face. Underneath that slightly awkward exterior, there was no doubt that Aiden had a very good heart.