Chapter 9
9
Finn drove back to the cottage, deep in thought. It wasn’t like him to make impulsive decisions where women were concerned. Not since things had gone so badly wrong with Shona, the last woman he’d been involved with. That impulse had cost him dearly.
Shona had been his best friend’s wife. Make that former best friend. Andy was great except when he drank, after which he had a complete personality change. Unfortunately, he’d drunk more and more the last few years.
Shona had thrown him out when he’d got handy with his fists once too often. In Finn’s opinion, once was too often, but Shona had put up with a lot until the day had come when she’d decided enough was enough.
After Andy had gone, Finn, who’d once been close friends with them both, but had now vowed to have nothing more to do with his former best friend, had tried to support her. In the beginning he’d just been a shoulder to cry on. But his feelings had grown deeper and when it seemed that Andy was completely out of the picture, things had developed between them and they’d become a couple. But then just six months later, Andy had reappeared, begging Shona to take him back and promising that he’d joined AA and was a reformed character.
Finn had doubted very much that he was. Andy had made plenty of promises before that he’d swiftly broken again, but Shona had believed him and so Finn had stepped back with a very heavy heart. He knew he’d always be concerned about her welfare. Shona was a beautiful person, inside and out, and Finn had loved her unconditionally, but he knew it was her decision, not his. He still worried about her welfare, but at least Ray had promised to keep a discreet eye on things.
Ray would let him know if Shona needed him. That would have to be good enough for now.
Finn frowned, snapping his thoughts back to the present. Charging in without thinking about the consequences always led to trouble. Was that what he was doing now?
By the time he’d got back to the cottage, he’d convinced himself he wasn’t. Taking the job was sensible. It meant he could stay here longer than he’d planned and maybe give the painting a real go, too. Besides, he was hardly overloaded with options. If a job fell into his lap, he’d be a fool not to take it. It was only a temporary position; Jade had made that clear.
It would be interesting living in her house and although she hadn’t offered him much money, free lodgings were a bonus. Finn had never needed much money.
He wandered around the empty rooms of his grandparents’ cottage. Two or three more trips to the charity shop and one more trip to the tip should do it. The contracts had been exchanged and the completion date was next Friday.
He’d agreed to start at Duck Pond Rescue the following Saturday, so he’d have a full week to finish the last bits of clearing up at the cottage and to paint. He had a feeling he wouldn’t have an awful lot of spare time once he’d started working for Jade. He glanced at the faded oblong squares on the walls where the paintings had once hung and remembered he’d promised to show Mike his work. Deciding he might as well have lunch at the Red Lion, he packed the canvases into the car.
‘Bit of a result that, eh, Finn?’ Mike grinned at him across the bar. ‘Bet you didn’t expect to find a job and a place to live so soon – eh?’
‘Thanks very much for the introduction.’
‘She’s a sweetie, Jade Foster. She’s had a tough time of it lately. She lost her mother last year. Think it did something to her, that. She was all set on some high-flying veterinary career in Bristol.’
He paused, a frown crinkling his forehead. ‘She grew up round here, but she wasn’t like the rest of the kids. She left as soon as she got the chance. Must have been difficult coming back and I must say I was surprised when she set up that animal rescue place. I’ve heard a few mutterings lately that the place is going to rack and ruin, becoming an eyesore. But that’ll change now you’re here. Mind you, you’ll have your work cut out.’
‘Reckon I will.’ Finn sipped the half pint of Guinness Mike had put in front of him.
‘So what’s Aiden like? Are they…?’
‘Good lord, no.’ Mike guffawed and slapped a hand down on the bar. ‘That’s not to say Aiden wouldn’t like them to be.’ He rested his elbows on the bar and lowered his voice with the air of one sharing a confidence. ‘For someone who has his hands up cow’s whatsits half his life, he’s bloody uptight. He was married once, but she left him for the best man a week after the wedding. Poor fellow’s never got over it.’
‘Right,’ Finn said, feeling a little sorry for Aiden and deciding to be very careful what he said to Mike in future.
‘Jade’s attractive, though, isn’t she?’ Mike probed, his eyes glinting at the prospect of gossip.
‘She’s not my type,’ Finn lied smoothly. ‘Besides, I don’t believe in mixing business with pleasure. Always ends in tears.’
Finn was just leaving the pub when Mike called after him. ‘Hold on a tick. Weren’t you going to show me some paintings?’
He hesitated. Last night, fortified with Guinness, it had seemed a good idea, but now, in the cold light of day, he felt a bit vulnerable. He’d never shown his work to a stranger before.
‘I’ll come and have a quick shufty,’ Mike continued. ‘You’re not rushing off, are you?’
He couldn’t refuse without seeming rude. What was the worst that could happen? Mike could say they were no good, which would only confirm his own suspicions. Painting was an odd thing, Finn mused. When he’d just finished a canvas, he was usually pleased with it. Still caught up in the fire of creation. It was only later, when he’d had time to study it and see all the imperfections, that the self-doubt would creep in.
A few moments later, they were standing in the car park beneath a sky that looked heavy with rain. Hoping it would hold off, Finn hauled the two biggest canvases off the back seat and propped them up against the tyres of the Toyota. One of them was of Stonehenge, the stones dark and brooding against a winter sky, and the other was of Bournemouth beach, which Finn had visited often with his grandparents. In the foreground, a small girl was building a sandcastle with a red plastic spade. The wind swept back her hair so you could see the intense concentration on her face. Behind her, the sea was a moody grey.
Mike studied the paintings without speaking and Finn could feel his stomach turning over. He wiped his hands on his jeans and felt sick. He’d just taken a few steps away from the car, deciding he could stand the suspense no longer, when Mike said, ‘They’re bloody brilliant, these are. Give us a hand to cart them inside and I’ll find a place to put them up later.’
‘Do you think they might sell, then?’ Finn asked cautiously.
‘Don’t know about that – depends on how flush the tourists are. But it’s worth a try.’
Finn nodded, feeling deflated.
‘Twenty-five per cent commission if they do,’ Mike said as they walked back towards the pub with the canvases.
‘All right.’ They shook hands on the deal and Finn went back to the cottage.
The winds of change were blowing. He wasn’t sure whether he was excited about this new direction his life was taking or nervous. He guessed he’d find out soon enough.
Puddleduck Pets was impressive, Jade thought as Aiden drove the horsebox into the middle of a spotless yard later that afternoon.
They’d driven past some sort of posh estate next door, with a life-size bronze of a stag high up on an archway over the entrance, and a gatehouse. Puddleduck Pets itself was a patchwork of neat fields leading down to the road and a gorgeous farmhouse. There was even a vet in situ called Puddleduck Vets. Wow, what a great idea to have a vet on site.
Aiden pulled up carefully and turned off the engine. Jade gathered up the bags she’d brought with them, but before she could jump down from the cab, Aiden had run round to open the door.
She thanked him but he was already going across to two women who’d been watching their arrival. As she got there, she heard him say, ‘Hi, which one of you young ladies would be Maggie?’
It was the older woman, Jade saw as she caught up with him.
‘I’m Jade from Duck Pond Rescue, and this is Aiden. I’m so grateful to you.’ She looked straight at Maggie, who was a lot older than her companion. She must have been in her seventies, but she had a vibrant energy about her. The younger woman, who’d introduced herself as Phoebe, looked as though she might be related. They had the same hazel eyes and lovely auras.
‘This is such a massive help,’ Jade said, gathering herself. ‘I’ve brought over a bag of Rosanna’s food and there’s some hay in the horsebox, and there are also some other things in this bag.’ She held it out. ‘Chocolate cookies from the farm shop near us, and a bottle of wine. They’re for you, not Rosanna. A little thank you. I hope that’s OK?’
They were both smiling. Jade felt herself relax, which was rare around people she didn’t know. Or any people, come to that, she sometimes thought. She’d always been much happier in the company of animals.
They chatted for a while about Seth’s connection with Aiden and the joys and difficulties of taking in animals no one else wanted.
But Jade was relieved when they could finish doing the social bits and got down to the business of unboxing Rosanna.
As she watched the bay mare look happily around at her new temporary home, she felt Maggie’s eyes on her.
‘We’ll take good care of her, don’t worry. ’
On her other side, Aiden touched her arm. ‘She’ll be fine, Jade.’
‘Thank you,’ Jade told them both, wishing she didn’t feel so emotional. It was weird how much goodbyes affected her. Even ones that were just temporary. Maybe because there had been so many of them lately. She swallowed hard. OK, so maybe Sarah had a point about her hiding away from the world at Duck Pond Rescue along with a bunch of animals that gave you nothing but unconditional love.