Chapter Sixteen #2
Outside, the air was fresh and damp. It smelt of recent rainfall on soil mixed with the nostalgic scent of burning wood from the multiple crackling log fires inside the house. It was reassuring and reminded me of home and my parents’ garden, albeit theirs was one hundredth of the size of this one.
I wandered down beyond the patio area, across the grass and onto a little gravel pathway that led into a small, classic walled cottage garden.
We had been so busy over the last few weeks, I hadn’t yet had a chance to properly explore and appreciate the grounds, only glimpsing the garden from various windows and doorways rather than walking in it.
Although not as lush and colourful as it would look during summer, it was a really pretty, quintessentially English garden, with blossoms starting to appear on sculpted bushes in the shape of orbs, carefully pruned rose bushes, and snow-white blossoms on fruit trees heralding the start of spring.
Along the side were two covered raised beds showing signs of heads of lettuce growing under a poly tunnel.
It looked like someone was taking loving care of this part of the garden, and I wondered if that responsibility fell to Philippa as well.
I kept walking and even though it was dark I could see enough, thanks to a single row of dimly lit festoon lights hanging overhead, swaying gently in the breeze, and a pretty line of snowdrops on the edge of the central path.
I thought about how I should have grabbed a coat or scarf as I left the house and rubbed the top of my arms.
I paused and let nature envelop me, a quiet welcome break from the constant chatter inside.
In the distance I could still hear the muffled sound of music and laughter, but it was peaceful out here.
At the far end of the walled garden was a small pond, where I spotted a gnome who had seen better days, and two stone toadstool-shaped stools by the side of him.
I perched on one, the cold sensation on my bottom making me sit up straight.
I turned to the gnome. ‘Hiya, mate, how’s it going? Needed a bit of space too?’ I gently brushed some moss from his face to reveal two rosy, red cheeks. ‘Yep, it’s a madhouse in there.’
The gnome in his bottle-green painted-on hat, decorated face, and moony perma-smile, despite being a little chipped and faded, seemed to agree with me. It reminded me of a gnome couple my grannie had in her front garden for years – the welcoming committee, she used to call them.
‘You’re wondering what you’re doing here too? Shall we make a break for it?’ I asked the gnome.
Then I lifted my face to the sky, noticing for the first time that the moon was large and full.
From a little way down the path, in the direction I had just come, I heard leaves crackling. I looked up sharply and could make out the dark shape of a person walking towards me.
I heard a squelchy sound followed by some words in Spanish. ‘ Mierda! Este lugar se va a la mierda !’ Some heavy breathing followed, and then, ‘ Hola, guapa .’
I knew who it was because I could see his white jacket – you couldn’t miss it – bobbing along the pathway like the gaudy cousin of the Michelin Man, at odds with the muted beauty of the garden.
When Jimi came into the lit area near me, for a moment we both took each other in. He seemed more startled. ‘ ?Que tal estás guapa? ’
I looked at him confused. ‘I’m sorry, I don’t speak Spanish. Unless you count hola and jamon .’
‘Both useful words. Sorry. After a few drinks, I’m back in Miami in my head. I thought you were with someone?’
‘Me? No, I came out to make a call.’ I held out my phone as proof.
‘It’s cold.’
‘It’s freezing. I thought you were DJing?’
I was a bit annoyed he was spoiling this moment of solitude for me. I’d come out here for some peace.
‘It’s hardly DJing when you have a playlist. Anyway, Mandy’s taken over – she loves a celebració. I needed a vape. Would you like some?’
‘I haven’t vaped since I was at uni,’ I said, kicking a little stone with my foot and watching it plop into the pond. ‘It’s still bad for your lungs.’
I stole a glance at the side of his face as he lifted the vape to his lips. He really did have the most symmetrical face, the kind that probably wouldn’t get chosen to front an ad campaign in 2025, because a casting director would say he was too classically perfect.
The walls gave us privacy from the main house, and also a bit of shelter from the cold whip of the wind. It felt intimate sharing this space together.
‘If you heard me talking, I was chatting to the gnome,’ I said, trying to make him feel comfortable. ‘I promise I’m not actually mad.’
‘Gnome?’
‘Him over there.’ I nodded towards the stone ornament.
‘Oh right – that’s a gnome. Was he getting told off by you too?’
‘Fortunately, gnomes can’t answer back, sorry to break it to you. Did you think I was telling you off?’
‘The vaping. I think I’m old enough to make my own decisions, Mom.’
I sound like his mum, this is not good.
‘Sorry. I’m just a bit fed up, I guess.’
‘Fed up, why?’
‘I constantly think I’m going to get fired,’ I replied.
‘Mandy isn’t the easiest client, we all know that. I tune out the nonsense now.’
‘I can’t lose this job.’
He made a sympathetic sound. ‘You won’t lose this job, trust me.’
‘You don’t know that.’
I watched smoke leave his lips and dissipate in the air. His lips looked like soft pillows.
I bet he’s a really good kisser. I bet he’s slept with so many beautiful women.
He offered the vape to me and this time I decided to take it. The soft fruity taste hit the back of my throat giving me an enjoyable buzz.
‘Do you know what’s just across that field?’
I shook my head. ‘Some sheep?’
‘There’s a gin distillery. I saw it on Google Maps. It’s walkable and they have a bar.’ He leant closer to me, close enough for me to feel his breath on my face. ‘It’s quick if you go cross-country.’ His eyes were shining.
My gaze drifted down to his coat.
I wish I wasn’t such a snob when it comes to clothes, but I can’t go into a local gin distillery with someone wearing a white puffa. Can I?
Then I looked at my feet. ‘I’m not sure these boots were made for fields.’
‘You’re right. It’s a stupid idea to go across a field in this weather.’ His face collapsed, and I felt bad for quashing his enthusiasm. I shivered.
‘Here, take my coat. You’re cold.’ He stood up and began peeling it off.
‘No honestly, it’s fine.’ It did look warm, but I had standards. ‘You kind of get used to it when you live here.’
Vicky would be cringing so hard she’d probably fall off the toadstool and pull me into the pond with her if she could see any of this.
‘Amber, please put it on,’ he said firmly. ‘You’re shivering.’
He draped the coat around my shoulders, it was warm from his body, and it felt nice.
He was sitting palpably close to me. Even his vape-y breath smelt good, and there was a whiff of aftershave on the coat.
I was distinctly aware of every small movement his body made.
I looked sideways at him, wondering what to say next.
‘That’s better. Thank you.’
He shrugged.
‘Do you meditate, Amber?’ Jimi asked, changing the subject.
‘Not really, I mean I have a few meditation apps on my phone. I just can’t seem to sit still for long enough,’ I answered. ‘Why, do you think I need to?’
‘You have an amazing, calming aura,’ he said. ‘I can feel it when I’m around you.’
Seriously, Vicky would now be in full-scale hysteria.
‘I don’t feel very calm at the moment,’ I replied. ‘In general.’
It was quite a shock that I could feel myself blushing.
‘Mandy looks amazing this evening, that dress is a winner. You handle her so well. You are the first to lead the charge and the last in the retreat.’
I looked at the side of his face. Jimi could say things in such a way that it was hard to know whether it was the profound statement of a genius, or just an unbelievably cheesy line he’d heard in a film.
I couldn’t work him out. But I erred towards the last option.
It was confusing, because there was also something endearing about his cheesiness.
‘Mandy’s not the easiest client,’ I said, deflecting the conversation. ‘But I’m enjoying it most of the time.’ I felt cautious about telling tales about my boss, especially as Jimi was related to her.
‘The moon’s big tonight,’ I commented, seizing the opportunity to change the conversation again.
We both looked upwards.
‘You’re brave, but also kind.’ He was looking at the side of my face.
To the right of the moon there was a cluster of stars, one was particularly bright.
‘And funny.’
I felt embarrassed he was complimenting me. I thought about Rob then, feeling guilty that it wasn’t him saying these words.
‘Anyway, much as I would love to drink some gin in the distillery, I’ll probably get paralytic if I do,’ I announced, thinking I’d better get back before anyone noticed we were both missing. ‘Which probably isn’t the best idea.’
‘Paralytic?’ He looked at me quizzically. ‘Are you stiff from the Pilates this morning?’
I chuckled. ‘It’s okay, I can move. It means very drunk.’
‘I’ll come with you,’ Jimi said, and we started walking back down the path, me feeling a little unsure about how it would look if we were seen coming out of this part of the garden together. I didn’t want to give anyone a reason to gossip.
Out of nowhere, I lost my footing on a raised tree root and fell to the ground. Quick as lightning, Jimi was there, putting his arm under mine and holding me up. What an idiot, Amber!
‘Are you okay?’ he asked gently, his expression concerned.
‘I’m fine.’ I shook my head. My palms had mud on them, so did my silver boots.
Jimi’s gaze dropped and I noticed the white puffa now had mud on it too. ‘I’m really sorry, I’ll get it drycleaned.’ I felt defeated.