Chapter 19
‘So, what do you think would grow better in here then, Daisy?’ Dad asked me late that evening as our meandering tour of the garden finally came towards its end.
He had been delighted with what I had achieved in the walled garden and was now showing me some other beds, which had been created beyond it but not with the same success. It wasn’t only lack of attention the plants were struggling with. They’d been planted in the wrong place and Dad must have realised that, but I was flattered he wanted my opinion.
‘Given the aspect,’ I said, turning around to work out when the beds most likely caught the sun, ‘I don’t think this is a bright enough spot for flowers to properly flourish. It might be more successful if it’s given over to foliage. It’s a pretty shady spot and there’s plenty that would thrive here that I could then make use of in the bunches and bouquets.’
Dad rubbed his chin and nodded.
‘I think that might be the ideal solution,’ he said and I felt thrilled.
It was wonderful to be working with him, rather than against him. We’d always got along well when I helped out during the school holidays; it had only been when I said I wanted the partnership to continue full-time after I had sat my exams that our relationship had changed, and not for the better.
‘ Alchemilla mollis would be well suited here and maybe even some eucalyptus.’ Dad gave me a look. ‘As a cut and come again,’ I said, grinning, knowing it would need brisk cropping to keep it in check. ‘I won’t let it run rampant.’
Dad chuckled at that.
‘You still know your stuff, don’t you?’
‘I think so.’ I smiled, feeling pleased about everything I had been able to remember.
I had messaged Josh to say something had come up, something wonderful, and that I wasn’t going to be heading back to Wynmouth that evening or the next day either. We’d pencilled in plans to spend the night and day together as I was a free agent on the work front, but obviously that had changed now. Josh had immediately messaged back, excitedly asking what the something wonderful was, but I had been adamant that I would tell him in person and I had just the occasion in mind to do it too.
It was after Josh and I had finished messaging and I was scrolling through Instagram while waiting for Dad to change into his work gear ahead of our tour, that I realised my love of gardening and my passion for beautiful blooms had never left me or even waned.
I might not have had a hands-on relationship with horticulture since leaving Wynbrook, but my knowledge remained and my Insta feed was full of nature, flowers, florists, allotments and before-and-after garden makeover projects. Those images, reels and accounts had been my go-to and a much-loved soul soother during the years I hadn’t been getting my hands in the soil.
It was telling that my passion for plants had never left me and in turn, my acknowledgement of that made me wonder what it had been that Dad had wanted to pursue when he finished school and if he still had an interest in it.
‘Here you go then, Daisy,’ he said, once he’d locked the potting shed and as he handed me a bunch of keys. ‘You’d better have your own set. Once you’re opening the garden up to the public, we’ll need to keep all the sheds locked when we’re not in them.’
I clasped the bunch tightly and felt like he’d given me the keys to his castle. I was excited, but I felt the weight of responsibility too. The garden had never been accessible to the public in the way that Algy’s venture now opened it up and I was mindful of that.
‘I’m honoured.’ I grinned as my excitement outstripped any apprehension.
‘That you are,’ Dad said, smiling back. ‘Not even Algy has a complete set.’
‘Has he not?’ I laughed.
‘No chance,’ said Dad. ‘I’m not having him causing chaos where I’ve established order. He has a habit of not putting things back where they should be.’
‘Does he still garden then?’
‘Not often,’ Dad told me. ‘And not at all since his accident.’
I hoped I would be able to rectify that with some gentle encouragement. As long as I returned the tools Algy used to their allotted hooks and shelves, all would be well.
‘In that case, I might see if I can tempt him to help me in the flower garden once I’ve got the proper measure of it,’ I ventured, feeling immensely overjoyed that the ghosts of the arguments of the past had now been thoroughly exorcised and I could wholeheartedly embrace the beautiful walled space again. ‘Given that it was his idea in the first place, he should have the chance to play a part in it, shouldn’t he?’
‘He should,’ Dad agreed, ‘but rather you than me. You’ll have to supervise him very closely.’
‘Oh, I intend to,’ I said earnestly. ‘You don’t happen to know why he was so keen to set the venture up, do you?’
Dad shrugged.
‘I think he just took a liking to the idea,’ he said. ‘He most likely saw some diversification scheme on TV and decided to try and apply it here. You know what he’s like when he takes a fancy to something. Come hell or high water, it has to happen.’
I had a feeling there was more to it than that and would be giving it further consideration as I got to grips with the job and the finer details of what it was going to entail in order to get it fully up and running.
‘While we’re on the subject, what was it that took your fancy all those years ago, Dad? What did you want to leave Wynbrook to do when all of your friends were spreading their wings?’
He took a moment before answering.
‘I don’t want you thinking I’ve always been unhappy here, Daisy,’ he said firmly. ‘Things changed once I met your mum and I settled into the job. I’m as melded to this place now as Algernon Alford himself.’
‘I know that, Dad,’ I said soothingly, ‘but it wasn’t your first post-school choice, was it? If you could turn the clock back, still meet Mum, but make your own career decisions free of what your dad made you do, what’s the path you would have taken?’
Dad had winced when I had mentioned his father and his actions, and I knew he was comparing how he had reacted to what I had wanted for myself when I was in my teens with what his dad had thrust upon him.
‘What would you have done, Dad?’ I asked again, before he started brooding and became distracted from the wonderfully bonding walk we were currently enjoying.
‘Well,’ he said slowly, as he thrust his hands in his overall pockets, ‘I don’t know how my path would have panned out of course, but I would have liked to have started walking it by studying history.’
‘History?’
I never would have guessed that.
‘Yes, it was my favourite subject at school and I always had a hankering to study more. I would have loved to go to university and then on to who knows where…’
As his words trailed off, I began to formulate a plan. If I could find a way to do it, I might not be the only person embracing what my heart had long desired this summer.
I was so excited, I barely slept a wink that night and Mum and Dad were up extra early too.
‘Are you likely to see Nick today, Dad?’ I asked, when I joined the pair of them for the fortifying breakfast Mum was cooking at the stove.
‘I doubt it,’ said Dad. ‘The fruit farm is getting busy, and he has to be in the vicinity of it all day at this time of year. Why? Do you need him to give us a hand in the summerhouse?’
I was interested to note that my moving day had become a family event now. Mum was itching to get the curtains and any other removable fabrics washed and Dad had offered to help manoeuvre any furniture I wanted shifting. The pair were playing to their strengths and I knew that by the end of the day, I would be feeling immensely grateful that they had been willing to get stuck in and see me settled.
‘No,’ I told Dad. ‘The opposite, actually. I haven’t told him or Penny about my change of abode or the new job yet and I’m hoping to keep it a surprise. I’ve invited them both here this evening and will walk them down to the summerhouse when they get here.’
‘Penny especially will be so excited,’ said Mum. ‘I’m sure she must be feeling guilty about you giving up your job in the pub to work in the café for just four days.’
‘I daresay you’re right,’ I agreed. ‘So, Mum’s the word, okay?’
‘I won’t say anything,’ said Dad.
‘Me neither,’ said Mum. ‘And I’ll tell Algy to keep it under his hat too.’
‘Thanks, Mum.’ I nodded. ‘I’d appreciate that. I was hoping to talk to him today, but I don’t think there’ll be time.’
In the early hours, I had started making notes covering how I thought it would be best to launch the cut-flower enterprise so late in the growing season. I was extremely excited about the prospect of creating an Insta account and thought that selling some sample bunches and arrangements of flowers at the fruit farm shop might encourage folk to come to the garden and buy more. I would have to talk to Dad about the public access aspect too. There might be areas he wanted to fence off. And what about the estate’s public liability insurance? Did that cover the garden?
There was so much to think about, but just for that day, my focus was on the summerhouse, making it comfortable and clean and feeling like home. That said, I did give plenty of attention to the huge plate of breakfast Mum was dishing up first.
‘I think that was your phone, Daisy,’ said Mum, giving it a nod as I got stuck into the crispy bacon and perfectly poached egg.
‘I’ll check it when I’ve finished eating,’ I said, knowing it would be Josh.
I had invited him to join Penny, Nick and me that evening and I’d been thrilled when he said yes. Penny was going to pick him up, as she lived literally just a few doors away from where he was staying and I was looking forward to finding out what Josh, as well as my friends, thought about my change in circumstances. I might even be able to tempt my summer delight to stay the night and, as a result, repay some of the hospitality he’d shown me during the last few weeks.
I hadn’t mentioned to Mum and Dad that I’d invited him because after the excitement of moving day the last thing I was going to want was a big meet the parents moment. I was pinning my hopes on sneaking Josh down to the summerhouse and putting that off for another day.
‘Well,’ said Dad, once we’d opened all of the summerhouse windows and doors and he had pushed a wheelbarrow full of curtains and cushion and chair covers up to the manor for Mum to work her magic on, ‘it could be a lot worse given the amount of time the place has been shut up, but I’d still like to know what that whiff is.’
‘Um,’ I said, looking about, but finding I was still none the wiser as to what the rather pungent smell might be, ‘me too. I was hoping it would have started to fade a bit now we’ve got the air flowing through.’
I had initially wondered if it might have been the fridge, but that had been left turned off and with the door slightly ajar so was fine. Whatever it was had certainly ramped up since Algy and I had briefly looked in before.
‘What’s this now?’ Dad frowned, looking along the path which he’d kindly and ruthlessly cut back so that the formerly encroaching nettles weren’t quite so deadly.
I looked outside and was surprised to find two men shuffling along the narrow path with what looked very much like a brand-new mattress between them.
‘Where do you want it?’ the one at the front gasped when he reached the summerhouse veranda.
‘Oh,’ I said, looking at Dad who shrugged. ‘I’m not sure…’
‘Please tell me you do want it,’ the man tutted. ‘It was a long way, carrying it from the van and Mr Alford said there’s one here that needs taking away too. Assuming we’ve got the right place, that is.’
‘It’s a moving in gift from Algy.’ Dad smiled. ‘The bedroom’s this way.’
The two men followed him inside and I looked up at the mezzanine, wondering how they were going to perform the tricky swap.
‘Looks like you’ve had company,’ said the other, slightly shorter, man who had been sent up the stairs to retrieve the old mattress. ‘Unless you’ve been sleeping on this…’
His face flushed red and I headed up the stairs.
‘No,’ I said, looking at the mucky state of the mattress. ‘No one’s been sleeping here and I hadn’t realised the bed was like this.’
‘I’m not sure we should take it, he said, scratching the back of his head. ‘I’m not sure we should put it in the van given the state it’s in.’
‘Have you been paid to?’ Dad asked gruffly.
‘Well, yes—’
‘In that case,’ I suggested with a nod to the new mattress, ‘wrap it in the plastic that’s covering that one before you load it up. Most of this mess will likely fall off as you carry it back through the garden anyway.’
They got the job done with much grumbling and there was more complaining when I insisted they waited to put the new mattress in place while I quickly washed, then vacuumed the frame and floor under the bed courtesy of the rechargeable hoover Mum had said I could have because it was the perfect size for the summerhouse.
‘Thanks for waiting,’ said Dad as they finally got ready to leave and he gave them each a note I couldn’t see the value of. ‘There was no point putting a new mattress on a mucky frame, was there?’
They were all smiles after that and had barely left before Algy arrived.
‘All set for tonight then,’ he said, grinning, as he looked up at the pristine new bed.
‘I am,’ I gushed. ‘Thank you so much, Algy. You’re very kind.’
‘I thought the other one might be past its best and probably a bit damp.’
‘Filthy is what it was,’ said Dad.
‘Filthy?’ Algy frowned.
‘Yes,’ I said, reaching for his hand as I suddenly realised something else I’d noticed about it, ‘and covered in black cat hair too.’
His eyes widened and he squeezed my fingers.
‘I think we might have found where your feline friend has been hanging out.’
‘Oh, yes,’ said Dad, ‘of course. I hadn’t joined the dots.’
There had been no sign of little Luna so far, but that was hardly surprising given the current toing and froing. However, the evidence on the grubby mattress was incontrovertible, even though neither Dad nor I had initially twigged. This was where she had been hiding. I wondered how long it would take for her to put in an appearance, assuming my moving in hadn’t scared her off completely.
‘That’s wonderful!’ beamed Algy, echoing my thoughts. ‘I wonder how long it’ll be before she turns up?’
‘I don’t think we’ll see her for a while,’ I told him, erring on the side of caution. ‘Not until the activity settles down around here anyway.’
‘Of course,’ he said, letting my hand go and putting a finger to his lips. ‘I’ll go and order a bed for her and a few bits so when she comes back, she’ll know she’s home.’
‘So, you’re going to be sharing the place with a cat then.’ Dad smiled ruefully as Algy tottered away.
‘Looks like it.’ I nodded. ‘Well, if she comes back, I will be.’
‘You might not want her to, given that she’s such a smelly specimen,’ Dad winked. ‘If that mattress was anything to go by, she’s going to need de-fleaing and a ruddy good grooming.’
‘Hmm, I wonder how she feels about baths…’
By the end of the afternoon, I was grubby, tired and hungry, but deliriously happy and looking forward to a scrub up, myself. The summerhouse had been thoroughly cleaned from top to bottom, including the washing of everything in the kitchen cupboards, and the bed was freshly made. The heat of the day might have had me ailing, but it had ensured the curtains and sofa and chair covers had dried quickly and the pretty floral fabrics were looking fresh, much brighter and smelling great as a result of Mum’s ministrations.
There was still work to do to add some finishing touches, but for the time being, and while I got the cut-flower business launched, the place was more than comfortable and cosily adequate. Dad had transferred my things from the cottage and with a few of my personal possessions dotted about, my clothes unpacked and a huge jug of flowers gracing the small dining table, I was already feeling very much at home.
As much as I loved the inside, I adored even more the brick-floored covered veranda that wrapped all of the way around the outside. There was room there for a small table and chairs and the rocking chairs, with their slightly squashed cushions, were back in situ along with a few containers of plants Dad had carried round from the greenhouse.
‘How’s that?’ he said, as he stood back to admire the effect.
‘Perfect,’ I said, giving him a hug. ‘The white agapanthus are huge this year and so bright. They look wonderful against the lush green backdrop of the foliage plants.’
‘Might be a worthwhile addition to your cut-flower planning,’ he commented, kissing the top of my head. ‘Hey now, what’s wrong with you?’
This was directed at Mum because she’d started to dab her eyes when she joined us on the veranda. Dad let go of me and went to her.
‘I’m just so happy,’ she sniffed, as he rubbed her back.
‘You look it,’ Dad teased and she batted him with her handkerchief.
‘I am,’ she insisted. ‘It’s a dream come true hearing the two of you talking about garden-related things.’
Dad looked at me and smiled and I knew Mum was right, it was a dream come true. I might have set it aside for a while, but I was very happy to be living it now.
‘I’ll tell you what else is a dream come true, shall I?’ laughed Dad, giving Mum a full kiss on the lips.
She looked taken aback by the show of affection, but delightfully so.
‘What?’ she sighed dreamily and I felt relieved that I was no longer living under their roof if a spark in their relationship had been rekindled as a result of my job news.
‘The fact that god awful smell didn’t turn out to be coming from the currently absent cat!’ he laughed.
‘Amen to that,’ I joined in. ‘We still haven’t smelt the cat, obviously, but I reckon those half-eaten mice she’d left in the little cupboard under the stairs were the real source.’
Mum made a gagging sound and I shoved away the memory of Dad carrying the poor decaying things out of the summerhouse on the end of a shovel, before I got to work with the Dettol.
‘Assuming the cat put them there,’ Dad said.
‘Anyway,’ I said, not wanting to talk about it anymore, ‘the smell has finally gone and if the cat does come back, then I’ll be checking she isn’t carrying anything before I let her in. Assuming she wants to come in.’
I truly hoped my presence in the summerhouse wasn’t going to put her off.
‘Good plan,’ Mum keenly agreed. ‘And now you’d better get cleaned up, Daisy, because Nick will soon be finished for the day and Penny will be on her way from Wynmouth.’
I quickly had a slice of cake, a cup of tea and a shower back at the cottage and had resigned myself to introducing Josh to Mum and Dad because I couldn’t think of a way I could sneak him around the outside of the cottage without either one of them spotting him.
I dithered on the cottage doorstep, waiting for Penny’s car to come into sight, hoping Josh wasn’t going to feel like he’d been ambushed, but in the end my fretting turned out to be unnecessary because he wasn’t in the passenger seat.
‘Hey Daisy!’ Penny grinned as she climbed out of the car and then reached back into it for a huge cool bag that was sitting where I’d expected Josh to be. ‘I hope you haven’t eaten because I’ve brought some substantial snacks.’
‘Hey yourself.’ I smiled, taking the bag from her. It weighed a ton. ‘I’ve had cake, but I could still do with properly filling up. Where’s Josh?’ I then whispered. ‘Have you stashed him in the boot?’
That would have been an extreme act of subterfuge!
‘He’s not coming, I’m afraid,’ Penny said and handed me a crumpled piece of paper. ‘I found this pinned to the cottage door when I went to collect him.’
Nick arrived at that moment and while the pair kissed a very long hello, I read what Josh had written.
Really sorry to bail .
George has been a bit under the weather and hasn’t felt able to rehearse until tonight. As we’re playing in the pub on Saturday – eek – I didn’t want to turn him down .
Maybe see you all tomorrow?
J x
I was disappointed that again he’d missed an opportunity to visit Wynbrook, especially as I had such exciting news, but I knew he was nervous about playing in the pub and having not had the chance to rehearse with George would have only compounded that feeling. So, under the circumstances, I was willing to let him off.
‘No Josh?’ Nick frowned, when he and Penny finally drew apart. ‘Don’t tell me your summer fling is already flung, Daisy?’
‘No,’ I tutted. ‘Josh just had a better offer tonight, but he’s going to be gutted he missed out because I have news.’
I wondered if he had tried to ring my mobile or sent a text before writing the note. I didn’t get much of a signal in the summerhouse and obviously there was no phone line or wi-fi connected. I’d have to go for a walk around the garden if I wanted to get in touch with him.
‘News?’ Nick frowned.
‘Oh,’ gasped Mum, sounding all aflutter and definitely looking all aglow as she appeared in the cottage doorway, ‘it’s you, Nick.’
Her eyes darted between my two friends.
‘I could have sworn I just saw you two…’
‘Kissing,’ I laughed, finishing her sentence for her. ‘You did, Mum. Penny and Nick are a couple now.’
‘Well, about time!’ she declared loudly. ‘Robin!’ she shouted back into the cottage. ‘Did you know about this?’
‘About what?’ Dad frowned as he came out to join us.
‘Penny and Nick are a couple now,’ Mum said happily.
‘Well, I never!’ Dad gasped. ‘Better late than never, I suppose.’
Penny shook her head.
‘Are we really the only ones in the whole of north Norfolk who didn’t know we were made for each other, Nick?’
‘Yes!’ Mum, Dad and I all said together and everyone laughed.
‘Right,’ I said, because I couldn’t wait a second longer. ‘Come on, you two.’
‘Where are we going?’ Penny asked, as I started to walk away from the cottage. ‘Do we really need to lug this lot with us?’
‘You’ll see,’ I told her. ‘And yes, we do. See you later,’ I winked at Mum and Dad, who beamed back.
Penny and I carried the cool bag between us and Nick carried a box clanking with bottles and with some punnets of very ripe soft fruit balanced on top.
‘The summerhouse,’ he commented as we drew nearer. ‘It’s locked, isn’t it?’
‘Not at the moment,’ I said, opening the door. ‘Come on in.’
‘Won’t Algy mind?’ Penny asked.
‘I doubt it,’ I said, flicking a switch that turned on the warm white strands of lights that ran around the underside of the veranda roof and the outside of all of the windows.
I had been looking forward to turning them on all day and, as the summerhouse was surrounded by trees and shrubs, the light level was already low enough for them to make the scene even more idyllic.
‘What’s going on?’ Nick frowned, looking about him as we put down the bag and box. ‘This looks like a completely different place.’
It smelt like a completely different place too, but I didn’t mention that.
‘Is Algy expecting visitors?’ Penny asked.
‘Only me!’ I burst out, unable to contain the revelation a moment longer. ‘He’s invited me to move in and he’s offered me a job!’
My friends looked flabbergasted and I felt so happy to have something so positive and exciting to share with them. It certainly made a change.
‘From tomorrow,’ I proudly announced, ‘I’m going to be managing and maintaining the cut-flower garden and living here while I do it!’
Penny and Nick whooped and cheered at my sudden good fortune and the celebration went on long into the evening. The only thing missing to make the night complete was Josh, but I tried not to mind too much and, when I finally waved my friends off and made my way up the stairs to my big, comfy new bed, I fell asleep contented, knowing my life had finally turned a very happy corner.