Chapter 25
As seemed to be my habit since moving into the summerhouse, I woke almost as soon as it was light the next morning and in spite of the fact that I hadn’t had much sleep. Josh’s inspection of the paintwork had lasted hours and been hugely satisfying.
‘Good morning,’ he said and smiled as I stretched out next to him in the bed.
‘Good morning.’ I smiled back as I turned to face him and pushed my messy hair out of my face. ‘What time is it?’
‘Still early,’ he sighed, moving closer and kissing me. ‘You’ve got hours before you need to open the garden.’
I pretended to pout.
‘Don’t go thinking that because you’re now effectively my boss, you can bring work into every conversation,’ I said, kissing him back.
‘I wouldn’t dream of it,’ he laughed.
‘Though actually this is one job I don’t mind talking about all the time.’
What a novelty that was.
‘That’s further proof,’ Josh smiled, ‘not that I think you needed it, that you’re in exactly the right place.’
‘As are you,’ I sighed contentedly.
‘Do you mean in your bed or on the estate?’
‘Both,’ I giggled, pulling him on top of me. ‘You’re of value everywhere.’
A while later, we shared breakfast on the veranda, in the company of Luna, who seemed to be getting bolder by the day, and a thought occurred to me.
‘Josh…’
‘Um,’ he said, looking up from the book he was reading.
Is there anything sexier than a man reading? Especially when it’s one of your childhood favourites. It was my hardback copy of Anne of Green Gables that he’d chosen from the bookshelf and been immersed in.
‘I was just wondering where your mum featured in your father’s cruel plan to keep you and Algy apart?’
Josh put the book down on the table and sat back in the rocking chair. I noticed he’d neither cracked the spine nor turned down the page, which was another big tick in his box.
‘I honestly don’t know,’ he said, with a small shrug. ‘The letters Algy wrote were sent via Mum’s parents’ address, so I’m wondering if she had known something about them.’
‘That’s what I was thinking,’ I mused.
‘But I’m certain she would have passed them on to me if she had been aware of their significance,’ he said, frowning. ‘Because she’s absolutely nothing like Dad. He’s hard-nosed and materialistic, whereas she’s a much gentler soul. I think Dad only married her because of her family’s success and the helping hand my grandfather was willing to offer when Dad cut ties here. I’m certain that connection to the money is the only thing that’s ensured Dad’s never left Mum…’
‘Perhaps you should call her,’ I suggested, noting the conflict in Josh’s expression that the not knowing had prompted. ‘Or email.’
‘And say what?’ he sighed. ‘How do I even begin to broach what I unearthed in Dad’s office and as a result, where I am now? If it turns out that she had no prior knowledge of the letters, it’s going to be quite a shock.’
‘I agree,’ I grimaced, thinking it wasn’t a conversation I would want to have. It had the potential to change her entire opinion of the man she was married to. ‘But if your father discovers you’ve taken the letters and then accuses her of being involved…’
Thomas Alford struck me as the kind of man who wouldn’t think twice about throwing his weight around. He didn’t sound like a good match for Josh’s mum at all. I had a sudden vision of a woman who had never lived the life she had dreamed of. Rather she was someone who had bobbed along in her husband’s wake. I hoped the image was wrong.
‘You’re right,’ Josh said gloomily as he distractedly ran a hand through his hair. ‘I know you are. I’ll talk to Mum as soon as I can.’
‘And can I talk to my parents too?’ I asked. ‘They’re still,’ I chose my next words with care, ‘keen to protect Algy, but if they knew the reason why you hadn’t come straight here when you arrived in Wynmouth, I’m sure they’d… stand down.’
Josh gave a wry smile and I guessed the subtlety I’d aimed for hadn’t quite hit its mark.
‘I agree that they, and everyone else who still thinks I’m on the make, should at least know that I’m planning to stay and work alongside Algy.’ I winced at the way he’d described what the doubters were thinking, even though the definition was right. ‘But I think it should come from me, rather than you.’
‘If you’re sure?’
‘I am,’ he said with a nod, sounding resolute. ‘Let me talk to Algy and we’ll come up with a plan for where and when.’
‘Are you here to help?’ I asked Dad when he appeared in the walled garden later that morning, as a queue of bloom seekers was beginning to form.
‘I’m not actually,’ he said. ‘I’m here to issue an invitation.’
‘Ooh, you sound like Alan Rickman playing Colonel Brandon,’ gushed the woman at the front of the line as she fanned herself with her sunhat.
‘Who?’ Dad frowned.
‘Never mind,’ I laughed, knowing exactly the scene in Sense and Sensibility she was referring to.
While the woman and her friend discussed the merits of Alan Rickman versus David Morrissey in the role of Colonel Brandon on screen, I quickly carried on talking to Dad.
‘To lunch or dinner?’ I guessed.
‘Dinner,’ said Dad. ‘You won’t have time to stop for lunch today.’
‘I might if you stay and help me,’ I suggested, then a thought occurred. ‘Please don’t tell me Mum’s cooking a roast today – it’s sweltering.’
‘No,’ Dad said, with a wry smile. ‘She’s not.’
‘Thank goodness for that.’
‘Algy is.’
‘What?’ I squawked.
‘He and Josh are cooking a Sunday roast together. Algy reckons it’s high time his grandson was reacquainted with a proper Sunday dinner like he would have eaten here when he was little.’
I rather liked the thought of Josh and Algy cooking together, but not in the middle of a boiling August day.
‘I’ll have sweet peas in my posy, please,’ said the Austen fan, who had now exhausted the Colonel Brandon topic. ‘And some Alchemilla too.’
‘I better get on,’ I said to Dad. ‘Otherwise my dinner will turn into supper.’
‘And I will help,’ said Dad, who always had his secateurs somewhere about him. ‘Just until we’ve cleared this queue.’
I was exhausted by the end of the afternoon and especially relieved that Wynbrook Blooms was going to be closed for the next couple of days, because by the time I locked the garden gate, there was barely a flower left. Hopefully, between then and Wednesday, there would be enough coming through for me to crop again.
‘All right?’ said Dad, who had been inspecting the greenhouses and checking the watering system was correctly set up to cope with the extra hot weather.
‘Knackered,’ I declared, as I swigged down the last of the water from one of the bottles I’d filled earlier. ‘And ready for my dinner, even though I said earlier it would be too hot to eat it. Who else has been invited?’
‘Me and your mum, obviously,’ said Dad. ‘And Nick and Penny.’
‘A select gathering,’ I mused.
I realised then that the meal would doubtless be the moment that Algy and Josh told everyone else what Josh had told me.
‘You’re doing such a good job here, my love,’ Dad then thrilled me by saying as he looked around.
‘Do you really think so?’ I swallowed.
‘Yes,’ he said with feeling. ‘I really do.’
‘Thank you.’ I nodded, feeling choked. ‘I can’t tell you how much I’m loving it, Dad. I’d been looking for something to fulfil me for so long and I found it right on our doorstep.’
‘Where it had always been,’ said Dad, sounding upset. ‘I never should have blocked your way before, Daisy. I’m so sorry.’
‘All water under the bridge,’ I insisted, because it was time for us to move on. ‘All I’m interested in now is making this project a success.’
It was on the tip of my tongue to share the ideas I had come up with, but just like Josh had said about his, they needed further thought and running past Algy first.
‘I think it already is a success,’ said Dad, looking around again. ‘But I hope there’ll be more to offer your customers by Wednesday.’
‘Me too,’ I laughed.
‘I should have known you were destined to have your hands in the soil when I picked your name, shouldn’t I?’ Dad carried on contentedly, as he led the way towards the path that would take me back to the summerhouse and a cool shower.
‘You picked my name?’
‘I did,’ Dad chuckled. ‘A portent if ever there was one.’
‘A bit like yours,’ I laughed. ‘There’s always a Robin somewhere about the garden.’
‘That there is,’ Dad agreed, and I felt blessed to have our relationship so strongly repaired.
I didn’t think there was going to be the same outcome for Josh and his dad, especially after his father found out he’d discovered Algy’s correspondence and carried it back to Wynmouth. Which reminded me…
‘Crikey, Dad!’ I exclaimed, having checked the time on my phone, which I kept buttoned up in my shorts pocket, and realised how late it was. ‘We’d better stop dawdling and hurry up. Algy won’t be impressed if his dinner burns.’
‘And I won’t be either,’ said Dad, changing direction so he was heading towards the cottage. ‘I’m ruddy starving.’
‘No flowers,’ tutted Algy, when I turned up feeling fresh after my shower, but empty-handed.
He was looking dapper in a striped shirt and cravat and absolutely nothing like the wizened and grumpy old man who had faced me the day I arrived back at Wynbrook.
‘I’m afraid not,’ I laughed. ‘Though that’s actually a good thing because it means we’ve sold them all. Well, all of the ones in the cutting beds anyway.’
‘Oh, well done,’ Algy applauded.
‘I’m not entirely empty-handed though,’ I said, as I looked behind me.
Sitting on the path and laboriously washing her paws was Luna.
‘She followed me all the way from the summerhouse,’ I said happily.
‘Well now,’ Algy beamed. ‘Isn’t that wonderful? And look how much better her condition is already as a result of all the extra attention she’s been getting.’
She hadn’t got close enough yet to receive much from me, but what she’d had in general was clearly making a difference. We’d never got to the bottom of what had been taking the food Algy had been putting out for her, but whatever it was, it wasn’t stealing it from the summerhouse veranda and Luna was looking healthier as a result.
‘She’ll look even better after a slice of beef,’ said Josh, who walked out of the kitchen to join us, wearing a stained apron as he attempted to fan himself with a tea towel.
‘Hot in there, is it?’ I teased.
‘Hotter than the sun,’ he puffed, his cheeks glowing.
‘Which is why we’re eating outside,’ said Algy. ‘Why don’t you go round, my dear?’
‘Is everyone else here already?’ I asked.
‘They are,’ said Josh, looking a little nervous. ‘Though not everyone is outside. Your mum’s currently holding court in the kitchen and checking the veg.’
No wonder he looked jittery!
‘I told her we didn’t need any help…’ Algy began, but he knew the sentence didn’t need finishing.
‘We’d better get back in there,’ said Josh, fanning himself again. I knew now his escalated temperature wasn’t only the result of the weather and the heat wafting off the Aga. ‘See you in a minute.’
It felt wonderfully cool round the back of the manor and I sank gratefully, but less than gracefully, into a chair.
‘You look nice,’ said Penny, her eyes sparkling. ‘That’s a pretty dress.’
‘Thanks,’ I said, sitting up straighter and smoothing the front of it down.
‘What’s the occasion?’ Nick teased.
‘Dinner at the manor,’ I said, in my poshest voice. ‘I thought I should make an effort and as my work gear was grubby, sweaty and rather stinky, I could hardly wear that, could I?’
‘Now, that’s fine talk for a mealtime,’ scolded Mum, who I hadn’t realised was behind me.
She was talking slightly differently too and I wondered if she was going to go full-on Hyacinth Bucket for Josh’s benefit. The grin Penny and Nick then gave me suggested they were also weighing up that possibility.
‘Would you do the honours please, Nick?’ Algy asked as he joined us and indicated an ice bath, rather than ice bucket, where a few bottles of champagne were currently reclining. ‘A little fizz will, I think, help lubricate proceedings.’
He’d obviously noticed Mum’s modified tone as well.
‘Especially on an empty stomach,’ I mischievously added.
‘Don’t worry,’ said Josh, who was now dithering on the granite paving and looking nervous, ‘I’m about to start plating up.’
‘I’ll help,’ said Mum.
‘No need,’ Penny jumped in, in a way that was ferociously firm for her. ‘You sit down, Janet. I can help Josh.’
Josh looked as if he could have kissed her for coming to his rescue and within minutes, we were all tucking into succulent slices of beef, seasonal veg, crispy roast potatoes, lashing of flavoursome gravy and absolutely enormous Yorkshire puddings.
‘These Yorkshires are miraculous,’ Mum declared and I noticed her champagne flute had been drained a second time.
‘They’re Josh’s doing,’ Algy said with a hint of pride.
‘Under your instruction, Algy.’ Josh blushed. ‘I’ve never had these back in the States.’
I wondered if he was ever going to call Algy ‘Grandad’, but I supposed it was still early days for the pair of them.
‘Well, they’re perfect,’ said Dad. ‘Best I’ve had in a long time.’
‘Because Mum hasn’t made any in a long time,’ I said quickly, making sure I freed him from the hook he’d just swallowed.
‘Beginner’s luck,’ Josh said modestly, but I could tell he was pleased the dinner had turned out so well. ‘I haven’t had a roast like this since I lived in the UK when I was little and I wish I could remember them from back then. This food alone is worth me staying on for.’
‘So,’ said Mum, suddenly completely sober, ‘you are thinking of staying on then?’
‘Let’s clear these plates,’ suggested Algy, ‘and then we can have a little chat before we fill ourselves up even more with pudding.’
By the time the two men had between them first explained about the letters and cards Algy had sent but Josh had never received and then stated in no uncertain terms that Wynbrook Manor and the estate would be left to Josh, who very definitely did want to run it and intended to keep it in the Alford family, there wasn’t a dry eye around the table.
‘Your wretched father,’ Mum said, her posh accent thankfully abandoned, as she leant over and sympathetically patted Josh’s arm, ‘has a lot to answer for.’
‘Indeed, he does,’ Algy readily agreed, ‘but there’s nothing to be gained by wasting further time in fretting about him, is there?’
‘Hear, hear,’ said Dad, raising his glass.
We all did the same.
‘To the future,’ said Josh.
‘To the future!’ everyone toasted in unison.
Algy looked at me and winked, and I knew that he definitely wasn’t going to mention that he had been thinking about selling the estate. I was pleased about that.
‘I do have a feeling there are going to be some changes happening round here in the future,’ he did then say to everyone. ‘These young people are going to keep us all on our toes, but the essence of Wynbrook and the things that really matter will be further enhanced, not lost.’
Given what I had in mind for Wynbrook Blooms and indeed, myself, I could heartily agree with that and the look on Josh’s face told me that whatever his idea was, was going to be exciting too.
‘And are we going to hear about those changes tonight?’ Dad asked.
Algy shook his head.
‘I think we’ve had enough excitement for one evening, don’t you?’ he laughed. ‘And besides, I haven’t even been apprised of them myself yet.’
‘I promise my idea is nothing any of you will object to,’ Josh was quick to clarify.
‘And mine isn’t either,’ I added and reached for Josh’s hand.
‘Quite the double act, aren’t they?’ Penny giggled, then hiccupped.
‘Indeed, they are.’ Mum nodded, raising her glass to us both and I knew without a doubt that the ghost of Laurence, that had still occasionally been shadowing me since my return, was finally laid to rest.
Next there was pudding to celebrate with – shop-bought meringues with Wynbrook berries and cream – then dancing and a lot more champagne.
As I looked at Algy twirling Mum, Penny and Nick smooching with not a millimetre between them, Luna curled up on the chair Algy had been sitting on and Dad deep in conversation with Josh, I let out a breath and thanked my lucky stars. This, at last, was what I had been waiting for. This was my best summer ever and there couldn’t possibly be anything left to happen that could ruin that now, could there?