Chapter 23
‘Thank you for staying with us. I hope everything was to your satisfaction?’ Nicola took the key from Mr Jones’ hand.
‘It was perfect. Thank you. A lovely base to come back to after spending the day with our grandchildren.’ Mrs Jones smiled warmly.
‘Yes, we’ll be sure to return and to recommend Pennycress Inn to our family and friends, too.’ Mr Jones picked up the large suitcase by his feet.
‘That’s great to hear. Thank you. Have a safe journey home.’ Nicola watched as they left the inn before bending down and hanging their room key in the cupboard beneath the reception desk.
‘Was that the Joneses just leaving? Have I missed them?’ Laura came down the stairs carrying a huge washing basket filled with sheets and towels.
‘Yes, afraid so. Such a lovely couple, aren’t they?’ Nicola checked them out on the computer. ‘They’ve promised to stop again when they travel to see their grandkids next.’
‘Oh, that’s great. I’ll pop this lot into the machine and then go and clean their room.’ Laura looked across at the large clock fixed on the wall behind the reception desk. ‘I actually feel as though I’m organised for once.’
‘Haha, it does help when the guests leave early, doesn’t it?’
‘It does. It’s a good job too as Jackson moves in today, so if I can get this all done ahead of time, then I can spare a few hours to help him.’
‘Ooh yes. That’s exciting.’
‘It is. I can’t wait to be honest.’ Laura hugged the laundry basket towards her. ‘I feel as though we’ve been waiting forever for this. Although I know it’s not really, but I guess it’s just because we’ve known each other so long. He’s my brother’s best mate, so he’s been around forever.’
‘That’ll be great then when he’s all moved in.’ Nicola yawned.
‘Late night last night?’ Laura dropped the laundry basket by her feet and raised her eyebrows.
‘Haha, I went to see Charlie if that’s what you mean, yes, but we ended up spending the evening looking for a hen.’ Nicola stifled another yawn with the back of her hand.
‘A hen?’ Laura frowned.
‘Yes, just like I said. One of the hens from the farmyard just disappeared. Charlie had made me dinner, but just before we sat down to eat, he went out to make sure the hens had gone to bed for the night and to shut up the coop when he realised one was missing.’
‘Oh no, did you find her?’
‘Yes, but it took us about two hours of searching the barns, the yard and the closest fields. We’d all but given up and Charlie was convinced a fox must have got hold of her, and then on our way back to the farmyard to check on the others, we heard this clucking from beneath one of the trailers and there she was. ’
‘She was hiding?’ Laura widened her eyes. ‘I didn’t realise they were that clever. She just didn’t want to go to bed or something?’
‘I don’t think she was hiding. I think she must have been off somewhere looking for corn or whatever and then came back when we were out looking for her.
’ Nicola took a sip of the strong coffee she’d made herself when she’d first arrived at the inn earlier.
The coffee was cold, but the caffeine would still do its job.
Or she hoped it would. ‘They are clever, though. Apparently, they have the same intelligence as a toddler.’
‘Wow, seriously?’ Laura shuddered. ‘They always remind me of dinosaurs, the way they walk. And they’re not supposed to like red or something, are they?’
‘No, I remember one year when I was a teen, me and Jill visited the farm, and I was wearing flip-flops with my toes painted red.’ Nicola laughed at the memory of being chased around the farmyard by a group of hens trying to peck at her toes.
She hadn’t even laughed at the time – she’d been suitably terrified – but looking back, she could see the funny side of it.
‘Suffice to say, I’ve never worn red nail varnish again. ’
‘Oh, that’s brilliant!’ Laura threw her head back and laughed. ‘I’m so sorry, I probably shouldn’t laugh, but the image of you being chased by a hen…’
‘Laugh away. It’s a mistake I’ll never make again.’ Nicola grinned and nodded towards the front door as she spotted a group of children running up the path. ‘Are we expecting the forest school again today?’
‘Umm, not that I’m aware of. I know Jill is coming to garden in the evening because her husband is at work, so she’s got all the kids now the summer holidays have started but…
’ Laura’s voice trailed off as the front door was pushed open and children ran into the hallway, carrying an array of art supplies just as they had yesterday. ‘Hello. Back again today?’
‘Yes! Mummy said we needed to ask you if we can paint in the garden again. We can’t go to the hall as there’s lots and lots of people still there and we can’t go to the forest school because in the holidays they let a lot of tiny children in, and they wouldn’t let us paint.
’ Willow took a deep breath before continuing.
‘But we’ve had to bring Kasey as Mummy forgot to book him a place at the forest holiday school, so he’s with us, but we can’t let him ruin our paintings… ’
‘I’m guessing you’ve explained everything, Willow, sweetie?’ After ushering the ten or so children into the hallway, Jill shifted little Kasey on her hip and closed the front door firmly behind her.
‘Yes.’ Laura smiled. ‘You need to work in the garden again?’
‘If that’s okay? Please? I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I’m usually so organised, but this year, I just, I don’t know, I assumed we’d be able to use the classroom at the forest school, but they’ve taken on more children for the holidays this year and so it’s being used.’ Jill shrugged.
‘No worries. Come on through.’ Laura kicked the laundry basket behind the reception desk before leading the way.
‘I’ll bring out some juice. It’s going to be a warm one today.’ Nicola picked up the notebook and began to fan herself. She loved the summer, the long days, the warmth even, but already today it was too hot for her liking.
‘Yes, that’s a point, set up your workstations beneath the trees. In the shade,’ Jill called ahead as she hurried behind them.
‘We will, Mum!’ Willow shouted back, her voice echoing in the hallway.
‘Sorry to just drop all this on you again.’ Jill sighed as she followed behind, carrying armfuls of stuff, bags of paints and supplies, a sheet of plywood clamped between her arms and her side, as well as her small toddler.
‘No problem.’ Rushing around to the other side of the desk, Nicola took the bags from her. ‘Let me take those.’
‘Thank you.’ Jill smiled. ‘I don’t remember the carnival ever being so stressful.
The other groups are all working at the farms who are lending them the use of their trailers.
That way everything is in one place, and they can check measurements and how things will look, little things like that which make a huge difference. ’
‘Is that what you did at Little Mead last year, too?’ Nicola followed her through the kitchen towards the large patio doors looking out onto the decking and the garden below.
‘That’s right. I’m not complaining. I’m really grateful that Charlie changed his mind and is lending us them now.’ Jill frowned. ‘I don’t want you thinking I’m moaning about him. I’m not.’
‘Don’t worry. I know you’re not. He might not realise, remember.
He’s never worked on the farm before and he’s not visited his uncle in twenty-odd years.
He probably doesn’t realise that by giving you only a couple of days to assemble it all isn’t really long enough.
’ Using her elbow, Nicola pushed open the patio door before holding it open for Jill and the sheets of plywood. ‘I can talk to him, if you like?’
‘No, don’t. I don’t want him thinking we’re not grateful.’ Jill shook her head firmly. ‘Nope, we’ll cope. It’s only a few days until we can go up to the farm and start assembling it, anyway.’
‘Okay, if you’re sure.’ Nicola let the patio door close quietly behind them. She’d speak to him, anyway. She’d just let him know how things used to be and how the other clubs were working at the farms of their trailers.
‘Mummy, Mummy, Sebastian just painted my part of the squirrel. He’s drawn a pink bow on it.’ Willow raced towards Jill, almost knocking her and Kasey over.
‘Oh, don’t worry, sweetie. I’m sure your squirrel looks fantastic with the pink bow.
Let me set all this down and I’ll come and take a look.
’ After watching Willow run back to her painting partner, Jill turned to Nicola and muttered, ‘You’d never have guessed I asked them to keep it authentic, would you?
But what would I know? Just because I’ve never seen a squirrel wearing a bow, it doesn’t mean there’s not one out there somewhere. ’
Nicola laughed as she placed the bags on the picnic table. ‘I’m sure it will still look good.’
‘Yes, and there’s nothing wrong with a splash of creativity, is there?’ Jill grinned as she lowered Kasey to the ground, who immediately began running towards his big sister. ‘Don’t touch the squirrel, Kasey!’
‘Oops.’ Nicola grimaced as she watched Jill chase after her toddler, only just saving the plywood squirrel from certain destruction.
‘Hello?’ Charlie’s voice sounded from behind her.
Turning, Nicola felt a rush of warmth filter through her body as she watched Charlie step out of the inn and onto the decking, one hand above his eye shielding them from the sun. ‘Hey, Charlie. What are you doing here?’
Pausing at the top of the steps down to the garden, Charlie surveyed the scene below before joining her. ‘This looks fun.’
‘Fun and chaotic all mixed into one.’ Nicola grinned as they watched Jill race after Kasey again, this time narrowly saving him from knocking over a bottle of paint. ‘What can I do for you? I mean, it’s lovely to see you, but…’
‘I found this around the campfire this morning and I’m guessing it’s yours.’ He pulled a silver bracelet from his pocket, a tiny horseshoe charm hanging from it. ‘It’s beautiful and all, but not quite my colour.’
‘Haha.’ Holding her hand out, she let him clasp it around her wrist. ‘Thank you. I assumed I’d lost it around the house. My mum bought it for me when me and Nathan broke up. She said it would bring me good luck.’
He raised his eyebrows, a smile dancing on his lips. ‘Maybe it has.’
Looking up at him, she met his gaze. Did he mean him? ‘Yes, maybe it has.’
Jackson bounded down the decking stairs towards them, his cheeks a little flushed and his T-shirt dusty. ‘Hi. Oh wow! This looks fun!’
‘Hi, Jackson. Yes, Jill’s brought the forest school kids to work on their float again.’ Nicola looked around the garden. ‘I think… Ah, yes, Laura is over there painting hedgehogs by the looks of things.’
Jackson tilted his head, looking towards where Nicola had pointed. ‘Aren’t they rabbits?’
‘Umm… maybe.’ Nicola shook her head. Whatever they were, Laura looked as though she was having fun.
‘I’ll go over and see her.’ Jackson grinned. ‘I’ve just brought some bits across from next door and wanted to ask her where I should put them.’
‘Oh, yes, move-in day!’ Nicola smiled as she watched Laura noticing Jackson was here and holding up the plywood animal she and a group of children had been painting. It was a deer.
‘That’s right. I haven’t got much, but I still think it’ll take a while so wanted to make an early start.’ Jackson gave Laura the thumbs up.
‘I can give you a hand if you want, mate?’ Charlie nodded towards Jackson.
‘Oh really? That would be great, if you’ve got the time?’ Jackson slapped him on the back before heading towards Laura.
‘No problem.’ Charlie placed his hands on his hips and surveyed the garden. ‘I’ll let Jill know she can bring everything over to the farm and work from there from tomorrow.’
Turning, Nicola raised her eyebrows. ‘Really? Why the change of heart?’
‘You’ve got the wedding here and I can move at least one of the trailers into the big barn at the bottom of the farm. It’s empty in there and away from where we’re working.’ Charlie ran his fingers through his hair. ‘Besides, it’s not for long, is it?’
‘No, the carnival will be here before we know it.’ She grinned before cupping his cheeks with her hands and pulling him in for a kiss. ‘Thank you.’