Chapter 30
‘Just one quick drink and then I’d better run home and feed Trixie before she begins yelling or ventures down here to find me.
’ Nicola spoke to Charlie over her shoulder as she pulled the heavy pub door open.
The carnival was over for another year and the task of dismantling the floats left for another day as people congregated in the street, buying food from the various pop-up stalls which lined the market square, while others enjoyed a drink or two at the local.
‘I can imagine she’d be the sort of cat to send out a search party.’
‘You have no idea.’ Nicola smiled as they stepped through the door.
‘Woohoo, and here’s to the two local heroes, Nicola and Charlie!’ Neil Parsons’ voice rose above the general hubbub and chatter of the pub as he walked towards them.
‘Hardly heroes. Anyone would have done the same.’ Charlie shook his hand as Neil pulled him towards him and slapped him on the back.
‘Oh, I wouldn’t have, not with my dodgy knee, at least.’ Neil turned his attention to Nicola. ‘Well done, Nic.’
‘Aw, it was nothing.’ She could feel her cheeks redden as she realised everyone was looking at them.
‘Go and order some drinks. On me.’ Neil nodded towards the bar.
‘Thank you,’ Nicola mumbled as they made their way towards the bar. She instantly relaxed as she spotted Laura and Jackson sitting at the end of the bar and, taking Charlie’s hand, they walked across to meet them.
‘Hey, you two. Congrats on being the local heroes.’ Jackson stood up and drew Charlie in for a hug, whilst Laura did the same to Nicola.
‘Haha, if that’s the reception someone gets when they help fix the chaos the runaway sheep has created, then I’d love to see what will happen when someone eventually catches up with her.’ Charlie pulled out a barstool for Nicola before sitting down himself.
‘Claudette did that?’ Jackson widened his eyes.
‘She seems to have taken a liking to the farm and broke into the barn Jill was storing the carnival stuff in.’ Charlie wiped his palm across his face. ‘I’m sounding like a real villager now, aren’t I? Attributing break-in skills to that damn sheep.’
‘Haha, to be fair, she does seem particularly clever, but, yes, you are, mate.’
‘Cheers.’ Charlie turned to the bartender as she slid a pint towards him.
‘Thank you.’ Taking the glass of wine she was handed, Nicola took a sip, unsure where this conversation was going but interested in hearing Charlie’s response.
‘So, have you thought any more about staying then? Taking on your uncle’s farm full-time? You must know it inside out by now, anyway.’ Jackson clinked glasses with Charlie and Nicola.
‘Er, no.’ Charlie shifted on the stool as he took a sip from his drink. ‘Village life is sweet and all, but not for me, I’m afraid.’
Nicola gripped her glass between her fingers as all the joy she’d felt from the events of the day quickly dissipated, leaving her feeling empty.
She should have known what his answer to Jackson’s question would have been but after he’d admitted he was warming to village life she’d stupidly got her hopes up that there might just be a miniscule chance he’d change his mind and stay on in Meadowfield. How could she have been so na?ve?
‘Oh, that’s a shame. Especially as the farmer’s uniform suits you so well.’ Jackson used his glass to indicate the checked flannel shirt Charlie was sporting.
‘Ha, yes, maybe I’ll take some back to the city with me, start a new fashion trend there.’ Charlie glanced down at his shirt.
‘Well, in all seriousness, I, for one, will be sad to see you go.’
‘Thanks, I’ll…’
As Jackson and Charlie’s conversation continued, Laura nudged Nicola and mouthed, ‘You okay?’
Nicola nodded, keeping one ear open to the conversation Jackson was having with Charlie.
There had been no big change of heart for him then, despite the fact he’d worked so hard to help the forest school carnival creation finish the possession in one piece – or mostly one piece anyway. ‘Yep, all good.’
Laura nodded slowly, seemingly being able to read her mind.
Nicola glanced across at Charlie, who was busy describing to Jackson the state they’d found the float in when they’d discovered Claudette had been up to her old tricks again.
Looking back at Laura, she tried to think of something to say – anything which didn’t involve Charlie moving back to London.
They’d had such a great day at the carnival.
She wasn’t ready to think about how she was going to feel when he left.
‘So, what with the Landownes’ wedding all over and now the carnival too, I wonder what will be next? ’
‘I think we can just enjoy a few weeks of relative normality at the inn.’ Laura smiled.
‘I’ll drink to that.’ Holding her drink up, Nicola clinked glasses with her.
‘I can’t believe how quickly this year has flown by so far. I suppose we have only been open a few months really, but it definitely feels longer!’
‘It does. Oh, I guess we need to start thinking about what we’ll do at Christmas soon.’
‘Haha, yes, I noticed just the other day that a couple of hotels in Stratford-upon-Avon have already opened their books for Christmas dinner and Christmas work parties.’ Laura shook her head.
‘Let’s enjoy the rest of the summer first, though.
Get through the craziness of the school holidays and then begin to make clear decisions when bookings have calmed down a little. ’
‘I like the sound of that.’ Nicola grinned before tuning into Charlie and Jackson’s conversation again, the words ‘estate agent’ sounding alarm bells in her head.
‘Yep, hoping for a first viewing of the farm by the end of the week, all being well. Miss Taunton has promised me she’s already been in contact with a prospective buyer who’s been looking for a similar property and farm in the area for a while now.
’ Charlie caught Nicola’s eye and reached out, placing his hand on the leg of her jeans.
‘That does sound promising, then.’ Jackson nodded.
‘It sure does.’
She had to get out of here. She had to get away from the conversation.
She could feel the future she was beginning to picture with Charlie disappearing in front of her.
Pulling her mobile from the back pocket of her jeans, Nicola placed her wine glass on the bar and holding her phone up, she nodded towards the door and mouthed, ‘Won’t be a minute. ’
Charlie frowned ever so slightly as he pushed her glass further onto the bar. ‘Everything okay?’
‘Yep, just need to take this.’ Forcing a smile, Nicola walked towards the door and pushed it open, grateful to fill her lungs with the fresh air outside.
She walked quickly through the tables in the courtyard towards the street beyond and, once she’d stepped out of the vicinity of the pub, she slowed her pace.
Tapping the screen of her mobile absent-mindedly, she slipped it back into her pocket.
There was no call. She’d just needed to get out, to save herself from listening to Charlie’s plans, to escape hearing the truth of the fact that, all being well, the farm would be sold in the near future.
The very near future. And Charlie would be gone from Meadowfield.
Perching on a bench at the side of the street, she watched as people walked past, laughing and chatting amongst themselves as they drank smoothies or picked at candyfloss purchased from the street stalls, children skipped by holding huge balloons – dinosaurs, ballerinas, dogs – while the local litter-picking team had jumped straight from their own carnival float to clear the streets of Meadowfield of abandoned paper cups, lollipop sticks and runaway balloons, filling their purple bin liners.
‘Hey, Nic, there you are. You okay?’
Turning, Nicola watched as Laura hurried towards her. ‘Phone call.’
‘Uh-huh, why’s it in your pocket then?’ Laura gave her a quick smile. ‘I’m not daft. I know that trick.’
Nicola turned back to watch the litter pickers, her voice low. ‘Was it that obvious? Did anyone else notice?’
Laura shook her head. ‘Not at all and the men are deep in conversation, anyway.’
‘Hmm, yes. About how desperate Charlie is to escape the quaint streets of Meadowfield.’
Laura lowered herself to the bench next to her. ‘It must be difficult hearing him talk about leaving.’
Nicola nodded. ‘I know I’ve got absolutely zero right to be so upset. I knew he was leaving. Right from before we began dating, I’d always known he was only here on a temporary basis, but…’
‘You’ve still got every right to feel as you do.’
‘No, I don’t. I knew exactly what I was getting myself into.
I knew it would end up being a long-distance thing if we lasted this long.
’ She shifted position on the wooden bench.
‘I don’t know. I guess I thought we’d have longer together.
Longer to get to know one another. Longer enough to know if this was serious or not. ’
‘And you’re not sure now?’
Nicola sighed. ‘Oh, I’m sure. I’ve fallen for the guy, hook, line and sinker, haven’t I?’
‘And him? Has he told you how he feels about you?’ Laura spoke quietly.
‘Kind of.’ Nicola thought back to that evening in her garden. ‘He’s told me he’s not felt like this about anyone else before and that he feels as though he’s falling for me, but what does that even mean?’
‘Just that.’ Laura smiled. ‘You must see the way he looks at you?’
‘Umm.’ Nicola shrugged. She had. She’d thought he felt the same way as she did, but then why was he so desperate to leave?
‘I…’ Biting down on her bottom lip, she paused.
She couldn’t admit the truth. She couldn’t admit that she’d got her hopes up, started to dream about a future which Charlie had never promised her.
She couldn’t admit any of it, not even to Laura.
‘Go on, you can tell me. I won’t repeat anything you say to me.’
‘Okay, but you’re going to think I’m being really stupid, selfish even.’ Nicola looked sidelong at her. She knew she could trust Laura not to say anything. She may not have known her long, but they spent so many hours together at work, she felt as though she knew her more than most people.
‘You, selfish? I don’t think you could be if you wanted to.’ Laura rubbed Nicola’s forearm. ‘Try me.’
‘Okay then.’ Taking a deep breath, Nicola began to talk, the words suddenly spilling out of her.
She’d kept how she was feeling close to her heart for what felt like a while now and now she was about to give her thoughts a voice.
Even if she wasn’t sure if she was doing the right thing.
‘I just thought that the more he got to know the village, the people in it, the community events we put on, such as the carnival, then he’d begin to see it in a different light.
That it would make him change his mind and want to stay. ’
‘Right, well, spending time here probably has given him a better insight into the village. He probably does like it more than he thought he would when he first came, but I suppose he’s already got a life back in London, a job that he can’t walk away from.’
Nicola wrung her hands in her lap and let slip what she was really thinking, what had been playing on her mind for the past few days. ‘I just thought he’d get to know me better and want to stay for me .’
‘Oh, Nic…’ Sliding across the bench towards her, Laura wrapped her arm around her friend and drew her closer.
‘I know, I know.’ Nicola used the edge of her T-shirt to swipe at the tears falling from her eyes. ‘I told you it was selfish. I told you I was selfish.’
‘Hey, you’re not selfish. Not one bit. That’s not a selfish thing to think at all. Everything’s just more complicated than that.’
Nicola took a shuddering breath. ‘It’s not, though, not really. He has a way of life here, a job, all set up for him. He just doesn’t feel as strongly as I do about him. That’s the reality, isn’t it?’
‘No, it’s not.’
‘Argh, I can’t believe I’ve just said that out loud.
I mean, why does he have to be the one who moves here?
Yes, he has the farm. He could just stay on at Little Mead, quit his job in London, sell his apartment, and he’d be sorted.
But I could do the same, couldn’t I? I could move to London.
I can get another job, another place to rent.
I’m just being selfish to even think it.
’ She slumped her back against the bench.
‘No, you’re not being selfish. Please don’t ever think that. You’re the least selfish person I know.’ Laura pulled a tissue from her pocket and passed it across to Nicola.
‘Thanks.’ Taking the tissue, she unfolded it and dabbed at her eyes. ‘I am selfish, though. Nathan would agree with me there. He turned up the other day asking – no, demanding, half the furniture in the cottage.’
Laura raised her eyebrow. ‘Oh yes, because he’s the one that cheated and ran off with your ex-best friend and you’re the selfish one.’
Nicola laughed, a small, tinny laugh. ‘Now, when you put it like that…’
‘Exactly. And as for Charlie, it’s normal to think like this. You want him close? You want to give the relationship you have with him the best chance possible. You’re just thinking of solutions, you’re not being selfish.’
‘Thanks.’ Straightening her back, Nicola folded the damp tissue. ‘You won’t say anything to him, will you?’
‘No, of course I won’t. You know you can trust me.’
‘I know.’ She turned to Laura and indicated her face. ‘Do I look like I’ve been crying?’
Taking the tissue from Nicola’s hand, Laura dabbed at a spot beneath her left eye before shaking her head. ‘You’re all good. Shall we head back inside?’
‘Yes, okay.’ Standing up, Nicola linked arms with Laura as they walked back inside. Maybe she should give some serious thought to moving to London with Charlie?