7
Stefan
Stefan had been dreading the arrival of Sunday. Lindy was over the moon about having her first riding lesson, but he knew it meant seeing Florence again, and knowing she had been fired was going to make things awkward. He had tried to get her job back, but the owner of the newspaper was happy to leave things as they were.
There had been so much support for Stefan, and a lot of apologies. Many wanted him to feel welcome, so much so, he’d even been offered the position of judge at an upcoming farm animal show at the end of the month, which pleased his daughter more than him.
He’d driven slowly to the stables, got out of the car as sluggishly as possible, and took tiny steps all the way to the paddock, where Rhett stood, waving them over.
Lindy was way too excited about her new adventure, quickly hurrying off with Rhett before he had much of a chance to say hello.
He mooched over to lean on the fence of the enclosure, not sure where else to wait. ‘Guess I’ll just hang out with you, eh, mate?’
The dapple-grey horse seemed to growl at him before trotting off, and Stefan had to wonder if the horse knew about him having words with Florence.
‘Well, it wasn’t my fault,’ he told the beast, side-eyeing him from a distance.
He was about to feel relieved Florence wasn’t around, when he spotted her on a light-brown horse, heading his way. Just for a moment he couldn’t take his eyes off her, as she looked quite spectacular up so high, the early morning sunlight shimmering onto her ash-blonde ponytail curled around her shoulder. She stopped at the entrance to the stables and dismounted, and Stefan watched her watching him as she removed her riding hat.
Rhett came out, leading Sunray with Lindy in the saddle, and all thoughts of Florence disappeared.
‘Dad, look.’
Stefan was getting ready to take some pictures of her. ‘Is it okay?’ he asked Rhett, waggling his phone.
Rhett nodded. ‘Sure, snap away.’
Lindy beamed as Stefan took loads of photographs.
‘May I walk with you?’ he asked Rhett.
‘No, Dad,’ said Lindy, whilst Rhett was nodding. ‘I’m not a little kid.’
Rhett smiled at him. ‘As it’s Lindy’s first time, we’re only going on a short walk to the end of the field and back. I’m just going to teach her some basics.’
Lindy glanced over at Florence. ‘Are you coming too?’
Florence shook her head. ‘Not today. I’m going to put Woody in his stall, then I’ve got some of the B&B guests due for a lesson in about half hour.’
Rhett stroked Sunray’s nose. ‘We’ll all go out together soon enough.’
‘Bye, Dad,’ said Lindy, even though Rhett hadn’t led her away yet.
Stefan bit his lip as he laughed. ‘Yep, see you soon.’ He took some more pictures as she left.
‘There’s a conservatory around the back of the house if you’d like to have a coffee while you wait,’ said Florence, still standing by her horse. ‘There’s seating outside too.’
He could see she was trying to make amends so decided to hand out an olive branch as well. ‘Would you care to join me?’
Her face softened a touch more. ‘I can’t. I have to work in here.’ She gestured at the stables.
Without thinking, Stefan stepped forward. ‘I can help?’
And I said that why?
He pulled in his lips and smiled, trying for casual.
Florence stared at him for a moment, then said, ‘Follow me.’
He smiled at the horses hanging their heads over the stalls as he followed Florence to the other end of the stables. ‘You have quite a few horses.’
‘Rhett does. They’re all hers.’
He stood by Woody’s empty stall whilst Florence removed the saddle. ‘You don’t have one of your own?’
‘Can’t afford one.’ It was a casual remark, but they both stared awkwardly at each other for a second.
‘I’m sorry about your job, Florence,’ he said softly, meaning every word. ‘I told them it was a misunderstanding, but I’m afraid it made no difference.’
‘Oh, erm, thanks, but it’s okay.’ She handed him a brush and pointed at the horse. ‘Woody loves to be brushed. Just use long, sweeping strokes in the direction of hair growth.’
Unsure, but willing to give it a go, Stefan started to groom Woody, quickly finding the task quite therapeutic. ‘How long have you lived here?’ he asked, thinking small talk would go down well.
‘A year.’
He scanned the area. ‘What made you come here?’
‘I wanted a change, and Rhett was offering free bed and board for anyone willing to help with the horses for the summer.’ She waved a cloth around. ‘This wasn’t a B&B then.’
‘And you decided to stay?’
‘Yes. I’m going to get my own place soon.’ Her pretty blue eyes gazed his way, causing him to stop brushing the horse for a moment. ‘What about you?’
He wasn’t about to get into the truth with her. They weren’t exactly friends. Besides, he wanted to leave the past behind. ‘Wanted a change. Something quieter for Lindy.’
‘She’s a nice kid.’
‘She is.’
Florence smiled. ‘I think she’ll like growing up around here.’
He felt the same way. ‘Especially now she has horses in her life. She’s always loved them.’
‘Me too.’
‘Have you been riding long?’
‘Since I was a girl. I used to have horses back then.’
He was starting to get the feeling she was a riches to rags story, but he didn’t want to delve. Whatever she was, she seemed happy in her environment.
‘Come on,’ she said, putting Woody in his stall. ‘If we go outside now, you can take a video of Lindy heading back.’
That sounded like a great idea, so he went back over to the paddock and whipped out his phone, happy to see his daughter chatting away to Rhett as they approached.
‘Looks like it went well,’ said Florence. ‘Sure you don’t want a turn?’
Stefan chuckled. ‘I think I prefer my feet on the ground.’
‘Ooh, I reckon we’ll get you on a horse one day.’
They shared a smile, which quickly felt awkward, so he turned away first. It was as though there was unfinished business between them, even though they seemed to have sorted their issues.
Rhett helped Lindy out of the saddle. ‘Lindy was just telling me you’re looking for a childminder.’ She glanced at Florence, who stared blankly back. ‘Florence could do that job. She’s DBS checked, has a first-aid certificate from working here, is good with kids, and is looking for work.’
Stefan saw Florence’s jaw drop. He went to respond, but Lindy squealed as she lightly clapped.
‘Say yes, Florence. You can join in art class again,’ said Lindy.
‘Oh, I’m sure Florence isn’t looking for that kind of job.’ Stefan daren’t meet her eyes, or Rhett’s.
Rhett scoffed. ‘Job is a job, and Florence needs the work, and you need the childminder. Win-win situation, if you ask me.’
Florence’s eyes were narrowed, and her heart-shaped lips now pursed.
Rhett raised a palm. ‘I’m just saying it would suit you both for now, and it’ll save you both a bit of headache.’ She looked at Stefan. ‘All you have to do is find your online teacher now.’ She turned to Florence. ‘And you, well, it’s money towards your own place while you find a more permanent job. Basically, you’ll just be doing a bit of babysitting while Stefan finds a proper childminder. It takes the load off for you both for at least a few days, and it means Lindy won’t have to spend her days at the practice.’
Florence’s eyes slowly rolled his way. ‘What would I have to do?’
Before he could answer, Rhett told them she was taking Sunray into the stables with Lindy, so they could decide.
Stefan swallowed the dryness that had suddenly appeared. ‘Erm, well, the last minder would basically keep house while Lindy had her lessons. Sort lunch, sometimes dinner, depending on my schedule. I guess she was more than a childminder. A bit of a godsend, if I’m honest.’
‘And you would expect me to do that?’
He gave a small shrug. ‘I didn’t ask my previous minder to help around the house. She used to get bored, and that’s how it started. I upped her wages, of course.’
Florence raised one eyebrow, seeming interested.
‘You wouldn’t have to iron my shirts or anything.’ He added a warm smile. ‘If you are interested, it would be just to watch over Lindy while she studies. And feed her. Except on Thursdays, which is my day off, as the nurses hold clinic all day that day, so you won’t be needed then or weekends. And as Rhett just pointed out, it will be a temporary job.’
Florence twiddled with the tip of her ponytail, placing it into her mouth for a second. ‘I can do that.’ She cleared her throat and straightened her shoulders. ‘Just until you find someone more suitable for the role.’
‘Would you be able to start tomorrow? I’m interviewing a couple of teachers this afternoon, and hopefully I can get one to start soon.’
‘Sure. And don’t worry if the teacher can’t start straight away. I’m sure I can find things to do with Lindy in the meantime.’ She pointed at the paddock. ‘There’s always riding.’
‘Any other interests?’
She swiped one fingertip over another fingernail. ‘I also like being groomed.’ She grinned as he quirked an eyebrow. ‘I could take Lindy to the salon, and we can have our nails done.’
As much as he believed his daughter would love to have something glittery painted on her fingernails, it wasn’t quite the library or museum experience he had in mind.
She must have read his mind, because she quickly added, ‘Or we could go to the children’s book club at The Book Gallery in Pepper Lane. Did she tell you I mentioned it to her? I thought she might like the shop because it sells artwork upstairs.’
‘No, she didn’t tell me, but, yes, that is her kind of shop. Although, I’m not sure about book club. Perhaps give that a miss. Lindy prefers not to mix with other children.’ He took a silent breath, waiting to hear what she had to say about that snippet of information.
‘I could take her to the beach so she can find seashells to draw.’
Okay, so she’s just going to avoid my statement. Maybe I should be upfront about our situation if she’s going to take on this role .
Not knowing how to approach the subject, he simply nodded at the beach trip.
‘So, we’re doing this then?’ she asked quietly, stroking the dapple-grey horse in the paddock that had come over to nudge her arm resting on the fence.
Stefan scratched the side of his neck. ‘Are you sure?’
Florence smiled. ‘It won’t be for long, and we’ll be helping each other out, right?’
‘Right.’ He sighed, then smiled back. ‘I know we got off on the wrong foot, and I feel partly to blame for you getting fired, but I’m hoping we can move forward and—’
‘I’d like that.’
‘I really am sorry about everything.’
‘Me too, Stefan. None of it was your fault.’
It was strange how his name sounded so much nicer when said by her. He lifted his chin and put on his best cheery expression. ‘Right, let’s agree to make this our fresh start. No more awkwardness, no more apologies, just two people becoming friends.’
Florence gave a brief nod. ‘Agreed.’
‘Okay, well, on that note, would you be able to come to mine at half-eight tomorrow morning?’
‘Yes, I can do that.’
‘Great.’
Lindy seemed to appear from nowhere. ‘Why don’t you come home with us now. You can see my stories I told you about, then my dad will have more time to tell you all about the things I’m not allowed to do or eat.’
Stefan and Florence laughed.
‘I have lessons to teach,’ said Florence. ‘But I could come over later.’ She looked at Stefan. ‘If that’s okay?’
‘Yes. We’ll be having a Sunday roast about two, if you’re free then.’
‘Dad makes the best Yorkshire puddings.’
Stefan ruffled Lindy’s hair. ‘How about you say goodbye to Rhett, then we can go home and prep some more veg, now we have a dinner guest.’
‘Oh, please don’t put yourself out for me,’ said Florence, dipping her head to gaze up through her lashes.
Stefan smiled politely as Lindy ran off to see Rhett. ‘Would you like to have dinner with us? Don’t feel obligated, but Lindy is right, it would give us more time to talk about your role and go over Lindy’s to-do and what-not-to-do lists.’
‘Okay, thanks. That would be nice.’
Part of him didn’t want to turn and walk away, but he couldn’t stand there gawping at her like an idiot, so he gave a small wave and went off to fetch his daughter.