Chapter 29
29
The Barnyard, Saltings Lane, St Aidan
No doubt?
Wednesday
‘I t must be hard living with a guy who looks like a Vogue model?’
It’s mid-afternoon when Clemmie and I push open the stable door of the first unit at the barnyard to find Plum already inside, and she’s a long way off-topic here.
She carries on. ‘I mean, it’s like David Gandy and Chris Hemsworth had a triplet brother. Not that that’s possible, but you get my drift.’
I may as well tell it like it is. ‘When I bolted down my lunchtime sandwich, it was so I could look at fabulous products, not so we could talk about Miles.’
Clemmie wrinkles her nose. ‘Plum was at mine ringing round the barnyard makers, and this question was in my head the whole time she was doing it, so I thought I’d get it out of the way.’
I can see there’s no getting out of this. ‘Textbook irresistible– is that a good way of putting it?’ I shrug. ‘He’s so far out of reach that it never crossed my mind to think of Miles as anything other than the guy who empties the bins on the days I don’t.’
Plum hitches up her dungarees and swishes her ponytail. ‘I’d say you’re seriously underrating yourself if you think that.’
I bring out my usual excuse. ‘I focus on my career rather than guys these days.’
Plum laughs. ‘I was exactly the same, Betsy, then someone unexpectedly came along and changed my mind.’
I wrinkle my nose. ‘If that did happen to me, it wouldn’t be with Miles. He’s not just out of my league, ladies, he’s in a league from a different universe. When he’s in the real world rather than St Aidan, Miles hangs out with super-humans.’
Clemmie grins. ‘I don’t accept that either. Even so, it must be difficult to stay hands-off when that’s paraded in front of you when you’re eating your avocado dips for breakfast.’
I laugh. ‘It’s more likely to be Nutella on toast, and I haven’t succumbed to covering him in chocolate spread yet.’
‘I assume that the Nice bum postcard was about him?’
So that’s where this is heading .
As this is Clemmie, I might as well be open. ‘It may have been.’
Plum laughs. ‘We both noticed this morning he’s very eager to help you.’
I don’t see a significant connection. ‘That’s how he is. Any chance to show off his superior skills and knowledge, he’s straight in there. It’s nothing more than that.’
Clemmie’s still staring at me hard. ‘If you say so.’
‘I absolutely do.’
She grins at me. ‘That’s Aunty Clemmie’s awareness-raising chat out of the way. Would you like to see what Plum’s found for you?’
I grin back. ‘I thought you’d never ask.’
Plum points to some cushions lined up along the table edge. ‘These are an example of the kind of items you get with individual makers. Malcolm’s partner, Jo, who also happens to be Edie’s aunty, made these up as samples for someone ordering for their conservatory.’
The cushions I’m looking at are striped, with a gathered gingham ruffle round the edge, in lilac, yellow, green, pink, cerise and aqua.
Plum picks one up. ‘These are all available for you to buy immediately at a great price, and Jo could make as many more as you wanted in any of the colours.’
I’m fingering the labels. ‘Cotton, with removable covers, and fully washable.’
Plum nods. ‘Next are scented candles, in recycled glass jars, in a range of nature-inspired summer scents. The person making them has changed the shape of the jars since these.’
I’m picking them up, smelling each in turn. ‘They’re lovely.’
Plum’s nodding. ‘They’re not too large, so the price point is good too. Obviously everything will be at cost price for you as a fellow local trader.’
I swallow my panic and look at what’s next on the table. ‘And the lanterns?’
Plum smiles. ‘Those are made by Malcolm’s daughter. This design is very simple so they’re not too expensive. She’ll let you have all the ones she has like that, if you want to be unique.’
‘This is so kind of everyone.’ I’m looking to where she’s pointing next at four tall, narrow, wooden shelf units painted in pistachio green. ‘CD racks and a hat stand?’
She nods. ‘Edie brought those in. People don’t use them as much now, but they’ll be good for displaying individual items, or you could use them for the scarves I have over here.’
She takes one of the folded squares and flaps it open. ‘These are Loella’s. Some are cotton, some are silk, some are cheesecloth, but the fabrics are all really soft and light and no two are the same.’
I’m sighing at how beautiful the colours are. ‘I love using scarves as belts, but they’re also perfect for people who want to buy something small to remind them of their holiday.’
She points to a box. ‘These are some odds and ends of vases and glasses that Edie sorted out for you too. And some framed retro cactus pictures, which are quirky and cool.’
‘This will be an amazing start. I don’t know how to begin to thank you.’
‘People are grateful that you’ll take small amounts of items, so they’ll do you a good deal. What hangs around on the shelves up here may well fly down in town.’
Clemmie’s fingering a scarf. ‘Plum sells cards at the gallery, but her shelf space is limited, and otherwise she tends to go for pricier pictures or jewellery.’
Plum nods. ‘There are more than enough customers to go round in summer, but we still try to have our own specialist area.’ She passes me a piece of paper with a list of the prices. ‘Once you see what sells, we’ll organise some more.’
I can’t stop smiling either. ‘One of the first pieces I did for Fenna was about a woman who started her linen company with a single tea towel design and a snappy quote about making Prosecco disappear.’
Clemmie nods. ‘That’s the way to do it. A catchy idea, start small and grow.’ Her smile broadens. ‘It’s hard to believe, but The Little Cornish Kitchen began with a singles sorbet evening.’
Plum is gathering the cushions into a bag. ‘We’ll put this lot in my car, and I’ll run you back to the harbour.’
She pops her head out of the door, and when she comes back in her grin is even wider. ‘Tyres on gravel with no engine noise? That might just be your proverbial knight arriving on his charger now.’ She laughs. ‘Don’t knock it. We business owners need all the help we can get!’
My stomach drops at the thought. ‘And just like that, I’m in the club.’
Clemmie laughs. ‘There’s no need to look so terrified. When are you planning to open?’
‘I can’t imagine I’ll ever feel ready.’ I don’t know if I’m excited or paralysed with fear.
She’s laughing more. ‘Thursday’s a good day to start, there will be people but not too many. I’ll give Nell a shout. We’ll drop by at twelve tomorrow and be your first customers.’
My voice has shrunk to a whisper. ‘There’s no putting this off is there?’
As I peep out along the barnyard we all know– I’ve boarded the train, and there’s no getting off. As sure as Miles is striding towards the door now, this is happening!
Clemmie looks out, catches sight of Miles and lowers her voice. ‘When someone works out what you need and gives it to you without you asking, that’s a sign they care.’
I have to laugh. ‘Or else it’s a sign they can’t bear to be left out.’
I’m really grateful for how kind he was earlier, but this time round I know which one I’d put my money on.