Chapter 38
38
The garden at Boathouse Cottage, St Aidan
Chestnuts and five-star reviews
Tuesday
O n Tuesday evening when Miles, Fudge and I draw up outside Boathouse Cottage after we’ve left the shop, there’s a snazzy double-cab pickup filling the parking space.
Miles pulls in behind it on the lane. ‘I’m sure Ground Force St Aidan won’t mind if we double park.’
As we let ourselves in through the open garden gate I’m in awe that they’re here at all. ‘Scarlett’s personal life may be in pieces, but she still has superpowers when it comes to getting workmen to turn up.’
Miles gives me one of his long slow glances. ‘It’s not a superpower, Bets. It’s because she scares the bejesus out of everyone.’ He leans his shoulder up against the wall. ‘All Tate’s friends are the same. We’re terrified of her.’
When I first arrived, I imagined Miles rode roughshod over everybody, but as I spend more time with him and the layers are getting peeled back, he’s less like that than I thought. Then it hits me. That opinion didn’t come out of nowhere.
‘Like I said before, you didn’t seem to have any trouble going against what Scarlett asked you to do at the wedding.’
He blows out his cheeks. ‘And as I explained, that was due to very extreme circumstances which I’m afraid I can’t talk about, and it was only the once.’
‘Thanks for that very illuminating explanation.’
He gives me another sideways glance. ‘You know Scarlett better than anyone– have you ever stood up to her?’
I take a second to consider. ‘I’m usually steamrollered before I have time to argue.’
He nods. ‘That’s her tactic. Given how she is, it must have taken a lot of courage for Tate to do what he’s done.’
I’m pondering. ‘I assumed that as a couple they took turns to decide, with Tate taking the lead with the design stuff. But if Scarlett is as scary as you say, that could explain why Tate wanted to leave.’
Maybe falling for someone else was his only means of getting away. As I saw for myself last Saturday, Scarlett simply closes down other people’s ideas and carries on with her own. I’ve always thought she was like that with me because I was her younger sister, so it’s a surprise to find she’s like that with other people too. The trouble is, there’s a fine line between being so brilliant that everyone agrees with you, and being an absolute pain in the butt. And if you do end up on the wrong side of that line, then it’s also very hard for people to let you know.
There’s a noise from higher up the garden, and I look up to see four guys in Ground Force vests carrying various machines across the sun lounger terrace.
One of them gives a wave. ‘We’re just finishing.’
I call up to them. ‘Scarlett will appreciate that you came so fast. The place looks immaculate.’
They spring down the steps, and a second later, Zofia comes in through the gate too.
She gives me a nudge. ‘Even though I see them every day, I never tire of work boots and tanned calves.’
I shake my head at Miles. ‘Here’s me thinking she’d be all about the gilets and the arm definition.’
The first guy grins at me. ‘I’m Zach, working with Jake, Mark and Tom. If you had another three loungers we’d have stayed on and topped up our tans.’
Zofia laughs. ‘I hope you gave the outdoor shower a good going over.’
Jake joins in. ‘We’ve cleaned and oiled the furniture, washed the gravel and hard surfaces, and got every piece of hay off the pebbles.’ He looks over at Pumpkin who is grazing in the far corner of the field. ‘When we put gravel in, we weren’t expecting a pony.’
Zach has sun-streaked blond hair and a warm smile. He winks at me, then smiles a bit more. ‘I dropped the hay off as the pony got here. Let me know when you need more.’
Jake laughs. ‘When Zach’s not doing his landscape work, he moonlights as a farmer.’
I smile at Zach. ‘Small bales are hard to find, there’s a big place in my heart for any farmer who makes them.’
When Zach’s eyes lock with mine again, they’re the colour of the sea. ‘You’re so hidden away along here. I’m guessing that’s why we don’t see you in town?’ He carries on. ‘If you fancy getting out, there’s a fund-raiser disco at the Surf Shack most weekends, a different good cause every time. We already know you dance.’
I’m getting more used to this now. ‘Don’t tell me– you’ve seen me out walking with Pumpkin?’
His smile widens. ‘Most of the gardens we work in have great views of the beach.’
Miles gives a cough. ‘Betsy is busy on Saturdays.’
I roll my eyes at him. ‘You said unless I had a better offer, Miles.’
‘Great.’ From his tone it obviously isn’t. ‘In that case, thanks for the tidying, guys, we’ll see you at the Surf Shack.’
We watch as they make their way out of the gate, and I smile at Zofia.
‘They were nice.’
Miles sends me a look. ‘If it doesn’t bother you that Zach has a different woman in his ute most days of the week, he’s fine. For anyone wanting to improve on their negative dating history, he’s not ideal.’
I don’t actually believe what I’m hearing. Just as I decide the man might not be as bad as I thought, he wades in and throws the clock back a hundred years. ‘Thanks for that, Miles. Now you’ve given us that hugely positive input, you might need to move your car.’
‘Shit, I do!’
As he runs off I shake my head at Zofia. ‘What the hell was that about?’
She’s laughing as if she’s heard a very funny private joke. ‘I think that was our Miles being super-protective of someone he cares about very much.’ She frowns. ‘Listen to their car horns, those men are marking their territory.’
I think for a second and then it hits me. ‘No, Zofia, you came in last so you’ve blocked all of them in.’
‘So I have. It will do them good to wait for once.’ She laughs even harder. ‘I’m only here for a quick word with Miles, so I’ll see you in the morning.’ She turns as she reaches the gate. ‘You’ve got your door key?’
Now it’s my turn to smile. ‘Yes, thanks, I have.’ I also left the French windows off the latch, as a second line of defence.
As she disappears back onto the lane it’s not lost on me. Since I left home at eighteen I’ve locked myself out of my room several times a week and more. Landing in Miles’s bedroom was hideous, but since that awful day I haven’t locked myself out once. If it’s been enough to shock me into looking after my own key, it was worth the pain.