Chapter 26
Jack and Molly had just finished eating their evening meal, when Jet began to whine. Maybe he was picking up on the awkward and stilted atmosphere between them, but Jack didn’t think so.
It had seemed daft to cook separate meals, so when Molly had suggested they eat together, he’d reluctantly agreed. She was trying so hard to be friendly, it seemed churlish not to, so he’d aimed for friendly but distant, because he was too scared to let his guard down in case he gave himself away.
Jet whined again and padded into the hall to stare at the front door.
‘Not again,’ Molly murmured. ‘This is how last night started.’
Was it only last night he had gone for a midnight swim? So much had happened since, that Jack could have sworn it was longer.
‘What is it, boy? What can you hear?’ Jack followed the dog into the hall, guessing it was probably a bunch of teenagers, come to reclaim the park. Or maybe Mr Fox was out and about already?
‘What’s that noise?’ Molly asked, coming to stand beside him. She was close enough to smell her shampoo and the subtle perfume she wore.
Frowning, Jack slipped his fingers through Jet’s collar. ‘It sounds like there are people outside. A lot of them. I think we’d better see what’s going on.’
Molly nodded.
He didn’t know what she was thinking, but he was expecting to see hordes of unruly kids on their way to the bandstand, and probably trampling all over the poor flower beds as they went.
Taking a steadying breath and hoping things weren’t about to get nasty, Jack opened the door.
What the—? Who were all these people? And was that Bill?
The unmistakable figure of the old man was leading a group of about twenty people, many of them youngsters, towards the cottage.
Jack felt Molly shrink back, and he instinctively put his arm around her.
She shook him off. ‘What’s going on?’ she demanded, stepping outside and walking towards the mob.
Jack hurried after her, his heart in his mouth. After some of the comments online, he was worried this lot might be out for blood, and although locking the gates hadn’t been anything to do with Molly, he was concerned that people mightn’t see it that way, especially since some of them appeared to be armed with shovels.
He suddenly wished he had his phone about his person and hadn’t left it in the kitchen.
‘You wanted volunteers,’ Bill replied. ‘Will this lot do?’
‘Liam? Connor?’ Molly moved nearer to the mob.
Jack wanted to rush after her and drag her inside to safety, but— He looked closer. The people gathered in front of the cottage were smiling, and one of them had a wheelbarrow – hardly an offensive weapon. Another was carrying a trowel. And one chap seemed to be wearing waders.
‘Liam’s got something to say, haven’t you, Liam?’ Bill said.
Liam stumbled forward as the old man gave him a shove. ‘Gerroff, you daft old codger,’ the boy protested. ‘This was my idea, not yours.’
If Jack was expecting an apology from the boy, he was disappointed. However, what Liam said next was apology enough.
‘That pond’s a menace. We’ve come to sort it out.’
Molly stiffened. ‘What do you mean, sort it out?’
‘Tidy it up, like. You know, get rid of them shopping trolleys. Connor’s dad likes fishing. He knows all about ponds and stuff. He’s got all the proper gear.’
The man wearing the waders gave a little bow, and a smattering of applause rippled through the crowd.
Liam repeated. ‘It was my idea. This park could do with tidying up. My dad says it’s an effing eyesore.’
His dad was also the chap who had been mouthing off about suing the council, Jack recalled.
‘He says something should be done about it,’ Liam continued, ‘and as we’re the ones what use it, I thought we should be the ones to sort it out. We want it to look nice, like.’ The boy’s expression hardened. ‘And you can’t stop us,’ he added.
‘I wouldn’t dream of it,’ Molly replied. ‘It’s a marvellous idea! You’re so clever to think of it.’
Jack was amazed to see Liam glowing from the compliment.
The boy caught his eye and nodded imperceptibly.
Jack wasn’t sure whether it was an acknowledgement of his rescue attempt last night or whether it was because this was Liam’s way of saving face by pretending it was his idea to tidy up the park. Whatever the reason, it didn’t matter. The important thing was that Liam and his little gang of “youffs” had finally realised the park was ‘their’ space, and they should take responsibility for it. And they had brought along some adults to help.
Jack nodded back.
Delight washed over him. Finally Molly was going to have the park she’d dreamt of. He was so pleased for her!
‘Me and Bill are going to oversee everything,’ Liam announced grandly. ‘And that guy, Reuben, cause he knows about frogs ‘n’ stuff.’
At the mention of Reuben, Jack deflated. Of course Reuben would be involved. It was only logical he should be.
‘That’s enough talk,’ Bill said. ‘We need to see some action. Chop, chop!’ He clapped his hands, and the assembled crowd began to shuffle away.
‘It’s about time, too,’ a woman’s voice called, and when Jack glanced around he recognised the speaker as Fiona, the lady who had turned up for the first call for volunteers, the one who had thought there was going to be live music in the bandstand.
‘I’ve been on to the council for years to sort this place out, but nothing is ever done. And that woman on reception is a lovely girl, very friendly, but she’s ever so nosey. It’s none of her business what my name is.’
Jack’s mouth dropped open as he realised he had finally found his phantom caller.
‘I’d better get changed,’ Molly said. ‘I can’t let them start without me.’
Her eyes were shining with pleasure, and her smile lit up her face. Jack thought he’d never seen her looking so beautiful. It made his heart ache with longing, and he wanted to kiss her so badly that it hurt.
‘Good idea,’ he said, but he hung back, letting her go ahead of him. He needed a moment to compose himself.
‘I reckon your missus is happy,’ Liam said.
‘She’s not my missus,’ Jack snapped
‘Girlfriend, then. Don’t get your knickers in a twist. It’s just an expression.’
‘She’s not my girlfriend, either.’
‘Why not?’
‘None of your business.’
‘I wanna know.’
‘Why?’ God, this kid was infuriating.
‘Cause she’s nice,’ Liam said.
‘She is nice,’ Jack agreed. ‘But that doesn’t mean she’s my girlfriend.’ The boy’s logic was beyond him.
‘Do you want her to be?’
‘That’s none of your business, either.’ Didn’t this kid have any manners? Or any boundaries?
‘She wants you to be her boyfriend.’
‘Don’t be silly! You’ve got no idea what you’re talking about.’
‘I do too! She loves you, don’t she?’
‘She does not!’ Jack spluttered. He turned smartly on his heel: he was done with this ridiculous conversation, plus he’d also better get changed into his gardening clothes because no matter how much he didn’t want to witness Molly and Reuben making eyes at each other, he couldn’t stand by and let other people do all the work.
‘She said so,’ Liam announced.
‘Who said what?’
‘Effing hell, you’re not the sharpest tool in the box, are you? Her, there—’ He pointed at Molly who had come out of the cottage and was walking towards them. ‘She said she loved you when you was in the water and she thought you was dead. I reckon you didn’t hear her.’
Jack needed to sit down. Liam was spot on: Jack hadn’t heard her. Could he have misjudged the situation with Reuben, and Molly didn’t fancy the guy at all?
He recalled how affectionate they had been with each other before Reuben came on the scene – the meeting of eyes, the long, lingering looks, the touching of hands – and he knew he hadn’t imagined it. What he might have imagined, though (if what Liam said was to be believed), was Molly being attracted to Reuben.
‘Is anything wrong?’ she asked, and he realised his thoughts must be reflected in his face.
‘No, I don’t think there is,’ he replied slowly. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Liam smirking.
‘You can thank me later,’ the boy said. ‘A packet of fags should do.’
Jack snapped out of it. ‘What!? No! I’m not buying you cigarettes!’
‘A bottle of JD then?’
‘No alcohol, either.’
‘Spoilsport. Wish I hadn’t told you now.’ Muttering, the lad walked off.
‘What was that about?’ Molly watched the boy saunter away, a frown on her pretty face.
It was now or never. Jack didn’t want to wait a heartbeat longer – he had to know. ‘Liam told me you love me. Is it true?’
A blush swept up her neck and into her cheeks. ‘I… er…’
‘He said he heard you say it last night, when I was in the pond.’
‘I said it in the heat of the moment.’
She couldn’t look him in the eye, and he didn’t know what to think. ‘You didn’t mean it?’
‘I meant it.’ Molly’s voice was so quiet that Jack thought he had misheard.
‘Could you repeat that?’ he asked. The pulse in his ears was so loud she must be able to hear it, and his stomach did a nauseating forward roll.
Her eyes flashed and he noticed that her hands were bunched into fists by her side.
‘I LOVE YOU!’ she yelled, her cheeks crimson, and Jack jumped as her shout bounced off the cottage and the surrounding trees. ‘Happy now?’ she demanded.
Slowly a grin spread over his face, and his heart began to sing. In wonder, he said, ‘You might want to say that again: I didn’t hear you.’ And he laughed out loud when she glared at him. Fearing for his immediate safety, he said hurriedly, ‘I love you, too.’
The fight leeched out of her, and her hands uncurled. He saw a flare of hope in her eyes and her lips parted, and he simply couldn’t resist the invitation he saw on her face.
‘May I kiss you?’
Molly smiled. ‘I thought you’d never ask.’
Gently he put his arms around her, drawing her to him. She melted into his embrace and his lips found hers. They were warm and soft, and her kisses tasted of the future.
And Jack realised that he didn’t need to look for another home after all, because he had already found it in the arms of the woman he loved.
***
‘What a day,’ Molly said. Her back was curled against Jack’s chest as he spooned her after their lovemaking. They were in her bed, with the door firmly closed and Jet on the other side of it. The dog hadn’t been happy about being turfed out and he had whined his displeasure for a while, until Molly had promised him he’d be allowed in later. Much later, as it turned out.
‘Mmm,’ Jack murmured, nuzzling the soft skin below her ear.
She squirmed. ‘Stop that! Unless…?’
‘Unless what?’ Jack’s arm had been draped over her waist, but now it crept south.
Jet barked and Molly pushed Jack away. ‘I think someone has had enough of being on the landing. We’d better let him in.’
Jack sighed and Molly giggled at his disappointment. ‘We’d also better get some sleep,’ he said. ‘We’ve got an early start in the morning. I can’t believe Bill has offered to cook sausage sarnies for everyone who turns up. And he’s persuaded Fiona to help.’
Molly laughed. ‘Did you see her face when he told her she was the best cook in town? She lapped it up.’
‘I think she was pleased to be involved,’ Jack said, ‘and that the park is finally being cleaned up. She’s been leaving anonymous messages about Sweet Meadow Park for the past couple of years. I feel guilty she never got anywhere.’
‘She’s getting somewhere now,’ Molly said, sliding out of Jack’s arms and padding naked to the door. She could feel his eyes on her body, and it gave her a warm glow. ‘In fact, I think it might have worked out better this way.’
‘How do you mean?’
‘The park doesn’t need the council’s help after all, not with everyone working together to bring it back to life. Granny always said that if something is handed to you on a plate, you don’t appreciate it as much as if you’ve had to work for it.’
‘She’s right,’ Jack agreed, as Molly opened the door and Jet bounced in and launched himself at the bed.
‘Oof!’ Jack rolled over to avoid the dog’s heavy paws landing where they shouldn’t, and Molly laughed. ‘He’d better not think he’s sleeping in this bed,’ Jack warned. ‘I want you all to myself.’
‘You’ve got me,’ she promised. ‘For now, and forever.’ And she meant every single word.
***
‘Do you want onions?’ Fiona held the bun aloft, her ladle poised to scoop a pile of onions out of the pan.
‘No, thanks.’
Fiona handed Molly the sausage bap. ‘Help yourself to sauce. Carol is on teas and coffees.’ She jerked her head towards a woman standing behind a makeshift table on which sat a couple of kettles, an assortment of mugs, plus tea, coffee and milk. Someone had even brought cupcakes, but Molly had no idea who. To be honest, she had no clue who most of these people were, but she was grateful to see them.
Bill had turned up first, at the impossibly early time of six-thirty, demanding to use her front garden as a “feeding station for the troops”. Molly had left him and Jack to set everything up whilst she took Jet for his morning walk, and by the time she’d returned, her kitchen table had been roped into use, along with the folding wallpaper-pasting table and a thick plank of wood balanced on several breeze blocks. An extension cable ran from the house to a couple of kettles (she recognised one of them as hers) and a BBQ was set off to the side and was starting to smoke.
Molly was about to ask what she could do, when Fiona had arrived and hustled her out of the way.
‘Leave the cooking to me,’ the elderly lady had said. ‘You stick to gardening. This lot is going to need to be given some direction, otherwise they’ll be digging up the flowers and scaring the wildlife.’
Bill had beamed at Molly, and when Fiona was out of earshot, he’d said, ‘She used to own Best Bites in the square. Sold it a couple of years ago and has been bored out of her mind ever since. She’s as grumpy as hell, but has a heart of gold.’
Molly didn’t say anything, but thought the description was also applicable to Bill.
As she bit into her bun, Molly gazed at all the people who had turned up this morning. She’d half expected no one would bother, thinking that the enthusiasm of yesterday evening may well have waned in the cold light of a Saturday morning, but she had been overwhelmed by the turn-out. Mind you, the lure of a free sausage bap might have had something to do with it…
No matter the reason, she was grateful, nevertheless. And if the majority of them only came this one time, so be it. At least with this many people on hand, they could make a decent dent in all the jobs that still needed doing.
As soon as she had finished her breakfast, Molly organised people into groups, assigning each one a task, and although the bigger jobs, such as addressing the damaged equipment in the children’s play area or repairing the bandstand, couldn’t be accomplished today, there were a great many other things that could.
Reuben, as usual, was a law unto himself. ‘I’m going to tackle the pond,’ he said. ‘I know it needs to be dredged, but me and this chap here can get rid of some of the rubbish. The shopping trolleys could do with being removed for a start, and the tyres.’
Molly watched him and the man with the waders walk away, pleased she wouldn’t have to tackle that job herself. The waders were an inspired idea, though.
‘Um…’ Jack pulled a face. ‘I’ve got some news that you’re not going to like. The pond is definitely going to be filled in. Pete told me yesterday. I should have mentioned it sooner but with everything that was going on, it slipped my mind.’
Molly stared at him in shock. ‘Can’t you stop it? You are the Parks and Highways Officer.’
‘I can try, but I’m fairly sure I won’t get anywhere, especially if Connor’s father decides to sue. They’ll insist on it.’
She was stunned. This was bad news for the park’s wildlife. Even if they didn’t live in its murky waters, many creatures depended on the pond for food, water and shelter in the plants growing around its edge. The park simply wouldn’t be the same without it.
Molly had harboured a vision of a path around the pond, and benches dotted at intervals so people could not only enjoy the tranquil view, but watch the wildlife too. It would be a crying shame if it was filled in, and all because of a couple of kids. She had a mind to have a stern word with Connor’s father.
Not that it would do any good… If the council had made a decision, then that was it. They weren’t going to change it just because she made a fuss. Not even if everyone here protested.
Sadness filled her: the park wouldn’t be the same without the pond. It was part of its charm – or would have been once the pond was tidied up.
For Molly, the brightness of the day had dimmed a little, and it was with a heavier heart that she settled to her task of hacking away at the brambles on the edge of the woodland.
A couple of hours later, just when she was thinking it might be a good idea to stop for lunch and a cuppa, shouting from the top end of the park startled her and she whirled around in panic.
It was coming from somewhere near the pond, and her heart sank.
Oh, hell, please don’t say someone else has fallen in, she prayed as she hurried across the field, Jack jogging by her side.
She was aware that everyone else had also downed tools and was heading in the same direction, and her only thought was that at least there would be plenty of hands on deck should the worst have happened.
But when she neared the pond, she couldn’t see anyone in the water. All she could see was Reuben and the man in the waders crouching on the ground. They seemed to be staring intently at something.
‘Don’t come any closer.’ Reuben held up a hand. ‘You’ll scare it.’
‘Scare what?’
‘The newt.’
Molly blinked. Was that what all the fuss was about, a bloody newt?
‘I thought something awful had happened,’ she said, feeling cross but trying not to let it show.
Reuben was beaming. ‘You can have a look, if you like. One at a time, though. As I said, we don’t want to scare it.’
‘No thanks. I’ve seen newts before.’ She had seen several of the creatures since she’d moved into the cottage in the park – she didn’t need to see another one.
‘But this one is special.’
There was something in his voice that made her hesitate. Had he found a great crested newt? Is that what he was so excited about?
She moved closer and Reuben beckoned her forward, and lifted up a tyre.
Underneath, eyeing them beadily and looking rather annoyed at the intrusion, sat a black newt. It was wartier than the other newts she had seen, and had white dots on its flanks. It didn’t look in the least bit scared.
She said as much to Reuben.
‘That’s because it hasn’t got many predators as its skin exudes a toxic chemical. But only when they reach adulthood. This guy is fully grown.’
‘It’s not the prettiest newt in the world, is it?’
‘No, but it’s extremely rare in the UK. They are protected by law and it’s illegal to even touch them. You have to have a licence. And it’s against the law to do anything that may harm them or damage their habitat.’
Molly’s mouth dropped open.
She turned to look at Jack. He must be thinking the same thing, because he looked equally as shocked.
‘Reuben, I could kiss you!’ she exclaimed. ‘Jack, do you know what this means?’
‘I think I do. Reuben, shall you report it, or shall I?’
Bill asked. ‘Report it to whom?’
‘The council!’ Molly cried. ‘They can’t possibly fill in the pond now. It’s safe!’
Fiona, who was one of the last to arrive at the scene, huffed. ‘Is that all? I was expecting to find buried treasure.’
‘It is treasure,’ Molly insisted, but all Fiona did was wrinkle her nose. She clearly wasn’t impressed with Molly’s idea of treasure.
As Molly and Jack sauntered away from the pond, Jack slung an arm around her shoulders and pulled her close. She tilted her head up to be kissed and he dutifully obliged.
‘I must admit to being jealous of Reuben,’ he said, ‘but I’m so glad he’s here. We never would have discovered the newt on our own. And even if we had spotted it, we would never have realised it was a great crested one.’
Molly giggled. ‘You never had anything to worry about where Reuben was concerned,’ she said, demanding another kiss. ‘I’ve only ever had eyes for you. I love you, Jack.’
And when he said those three little words back to her, Molly knew she had finally found her Mr Right, and her heart swelled with so much love she thought it might burst.
‘If you pair can leave each other alone for five minutes,’ Fiona interjected, ‘I’ve made sandwiches for everyone for lunch. Sorry, Molly, I used your kitchen. I hope you don’t mind. I’ve made ham, as well as tuna, plus roasted beetroot and avocado for the vegetarians.’
Molly didn’t mind at all. She was just grateful that Fiona was keeping everyone fed and watered. ‘It sounds delicious,’ she began, then she froze as an idea occurred to her.
It had something to do with a boarded-up cafe and a former cafe owner…
Other books in the series
The Cafe in Sweet Meadow Park
Christmas in Sweet Meadow Park