CHAPTER NINE
‘They’ll be arriving in ten minutes!’ I shrieked, snatching a look at my phone as Rhona and I tackled the bedding in the first shepherd’s hut together.
I’d never used a laundrette before but Rhona had assured me that for an extra charge, staff there would wash and dry the laundry for me. So I’d collected our load of dirty laundry and then dropped everything off at the laundrette. Then I’d whizzed back home to help Rhona with the cleaning, before returning a few hours later to collect a clean load of duvet covers, sheets, pillowcases and towels, all neatly folded and smelling of fabric softener.
‘Keep calm. It’ll be fine,’ soothed Rhona now. ‘Oh, hell, no, it won’t. We’re putting this duvet cover on inside out!’
She threw me a comical crossed-eyes look, as we panted slightly with the effort of duvet cover wrangling, and we both burst out laughing.
‘I can’t believe we’re actually doing this. Zak would be furious if he could see me now, racing around like a mad thing.’ I’d told Rhona all about how protective he’d been ever since we’d found out I was expecting a baby.
‘Oh, you’ll be fine. Pregnancy doesn’t have to stop you doing everything. You could even dig over a garden and get a vegetable patch going with no ill effects.’ She smiled a little wistfully. ‘The courgettes were amazing.’
‘I’m sure you’re right. And to be honest, I never knew how physically and emotionally tough I was before I became step-mum to Maisie.’
‘She sounds like a little angel.’
I laughed. ‘Well, she can be. And sometimes she’s a little devil. But I love her to bits. I’m so lucky she came into my life.’
Tears sprang to my eyes and when I looked up at Rhona and smiled sheepishly, her eyes looked a little glassy, too.
‘Oh, my goodness. Why do I always get so emotional talking about her?’
‘Because you love her and she’s your world,’ said Rhona softly. She turned, reaching in her bag and drawing out a pack of tissues. ‘Here.’ She passed one over and I blew my nose noisily.
‘Thanks.’
‘No problem.’ She grinned. ‘Can’t have you greeting your guests looking like you arrived here on a broomstick.’
I laughed. ‘Oh, no, is my mascara that bad?’
‘Not that bad. But you might want to quickly nip to the bathroom. I’ll finish up in here and I’ll text you when the first lot of guests arrive.’
‘Thank you, Rhona.’ I clasped my hands over my heart. ‘Seriously, you’ve saved the day.’
She smiled. ‘I quite enjoyed it, actually. I miss working. Having a purpose. Something to get up for in the morning. Now, scoot!’
Chuckling, I ran back to the café toilets, gasping in horror when I looked in the mirror.
Rhona was right. Even though it was close to zero degrees outside, we’d been working so hard, I was sweating and my hair was now plastered unattractively to my head. My mascara had slipped so far down my flushed cheeks, I looked like I’d been in a fight and someone had landed a punch under my left eye.
I did a quick clean-up job with some dampened toilet tissue and tied back my hair so that at least it looked tidy. Then I dashed back out to where my first guests were just driving onto the site.
I passed Rhona, who was emerging from the shepherd’s hut carrying a bucket of cleaning gear, and she mouthed, ‘Phew!’
Smiling broadly, I gave her a discreet thumbs-up.
Talk about cutting it fine.
But we’d done it!
*****
Later, when our exhausting day was over and the guests were all settled in for the night, I invited Rhona to come over to the house for food. Neither of us had eaten since our coffee and muffins at ten and we were both ravenous by this time.
‘It’ll just be something quick, like pasta and a supermarket sauce,’ I told her when she hesitated. ‘I’ve got wine, though. And I think you deserve a glass after a day like we’ve had, don’t you?’
‘Okay. You’ve twisted my arm.’
‘Good. I think I’ve just got white wine?’
She laughed. ‘White, red or sky-blue pink, I’m really not fussy.’
I grinned as I stifled a yawn. ‘Excellent. Come on, then.’
Back at the house, I checked on Maisie and found her curled up with her favourite soft toy – a white rabbit that had seen better days – on the pillow beside her. My heart swelled with love and my hand drifted to my bump. Maisie would be a wonderful big sister to this little one.
Over glasses of wine (non-alcohol for me), pasta with a spicy sauce and toasty slices of garlic bread from the freezer, I was able to thank Rhona properly for rescuing me that day. Not that she wanted my thanks. I was already realising that she was a genuinely kind person but that praise made her a little uncomfortable.
‘Will Mungo be all right with your neighbour?’ I asked at one point.
‘Oh, Amanda will be spoiling him rotten. He’ll be lapping up all the endless belly rubs and treats.’ She grinned. ‘He probably won’t want to come home.’
‘Dogs are such pure creatures, aren’t they? So loving.’ I glanced over at our collie, Maisie-Moo, who – after an exciting day at the local doggy day care centre – was now fast asleep on her bed in the corner of the kitchen. Her leg twiched as she chased a cat in her dreams and we both chuckled.
‘I can’t imagine life without Mungo,’ Rhona murmured.
I settled back in my chair and took a sip of wine. ‘So where are your kids now? Or do you have just one?’
‘Sorry?’ Rhona looked taken aback. ‘No, I... I don’t have any.’
‘Oh. Right.’
‘No, it’s just me and Mungo,’ she said firmly, crossing her arms.
‘Right. Sorry. I must have misunderstood.’ I’d thought the mention of growing courgettes while pregnant came from personal experience, but I was obviously wrong.
‘Well, I’m a dog mum, of course.’ She patted the locket round her neck and opened it to reveal a tiny close-up photo of Mungo.
‘Of course you are.’ The atmosphere was suddenly a little awkward, so I smiled brightly. ‘More wine?’
The subject of children seemed to be a tricky one and I made a mental note to steer clear of such questions in the future. Maybe Rhona wanted kids but hadn’t been able to have them. Or maybe she hadn’t yet met the right man. I’d wait until she broached such subjects herself before I went and put my foot in it again...
There was something else I wanted to ask her – something of a far more practical nature. But I was worried she might think it strange. It would solve a big problem in my life, though. So after a second’s hesitation, I smiled and said, ‘Rhona... I don’t suppose you’d like a job at the glamping site?’ I shrugged. ‘I just thought I’d ask because... well, we seem to work well together and you did say you were missing work?’
A look of mischief sparkled in her eyes. ‘Funny you should say that. I was actually on my way over here to ask about the job when I found you on the bench by the duck pond.’
I laughed in amazement. ‘You were ?’
She nodded. ‘I wanted to see Sunnybrook. And the café. That’s why I came over. But I popped into the village store and while I was in there, I saw your advert. So I thought I’d kill two birds with one stone, as it were – ask about the job and enjoy a cake and a coffee into the bargain.’
‘Oh, my goodness. It was Fate! And by the way, you’re hired.’
‘Really?’ She looked pleased.
‘Absolutely. We can count today’s mad shenanigans as your interview. And I’m happy to tell you that you passed with flying colours.’
‘Brilliant.’ Rhona’s happy smile turned into a big yawn. ‘Oh, sorry. I think I just heard a hot bath and bed calling me there.’
‘I was thinking the same myself.’ I rubbed my aching neck. ‘I’d give you a lift home if it wasn’t for Maisie,’ I added apologetically.
‘I’ll get a taxi,’ she said, getting out her phone.
When it arrived, she got to her feet with a smile. ‘Well, thank you for the lovely pasta and the wine, Ellie – and I happily accept your offer of a job.’
At the front door, I stifled an exhausted yawn. ‘I’ll call you in the morning and we can talk about the job and what it entails and all the other stuff?’
‘Perfect.’
I waved her off in the taxi then I retreated inside, still smiling. It had been a testing day. But quite enjoyable in the end.
And I’d found my new assistant!