Chapter 33
Valentine’s Day arrived and could there be a more appropriate day for the next phase of Created With Love? Veronica, Laughlin, Milly, Paulette and I – or The Fabric Five as Paulette had christened us – met Ava to look inside the former Willowdale Gifts.
‘Apologies for not being able to meet you sooner,’ Ava said, placing the key in the lock. ‘Bear in mind it’s been empty for over three years so it’s cold, dusty and a bit on the whiffy side.’
She pushed open the door and we bundled inside and spread out. I’d expected to find some shelving and a shop counter but the place had been stripped bare.
‘We cleared it out last spring,’ Ava said, as though reading my mind.
‘We knew someone who could make use of the shop fittings. The upside is that you have a blank canvas for creating exactly the space you want. The downside is you’re going to need to buy some fittings, although there’s no need to break the bank.
When I started out, I had a couple of pasting tables covered in cloths and built up to better displays when the shop started making money. ’
She pointed out a damp patch by the front window where the rain had seeped in through a rotten window frame and advised us that she’d booked a builder for next week to sort out the damp and replace the window.
‘As I own the building, it’s my responsibility and in my best interests to ensure the building’s sound.
Internal décor is usually down to the tenant but I’m conscious the shop’s not in great condition.
It needs painting and a thorough clean. With my mother being ill, I don’t have the time or inclination to do that myself, so I have a proposal for you.
What would you say to having this place rent-free for the month leading up to the Easter holidays, during which time you clean and paint it at your expense? ’
‘Rent-free?’ Laughlin asked. ‘That sounds like we’re getting the better end of the deal.’
‘If you do it yourselves, you would be, and it won’t take you a month so it means you can bring in your shop fittings and your stock and be ready to open as soon as the schools break up.’
Accepting Ava’s offer was a no-brainer. At the back of the shop there was a stud wall with an opening the size of a doorway but without a door.
On the other side was a small storeroom which had metal shelving units around three sides.
Some of them were a bit bashed but they’d be perfect for our needs.
There was also a kitchenette, a toilet and the stairs up to the flat.
The flat had two double bedrooms, a small bathroom and an open-plan kitchen and living space.
Although the style of bathroom and kitchen were dated, they looked as though they’d never been used and I questioned Ava about it.
‘When we bought the building, the flat was a mess so we had it refitted but never ended up using it other than for storage. The rent we’ve discussed is for downstairs but you can use the flat for storage if you want, free of charge.
I can’t rent it out to anyone else because there’s no separate entrance.
However, if one of you or a family member were interested in a temporary lease while you’re running the shop, I’m happy to have a separate conversation about rent. ’
We returned downstairs and Ava handed Veronica a cardboard folder containing the floor plans and a draft contract to peruse.
‘It’s been lovely to meet you all,’ she said. ‘I’d love to be your landlady but retailing is tough. I think this pop-up idea is sensible but it still comes with costs and risks so do take some time to discuss it as a group and be sure it’s what you all really want to do.’
I certainly wanted to do it and, if I was correctly interpreting the expressions of the others, they did too. Veronica suggested we retreat to The White Willow for drinks, cake and decision-making so we thanked Ava and told her we’d be in touch next week.
It was only a short walk to the café but, by the time we’d reached the door, we had a unanimous decision about going ahead.
We settled in our table, talking over each other.
It was bigger than I expected inside. It’s going to look fantastic.
What colour should we paint the walls? Where should we put the counter?
Veronica held her hands up, laughing. ‘The enthusiasm is wonderful, but might I suggest we get the drinks in and then take it in turns to share our thoughts?’
Saffy joined us to take our order and was eager to hear how it had gone. We told her we were definitely going ahead but had lots to discuss.
‘Kelly says I can take my break now,’ Saffy said when she returned with our drinks and cakes. ‘Do you mind if I join you?’
Milly had taken lots of photos on her phone so Saffy scrolled through them as we updated her. All too soon, her break was over and she stacked our empty plates to clear away.
‘How’s it going working here?’ I asked her.
‘It’s great. Everyone’s so nice and the chef’s really fit so that helps.’
‘What’s his name and how old is he?’ Milly asked.
Veronica craned her neck towards the kitchen. ‘What does he look like?’
‘And is he single?’ I added.
Saffy laughed. ‘Is this an interrogation? His name’s Felix, he’s twenty-two, he’s Kelly and Aled’s son and Kelly has told me several times that he is single so I think she’d approve if anything happened. Looks-wise he’s tall, with dark hair and twinkly brown eyes. Pretty lush really.’
When she’d gone, Paulette told us that Saffy had been round to Autumn’s cottage and had been massively inspired by what Autumn had said. She’d since enrolled for an art class at the village hall and was looking into courses at the technical college starting in September.
‘She’s planning to stay in the area long-term?’ Veronica asked.
Paulette nodded. ‘It looks that way. Willowdale’s good for her. Being here seems to be helping her discover who she really is and what she wants for her future.’
‘I think you need to take some credit for that,’ Veronica said, smiling at Paulette. ‘You’ve given her the space, freedom and support to find that out.’
The rest of us added our agreement and Paulette radiated happiness as she thanked us.
We had another round of drinks during which we talked about everything from paint colours to where we could place the counter to whether the doorway to the back of the shop should have saloon doors added to it. We didn’t necessarily make any decisions but it was fun throwing around ideas.
Bill paid, we pulled on our coats and headed outside. Milly had picked me up and her car was parked opposite The White Willow but the other three, all being Willowdale-based, had walked.
‘We’ll see you for your party tomorrow,’ I said to Veronica. ‘Are you looking forward to it?’
It was a standing joke that she wasn’t. When she’d presented me with my invitation, she’d explained that she’d had a party booked for her sixtieth birthday but had been rushed to hospital with appendicitis days before so it got cancelled.
Rebecca and Felicity had insisted she have it the following year instead and she’d refused but it had cropped up every year so she’d finally relented.
The others had all been invited to her sixtieth so knew the story already.
‘Oh, I’m so looking forward to it,’ she said with over-emphasis as she rolled her eyes. ‘Turning sixty-three is such a landmark birthday.’
‘But you must be looking forward to having your daughters here,’ Milly said.
There was a beat before Veronica answered, ‘Of course!’ but I could see the tension in her smile.
‘Did you notice Veronica’s expression when I asked about her daughters?’ Milly asked after we set off towards Pippinthwaite.
Milly evidently didn’t know about the tension between Veronica and her girls and I wasn’t going to betray anyone else’s confidences.
‘No. What did I miss?’
‘I thought she looked tense when I mentioned them, but maybe I’m imagining things.’
‘Wasn’t it her daughters who insisted on her having the party when she didn’t want one? That’s probably it.’
‘Yeah, that would make sense. I wonder if they’ll get some decorations for her after all.’
‘Better to have double than none at all,’ I said.
Laughlin had told us that, although Veronica hadn’t wanted the party, she was a great believer in the idea that if you’re going to do something, do it properly.
Her daughters didn’t seem to share that philosophy and had done little more than book the venue and confirm the menu.
Veronica had bought and sent the invitations and had even organised her own cake but was loath to organise decorations, despite her discomfort at the small but special details being overlooked.
Milly, Paulette and I had therefore been fully supportive of Laughlin’s suggestion that we form a decorating committee and surprise Veronica with balloons, banners and table decorations.
Even though she’d said her sixty-third birthday wasn’t important, it was really her belated sixtieth and we wanted her to have the party she should have had back then.
Milly was driving into Keswick to collect everything as soon as she’d dropped me off.
As Milly pulled onto my estate, Christian was pulling out in his car.
I was about to raise my hand in a wave but stopped myself, realising that he wouldn’t recognise Milly’s car.
She dropped me off outside my house before turning round in the cul-de-sac and I was putting my key in the lock as she drove past.
‘Happy Valentine’s Day,’ she called out of her open window.
‘And to you!’ I called back, laughing.
Valentine’s Day. Cliff and I used to make it a fun day.
We’d give each other cards, carefully chosen with messages which worked for love between friends and we’d try to out-cheese each other by finding the funniest or tackiest Valentine’s gift.
What must it be like to receive a card sent with genuine romantic intentions from a secret admirer or a loving partner?
I pushed open the door and my heart leapt.
There was an envelope on the doormat with my name handwritten on it.
A Valentine’s Day card? The only person I could imagine hand delivering me one was Christian.
I ripped open the envelope with shaking hands, my heart pounding as I took in the entwined hearts on the front.
And then it sank as I read the words: Engagement Party!
Opening the card, my disappointment at it not being a Valentine’s card was replaced with happiness for Emma and Killian.
I was delighted for them and wondered when Killian had proposed and how he’d done it.
Emma had told me he was a true romantic so I figured it would have been something pretty special.
My instinct was to dash over to Christian’s to ask for details but that would be pointless when I’d just seen him leaving the estate.
It struck me that he might be heading off to meet a Valentine’s date.
Would it bother me if he was? I wasn’t convinced it would.