Chapter 8 #2
‘Miss Lyons,’ she began, injecting the name with some force, none of it positive, ‘is from the local social services and she’s been a thorn in my side for a few months now.’
‘Social services?’
‘Yes, apparently, my…’ She took a moment before continuing. ‘Some… busybody reported to them that I was living here on my own and couldn’t cope and they’ve been hounding me ever since.’
‘Oh, crikey.’ I grimaced, imagining how much she would hate that. ‘I suppose it’s good, that they’ve made the effort to follow up.’ She gave me a grim look. ‘But I can understand why you’re upset about it.’
‘There’s been talk of all sorts,’ she huffed. ‘From meals on wheels to assisted bathing and even, horror of horrors, the suggestion of me actually selling up and moving into some sort of home.’ She shuddered at the mention of it.
That sort of set-up might suit some, but I knew it wouldn’t be for Constance.
‘But who would do that?’ I frowned. ‘Who would report you to them?’
Surely, it could only have been someone who had been inside the house and from what I had already made out, Constance didn’t have many visitors.
‘I do know who it was,’ she glowered. ‘But that’s by the by. It doesn’t matter now because the situation has been completely resolved. Neither they, nor Miss Lyons, will be bothering me again.’
I was dying to know who the culprit was, but she had made it very clear that I wasn’t going to find out.
‘How can you be so sure that she won’t be back?’ I asked.
‘Because you’re here.’ Constance winked. ‘I’ve told Miss Lyons that you’re my live-in housekeeper.’
‘Constance!’ I gasped, my fork suspended halfway to my mouth. ‘You have not!’
‘Well,’ she shrugged, ‘it’s not all that far from the truth, is it?’
‘What do you mean?’
‘You’re already feeding me up,’ she said, with a nod to the lunch I’d prepared, ‘and you’ve made yourself handy in here, too.’
I felt my face flush.
‘Don’t think I haven’t noticed how much tidier this kitchen is,’ she went on. ‘Or the fact that the ironing pile is diminishing.’
‘So much for being discreet,’ I tutted.
‘Nothing gets past me, but you don’t have to do any of it, you know. I can manage just fine. Not that I’m not grateful.’
‘It’s as easy to do for two as one,’ I told her. ‘And I like the company.’
‘Yes,’ she smiled. ‘I like that, too.’
‘Though there is one thing I don’t like,’ I said.
‘Oh?’
‘The fact that we haven’t decided how much rent I should pay you yet. And we haven’t looked into getting the woods properly valued either, have we?’
‘All in good time about the woods and you know I’m not happy about you paying rent…’ she began but stopped when I gave her the sort of look she’d earlier bestowed on me.
‘And knowing that it hasn’t taken any time to turn the kitchen around, I was wondering if there was anywhere else in the house that you’d like me to have a quick sort through.
Given that I’m here as your live-in housekeeper,’ I said, making air quotes without putting down my cutlery, ‘it’s the least I can do. ’
‘No, thank you,’ Constance said, as she drew herself up. ‘That I really wouldn’t be comfortable with, even though the house is getting a bit dusty and untidy in places…’ she then conceded.
From what I’d now seen of the hallway, that was putting it mildly.
‘In that case,’ I suggested, feeling clever, ‘how about you use the first lot of rent I pay you to get a firm of cleaners in and let them have a bit of a blitz? That way, once it’s done, we could, or you could, I mean, keep on top of it far more easily going forward.’
She looked to be giving that idea some thought, so I carried on eating while she mulled it over.
‘Or I could get it blitzed and then perhaps use part of your future rent to pay someone to come in for a couple of hours or so every week, couldn’t I? I admit I’ve never been a huge fan of the domestic side of life…’
That sounded like a very good idea to me, and I liked the thought of being with her long enough to see that funded, set up and running.
‘In that case,’ I nodded, ‘that would work brilliantly. Though I am happy to do my bit. And there’s no reason why we can’t carry on doing the laundry together and sharing a few meals, is there?’
‘I don’t see why not,’ she agreed willingly, which made my day. ‘I’ve no idea what the going rate would be to rent the garden apartment, but you’re not paying full market value,’ she then stubbornly added. ‘And I promise we will get the woods valued but only when you’ve had more time to settle in.’
‘I had a feeling you were going to say that about the rent,’ I tutted. ‘So, what will you let me pay?’
‘And once the house is in a happier state,’ she said thoughtfully, once we’d finally settled on a figure, ‘I might feel more inclined to invite people back in…’
‘That would be wonderful,’ I encouraged.
It was heartwarming to hear her say that and I felt emboldened to ask her what had been running through my mind.
‘And I’ve been wondering if you’d be open to me inviting Melody, Kaya and maybe Rick around one evening for a picnic in the garden.
They wouldn’t have to come into the house. ’
‘That sounds almost like the old days.’ Constance beamed. ‘Parties in the garden with friends throughout the summer used to be a regular treat here, you know.’
‘Did they?’
‘You sound surprised.’
‘I suppose I am,’ I confessed. ‘It’s hard to imagine now because it’s so quiet.’
Constance smiled at that. ‘When Grace and I were growing up,’ she reminisced, ‘it was far from quiet. Fernside was the place everyone wanted to be invited to. We had some very raucous escapades here, especially when my parents were away. Though Grace was considerably younger than me, so didn’t always get up to quite the same amount of mischief.
That said, I remember one particular night in the shrubbery… ’
‘Go on,’ I giggled, as she turned red.
‘Let’s just say,’ she said with diplomacy, ‘that a couple of guests had to go home wearing rather less than they arrived in.’
‘Constance! I’m seeing you, and Fernside, in a completely different light.’
‘Oh, my dear,’ she chuckled, ‘you have no idea… But enough about that.’
‘No,’ I said. ‘I want to hear more. Much more.’
‘One day, perhaps,’ she said firmly. ‘Another time.’
‘Fair enough,’ I reluctantly agreed. ‘But is it a yes to my rather tame picnic supper suggestion?’
‘Why not?’ she beamed. ‘That would be fun.’
‘Thank you.’ I smiled. ‘And I’m planning a trip to Sudbury tomorrow, so I can get you the first lot of rent in cash then, can’t I?’
‘And maybe also help me find a decent cleaning company?’
Everything was coming together wonderfully.
‘Absolutely,’ I promised.
With our next steps settled, I asked Constance if she would mind if I went back down to the woods later that day.
‘I know there’s no rush to officially do anything, but there are a couple of things I’d like to look at again,’ I explained.
‘That sounds to me like you’ve been giving your ideas greater thought,’ Constance observed.
‘I have,’ I confirmed. ‘But not with any sense of urgency. More mulling it all over and seeing what develops. I had been trying not to, but I can’t seem to get the wonderful place out of my head now.’
Constance looked pleased. ‘It is wonderful, isn’t it?’
‘Utterly,’ I agreed.
It saddened me to think that she was potentially parting with the family woods for financial reasons as opposed to because she wanted to or was ready to, but her reasoning wasn’t my business, even though I was becoming fonder of her by the second.
‘So, does that mean that you’re ready to tell me what you’re planning?’ she asked.
‘Even though there’s no rush?’ I grinned.
‘Well, you’ve piqued my curiosity now,’ she smiled back.
‘I’m almost ready,’ I told her, as I thought of the notebook I’d started to write in and the feeling of excitement it filled me with.
‘You know, now you’re living here, you don’t have to ask if you can go to the woods,’ Constance said kindly. ‘Just pop down as and when you want to.’
‘Thank you.’
‘And you might as well have the keys to the gate and the cabin,’ she carried on.
‘They’re on the leather fob in the shape of an oak tree.
And while we’re sorting keys, take one for the garden gate, too.
Rick has already got one and we really should keep the gate locked to ward off any other unwelcome visitors. ’
‘Are you expecting more?’ I frowned as I sorted the keys.
She didn’t answer for a moment and when I looked over at her, I couldn’t read her expression.
‘No,’ she said then, seeming to rally, but I couldn’t help thinking her words didn’t ring true. ‘Not now. Unless for some reason,’ she added, ‘Miss Lyons takes it upon herself to check up on us.’
‘I don’t think she’d dare,’ I said with a wry smile.
With the keys in my pocket, I tidied the lunch dishes, grabbed my notebook and headed back to the woods. I couldn’t unlock the rusted padlock, so left my car in the parking area and climbed over the gate again instead.
It was another hot day, but I’d opted to wear a long-sleeved shirt and full-length trousers. I had no desire to leave with more scratches and snags from the brambles following my second walk around.
‘You first, I think,’ I said to the cabin, having negotiated the overgrown path and easily found it again.
I had originally planned to leave it until last, but the lure of the key in my pocket proved too much and I held my breath as I turned it in the lock. It twisted around easily, but the door had warped and needed a hefty shove before it would open. I hoped I’d be able to get it closed again.
‘Aren’t you just perfect?’ I said happily a few minutes later, as I looked around more and inhaled the smell of warm wood.
Along with the wood burning stove, there was a tiny kitchen and cloakroom at the back, which had compost style loos and another small room that must have been an office. There were a few curled up plant catalogues on the windowsill in there, but nothing else.
Much of the interior was large, open, empty and airy and offered endless arrangement opportunities.
I could easily imagine it set up for what I had in mind.
The cabin had the potential to be both a refuge if the weather was too inclement to be outside and a cosy sanctuary during the chilliest weeks of the winter.
I imagined conversations being had around the fire and, for some reason, a dog’s presence featured, too…
‘Anyone home?’
‘Damn,’ I gasped, as my feet practically left the floor. ‘Where did you spring from?’
‘Heaven,’ Rick grinned. ‘According to the guy I met on holiday.’
‘For pity’s sake,’ I tutted. I didn’t want to smile but couldn’t help it. ‘What are you doing here?’
‘I could ask you the same thing,’ he said, looking around.
‘I asked first.’
‘Fair point. I was just passing, and I saw your car, so I thought I’d better stop and check you were okay.’
‘That was kind.’
‘I am kind.’ He smiled. ‘When I’m not being full of myself.’
I rolled my eyes at that. At least he was self-aware.
‘Your turn,’ he said then.
‘What do you mean?’
‘Your turn to tell me what you’re doing here.’
Knowing that I was, at some point, going to ask him to assess the tree work that I thought needed doing, I figured I might as well tell him sooner rather than later that I was planning to buy the woods from Constance.
‘I’m here,’ I ventured, ‘for another look around, because I’m going to buy the woods. Though I’d appreciate it if you’d keep that to yourself.’
He had been standing side-on to me and fiddling with the cage that covered the fire, but shot around to fully face me once he’d heard my explanation.
‘Really?’
I tried not to be offended that he sounded so shocked. I supposed my declaration was a bit out of the blue.
‘Really.’ I nodded. ‘I’ve got an idea for a nature-based business and Willowell Woods is the perfect spot to turn it into a reality.’
‘Crikey,’ he said and puffed out his cheeks. ‘And Constance knows about this?’
‘Of course she knows about it, you twit,’ I laughed. ‘Who do you think gave me the key for the cabin? And the gate, too but I couldn’t shift the padlock on that.’
‘I see,’ he said.
He sounded unusually serious and it unsettled me a bit.
‘What is it?’ I frowned.
‘Well,’ he said, drawing the word out. ‘Probably nothing, given that you and Constance already have an agreement, but I heard a rumour in the pub last night that—’
‘If it was about someone local having already made an offer,’ I cut in, ‘that was something Constance was previously putting about, to put incomers, like me, off.’
‘Oh well,’ Rick laughed and pointed at the keys in my hand, ‘that’s worked, hasn’t it?’
‘Like a dream.’ I smiled. ‘I take it that is what you heard?’
‘Pretty much,’ he shrugged.
‘Can you tell me exactly what it was that you were told?’
‘Just that Constance has accepted an offer, and that the woods are officially sold,’ he told me. ‘I had no idea that it was to you, though.’ He grinned then. ‘Fancy that.’
‘I’m delighted to have amused you,’ I tutted.