Chapter 11 #2
‘Exactly,’ I agreed wholeheartedly. ‘And with that in mind, I talked my boss into letting me organise a trip for some staff to visit the local woods. He thought it would be a waste of time, but it wasn’t, especially not for me.
That excursion, arriving right when I needed it, further reignited my passion for green spaces and kicked so much off. ’
‘What did you all do there?’ Constance asked keenly.
‘Oddly enough, given the timing of the trip, I shouldn’t have been doing anything.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘When the date for it came through,’ I explained, ‘I was on compassionate leave after losing Dad. I was struggling with my grief and nowhere near ready to go back to work. However, staff illness meant that I ended up going, and ultimately I was so grateful that I did because the experience literally brought me back from the brink of this darkness I felt trapped in. It opened my eyes and gave me the fresh start I needed.’
‘Oh, Tilly.’ Constance sniffed and I felt rather tearful, too.
‘We did all sorts,’ I said, as I pulled my focus back. ‘Shelter-building, fire-lighting, foraging, some outdoor feasting, whittling.’
‘That all sounds fun.’ Constance smiled and blew her nose.
‘It was,’ I nodded. ‘Everyone achieved something and it helped me so much that soon after, I started to volunteer in the woods myself. My brother and I had made this pact when we were holidaying in Willowell,’ I said, filling her in, ‘that when we grew up, we’d have outdoor jobs.
He’s always succeeded in making that happen and now, after a very long hiatus, and I suppose you could say because of my grief, I’m following in his footsteps. ’
‘I recall you telling me that you’d done some studying and training involving woodland, too,’ Constance remembered.
‘That’s right,’ I nodded. ‘I’m qualified now to do all of the things my colleagues and I were introduced to on that fateful day, as well as offering guided forest bathing and workshops on how to create nature journals.’
‘And as I recall, Carter Cox knows about that sort of thing, doesn’t he…’ Constance said thoughtfully.
‘He does,’ I confirmed. ‘And that’s who I’ve been thinking about this morning.’
Along with James.
‘So, is this the sort of business you’re planning to set up in Willowell Woods? Something that will offer people the opportunity to try their hand at the things you’ve learned how to do.’
‘That’s exactly it,’ I confirmed. ‘I want to offer as many people as possible, of all ages and abilities, the opportunity to reconnect with nature, relax in it and relearn some long-forgotten skills. I would love to see more people embracing the changing seasons and understanding how breathing in some fresh air and watching green things growing can benefit their mental health. And,’ I finished up as I caught my breath, ‘I think Willowell Woods will be the perfect place to enable them to do it.’
It sounded like the perfect pitch to me, but then I wasn’t the person who had the family connection to the place and generations worth of history attached to it, was I?
‘No wonder you were so pleased to hear about Grace’s nursery having been run from there in the past,’ Constance said ponderously as she seriously took my flushed face in. ‘And the building still being in place is a bonus, too.’
‘And the car park,’ I reminded her. ‘That’s a huge plus. So, what do you think?’
She was quiet for a few agonising seconds as she drank her tea.
‘Opening the woods up for people to explore…’ she said, once she’d put her cup down again. ‘Opening the gate and letting folk back into the place.’ I wasn’t sure what conclusion she was going to come to, and I could feel my cheeks turning even redder as I held my breath. ‘I think…’
‘Yes?’
I was sitting so close to the edge of my seat, I was poised to fall off it.
‘I think it sounds like the most wonderful idea anyone could have possibly come up with!’ she finally said, and I couldn’t decide whether to laugh or cry.
In the end, I expressed my relief, excitement and gratitude by having both a joyful laugh and shedding a few happy tears.
‘Are you sure you mean it, Constance?’ I asked, once I’d wiped my eyes, blown my nose and almost composed myself. ‘You don’t want to think about it a bit longer?’
She smiled and handed me another tissue. It was lucky she always had a pocketful.
‘I do not,’ she said with conviction. ‘This is the ideal next adventure for Willowell Woods. The thought of selling them didn’t initially sit comfortably with me, but I soon came to realise it was for the best and knowing that you’re going to be the person who buys them is the best possible outcome.
I hope I’ll be able to come and see it all once you’re up and running. ’
This was really going to happen!
‘I’m intending to get you there a lot sooner than that, Constance,’ I told her eagerly. ‘Path-clearing is going to be a priority and then you’ll be able to wander around the place without a care in the world.’
A shadow fleetingly crossed her face. It happened so quickly that I wondered if I had imagined it, but I hadn’t. It was gone in an instant but the sight of it troubled me for a minute.
‘I shall look forward to that,’ she said. ‘And why don’t you get Rick to survey the trees and gives us an idea of the cost to carry out the work? I’d like to get that done before you take the place over.’
‘I’m happy to pay for that,’ I said firmly. ‘Along with the right price for the woods once you’ve had them properly valued.’ She began to look mutinous. ‘That’s non-negotiable.’
‘Oh, all right,’ she relented. ‘And while all this gets going, you should start making enquiries as to the likelihood of getting permission. I haven’t forgotten that you said you wouldn’t be able to take the woods on if you couldn’t make them work for you.’
I reached for my notebook and started making a new list. Now that Constance had given me her seal of approval, I could begin to set the wheels in motion. I refused to allow any doubts to worm their way in. This was an amazing moment and I was full of optimism and determined to embrace it.
My vision nonetheless clouded with unshed tears, as I wished that there was some way I could have shared with Dad what was happening.
I still talked to him on occasion and I would certainly be thanking him again for making this a financial possibility, but how I wished I could show him around and make him a part of the venture.
‘Penny for them,’ Constance said softly, as I sat with my pen poised over the page.
‘I was wishing that Dad was here and could be a part of this.’ I swallowed. ‘Though if he was, I wouldn’t have the money to do it.’
‘And I was just thinking how much I’d love Grace to know what was going to happen, but then if she was here, her nursery would be too.’
We looked at one another, both bright-eyed again and missing relatives who had meant the world to us.
‘Dad always said he thought it was unfair that he got to live so much more life than Mum did and I suppose I feel a bit that way myself about him now. He wasn’t all that old when he died…’
‘But if he hadn’t gone, my dear, your trip to Woodland Adventures might not have been as impactful,’ Constance suggested tenderly, ‘and you wouldn’t now be creating something to benefit so many other people.’
‘You’re right,’ I said stoically. ‘And I owe it to him to live my very best life, don’t I?’
Constance looked at her hands and nodded. ‘Yes,’ she said croakily. ‘We shouldn’t forget how lucky we are to still be here. And we should strive to make the most of our talents, even if it is hard sometimes…’
I suddenly realised that she had felt guilty about exercising her musical talent ever since Grace had died and that was why she kept her piano playing a secret and only indulged in it every now and then.
‘We have to live life to the fullest, don’t we?’ I said.
‘We do,’ she agreed. ‘I’m finally coming to terms with that and now we’ve got you sorted, if I can find someone to get the house shipshape, I might find myself ready to expand my horizons, too.’
‘Oh, for pity’s sake,’ I tutted. ‘I can’t believe I forgot to tell you! I’ve found you a cleaner, Constance.’
‘You have?’
I remembered then what she had said about Kaya being flighty. I hoped her impression of Melody’s sister wouldn’t put her off.
‘Yes,’ I said. ‘Kaya would love to take it on. And apparently, she loves a challenge. Melody says she works wonders in Rose Cottage on handover days and she’s got another couple of local employers now, too.’
Constance gave that some thought. ‘On the occasions I’ve met her, Kaya’s always seemed a rather capricious young woman,’ she said eventually, and I thought I’d failed, ‘but she’s full of energy and if Melody’s happy with her work, then I think we’ll give her a shot.
It would be a comfort to have someone else working here who I already know. ’
‘We’ll have to give her a heads up about your hidden cache.’ I smiled as my phone pinged. ‘And put another loot tin in the kitchen for her to put it in if she finds any.’
‘Good idea,’ Constance agreed. ‘Would you mind having a word with her and seeing if she can make a start before the supper party?’
‘Leave it with me,’ I said, as I surreptitiously read the message. It was from James, and it made my eyebrows shoot up. ‘I’ve got to go out this afternoon, but I’ll talk to her first thing tomorrow.’
‘Going anywhere nice?’ Constance asked, with a nod to my phone.
‘I’ll let you know when I’ve been,’ I beamed.