Chapter 15
I thought about the details of our date – the perfect location, the perfect hat and the perfect kiss – all the way back to Suffolk and then for much of the night.
My initial visit to Willowell and then the move to Fernside had already been wonderful, but the addition of James, who was both handsome and had the most glorious hidden depths, felt like the cherry on life’s cake.
I had no idea where our relationship, if it wasn’t too early to call it that, was headed, but given that we felt so in tune with each other already, I had every intention of enjoying finding out.
I didn’t see Constance before I went to bed, but I knew she was back from the hairdressers and feeling okay because she, or Rick acting on her behalf, had slipped a note under the apartment door, suggesting we get together early the next morning to talk about plans for the supper party which was happening that evening.
Having checked the weather forecast on more than one app, I was keen for us to eat in the garden, perhaps on the jetty, but that would mean lots of fetching and carrying, so I’d be guided by my friend and how she had organised previous parties she’d held.
James and I messaged for a while once I’d let him know I was safely home, but then he had to focus on his case notes.
Conversely, I felt so lightheaded in that besotted way that lands right when you’re at the start of something special that I couldn’t focus on anything.
If only my absent brother would now magically call then literally everything would be idyllic.
‘Hello,’ I croaked sleepily as I answered my phone at what turned out to be just after four in the morning. ‘Hello.’
‘What am I looking at? Have you turned your phone torch on? Is that the inside of your ear?’
I sprang up in bed and flicked on the bedside lamp.
‘Zack!’ I shouted, as I grappled with my phone. ‘Oh my god, where are you?’
‘You know where I am,’ he laughed, but then his face fell. ‘And I’ve just realised what time it is for you. Shit, Tilly. Sorry. Go back to sleep.’
‘No way,’ I said, as I plumped up the pillows and got comfy. ‘Who knows when you’ll call again.’
‘I’m sorry,’ he repeated. ‘I know I’ve been even worse than usual at keeping in touch since I landed here.’
‘Well,’ I conceded. ‘You did say you were pretty remote, didn’t you?’
‘I did,’ he said, ‘and I was, but I’ve moved now.’
‘Already?’ I couldn’t believe it. ‘Where to this time?’
‘I’m still in Bali,’ he informed me, ‘but I’m taking a break from work. I’ve gone on sabbatical to… think about things.’
‘No way.’ I gawped, my mouth falling open in surprise. ‘You’ve done it.’
‘I have.’
‘So,’ I quizzed, leaning closer to the screen to get a better look at him. ‘What things need thinking about? Are you okay?’
I felt utterly amazed that he was taking the break I’d long said he needed.
‘Very okay,’ he told me, and given how well he looked, I couldn’t dispute his pronouncement. ‘It was that photo of you and your new friends in The Greenman that kicked things off. You looked so happy, Tilly. Pursuing your heart’s desire clearly suits you and it has prompted me to think about mine.’
‘Well, that’s good,’ I said. ‘Though I did think following your own heart was exactly what you were doing…’
‘I was,’ he shrugged. ‘But things change. People change.’
I couldn’t argue with that, either.
‘So, do you have a plan?’ I asked, and he gave me a look. ‘No,’ I smiled. ‘Of course you don’t.’
‘I’m going to hang here for a bit,’ he said and showed me the cerulean view. ‘And see how I feel in a few weeks.’
‘There are worse places to hang.’
‘That’s what I thought.’ He nodded as he looked around.
‘Well,’ I smiled, ‘I’m relieved to hear from you, and I’m so pleased you’re taking a proper break. I’m sure you’ll feel loads better for it, no matter what you decide to do next.’
‘I thought you’d be happy, but I’m sorry I woke you. It’s lunchtime here.’
‘What’s on the menu?’ I yawned.
‘Fish probably. I’ll send you a photo.’
‘And will you be able to keep more in touch now?’
‘It depends where I end up.’
‘I thought you said you were hanging there!’
‘I meant hanging in Bali,’ he said as if I should have realised. ‘Not necessarily in this exact spot. I might go off grid again…’
‘You’re incorrigible,’ I tutted. ‘But thank you for keeping me in the loop. Now, go and catch your lunch.’
‘I love you, Tilly.’
His face filled the screen and I felt a lump forming in my throat. ‘And I love you, too,’ I told him. ‘I’ll see you soon.’
‘You never know, you might!’ He laughed and signed off.
I slumped back against the plumped up pillows. It was a relief to have heard from him, but I couldn’t help wishing he was going to be one of the guests at the supper party that evening.
‘Good morning, Constance!’ I waved cheerily as I walked up the lawn following my swim. Zack had sent me a photo of his lunch and it had put the smile back on my face. I’d wanted to hear from him, and now I had, I could stop fretting. ‘I’ll be with you as soon as I’m dressed.’
‘Good morning, my dear.’ She beamed back from her chair in the sunroom. Her former distracted mood had apparently been replaced with a far sunnier one and my own lifted even higher to match it. ‘I think we’re going to be in luck with the weather.’
‘It wouldn’t dare rain today,’ I smiled, then veered off to get dry and changed.
I took my Willowell Woods notebook to the house, because I carried it practically everywhere now, and a smaller one where I could write down anything relevant for the evening we were poised to host.
‘Knock, knock,’ I said aloud when I found her chair empty and headed to the Fernside kitchen. ‘Oh Constance, your hair looks lovely.’
She’d been a little distance away earlier, so I hadn’t been able to see properly.
‘Thank you.’ She nodded and patted the side of her head. ‘It was certainly in need of a trim. Come on, let’s go back to the sunroom and get things going while the day warms up.’
In the past, I had always organised any event or trip I was involved with, with weeks to spare, so the fact that we were only now discussing preparations for something that was happening that evening felt like another leap into the unknown for me.
However, I knew Constance would have it all in hand, so it wasn’t a daunting one.
‘There’s a lot to do,’ I couldn’t stop myself from saying as the list grew.
‘And it’s all covered,’ Constance said confidently.
‘Are you sure?’
She began to reel everything off.
‘I’ve got Rick coming to move tables and chairs and Carter’s sorting out the drinks.
Melody and Kaya will bring flowers and the food I asked Melody to prepare when I was in the village yesterday, and we’ll sort crockery, cutlery and glasses this afternoon.
What else is there to fuss over? Aside from adding a few candles, blankets and cushions… ’
‘Oh Constance!’ I laughed, having added a neat row of ticks next to everything in my notebook. ‘You’ve really got it all under control, haven’t you?’
‘Of course.’ She winked. ‘What’s the point of spending time with friends if the preparations are such hard work? There’s no pleasure in that. And when I mentioned it yesterday, everyone offered to chip in.’
‘Oh well, in that case,’ I said, closing the notebook. ‘I’ll leave them to it, though I would like to contribute something more than making it look pretty and pouring drinks.’
‘Carter will pour drinks,’ Constance corrected. ‘What have you got in mind?’
‘Perhaps a couple of simple dishes,’ I said, trying to think of tasty extras. ‘What’s Melody bringing?’
I wouldn’t want to end up making the same thing.
‘One of her trademark quiches, new potato salad and dressing and a pudding,’ Constance responded. ‘And she’s bringing all the green stuff too, so that will need prepping.’
‘In that case,’ I said, ‘I’ll go and collect the salad this morning, so we can have it ready in advance, and I’ll see if she’s got the ingredients for me to make some onion and goat’s cheese tarts and my favourite no bake strawberry cheesecake.
’ Constance’s tummy rumbled loudly. ‘But first, I’ll make you some breakfast.’
‘I was going to try and hold out,’ she started to say, ‘but your talk of tarts and cheesecake has scuppered that idea.’
‘I thought you were having three meals a day now, even if we don’t always eat together,’ I frowned at her.
‘It’s a hard habit to break,’ she confessed. ‘And before I forget, Kaya will be starting her big house clean after the weekend. As she was in the store with her sister yesterday, it was the ideal time to get her pencilled in and she was fully booked before then.’
I would have liked to say more about Constance forgetting her breakfast, but as she’d moved the conversation on, I decided not to.
I shoved away the urge to ask what had distracted her the day before, too.
Everything seemed to be back on an even keel now, so there was no point rocking the boat, especially on such an exciting day.
‘That’s wonderful,’ I said breezily, echoing her positivity. ‘What do you fancy to eat?’
‘Melody had saved me some double-yolk eggs,’ she said, with a smile. ‘One of those, fried in a bit of butter in a sandwich with a dollop of brown sauce, would go down a treat.’
‘One egg sandwich coming up,’ I smiled back.
The hours flew by, and I didn’t get a chance to ask Rick not to mention my date because in the time I’d been to the store for the salad and ingredients, he’d arrived at Fernside, shifted the garden furniture entirely on his own and left again.
I’d no idea how he’d managed to do it all so quickly, but there was now a large table and two smaller ones and a collection of chairs at the bottom of the lawn, close to the jetty, and, in the sunroom, Constance was gathering blankets, throws, lanterns and cushions in jewel colours to add some luxurious but comfortable touches.