21
THE WEDDING IN Dorset came around more quickly than Nora had expected. Now that all the women in the friendship group were meeting at the lake on a Thursday, it would be hard to avoid talking about it. And as far as Jess knew, it was only Nora and Archie making the trip to Dorset with them.
After dressing and grabbing her things, Nora headed to the lake. In the past week, the temperatures had started to rise, so she knew that the water would be perhaps as much as a couple of degrees warmer for her friends since the last time they swam.
Jess was already there, and had lit the fire pit and set the chairs out around it.
‘Morning!’ Nora called as she clambered over the wall.
‘Hey, Nora. Beautiful day for a swim.’
‘The best kind of day,’ Nora agreed. ‘Are you all set for the trip?’ she asked Jess.
‘Pretty much. I’ve got my dress sorted. That’s the main thing. There’s not much else to sort. I’ll go shopping with Mum tomorrow and get some food for the do back at their house and that’s about it.’
Nora knew Jess would be thrilled if she knew everyone was going to be there and that Seb had actually arranged a party at her parent’s local pub, but she wasn’t about to spoil the surprise. ‘We’re so looking forward to it. Archie’s chuffed to bits to be Seb’s best man.’
‘At least he doesn’t need to bother with a speech,’ said Jess, grinning.
‘True!’ In fact, Archie had been working hard on a speech, having been tipped off by Seb that Jess’s dad was making one. He didn’t want to let Seb down by being unprepared.
It was a blue-skied spring morning. Although Archie’s gardeners had cleared a lot of the growth around the lake, grasses and reeds had come to life on the banks and it was looking much more picturesque.
Now that the hedge had been removed, they could see the others coming over the wall along with a couple of other women Nora didn’t recognise.
‘Who’s that?’ Jess asked, frowning, presumably not recognising them either.
‘Hey guys, this is Lou and Sam. We found them lurking in the lay-by,’ said Patsy.
The women laughed. ‘My husband Ben works for the council. He met Nora last week and said we could come along?’
‘I’m Nora. I’m so glad you came.’
‘I’m Lou,’ said Ben’s wife. ‘We usually swim on the other side of Worcester so this is a real treat. What do we do about paying?’
‘Oh, no. We’re not charging anything,’ said Nora. ‘If anything, we’re the guinea pigs for whether this will even work.’
‘Well, it’s beautiful,’ said Sam. ‘Far prettier than where we swim now.’
They all set about getting ready to swim. Hilary was very quiet, which Nora took to mean she was nervous.
‘Are you worried about swimming?’ she said to her quietly.
‘I know the thought of it is so much worse than it will actually be,’ said Hilary. ‘But I really don’t want a fish to touch me.’
Nora tried not to laugh. ‘I can’t count the number of times I’ve swum in here now, and I’ve never been touched by a fish. I’ve seen a couple but only at a distance.’
‘That’s reassuring, thank you,’ Hilary said, looking anything but reassured.
‘Come on, let’s get in together,’ said Nora. Patsy and Lois were already in and happily chatting as they swam side by side. Sam and Lou were easing themselves in off the dock, and Jess was already around the other side of the island.
Hilary started rolling her shoulders and exhaling as if she was about to do a race in the Olympics. ‘Let’s get it over with.’
Nora lowered herself in from the dock and stood, water lapping at her waist, waiting as Hilary did the same.
‘It’s not as cold as I expected,’ she said, surprised.
‘I think you’ve been smart to hang back for a couple of weeks. It’s warmed up a bit since the others started.’
‘See? Method in my madness,’ Hilary said laughing. She looked a lot more relaxed now.
‘Wave your wrists in the water. It’ll help you acclimatise before you dip down.’
‘Christ, it doesn’t feel quite as balmy now.’
‘You’ll be fine,’ said Nora, dipping down into the water so that her shoulders were under the surface.
Hilary seemed to be psyching herself up, then without warning, she dipped straight in and began treading water, even though they were still in the relative shallows. ‘I think it’s easier if I’m actually swimming. Can we go?’
‘Yes.’ Nora said, grinning, and pleased that Hilary was breathing normally already. If she was gasping from the cold shock, Nora would have made her stay near the dock until she’d acclimatised a bit more. ‘You should be pleased with yourself, Hilary.’
‘I am quite pleased,’ Hilary said, swimming beside her looking extremely chuffed. ‘What was I scared of? It’s wonderful.’
‘Are you bringing your kit to Dorset?’ Nora asked her as they swam together, out of earshot of Jess.
‘Absolutely not. I’m planning on a romantic weekend away and this look is not sexy.’
Nora laughed. ‘Fair enough. I’m hoping to tempt Archie into the sea. We’ve booked a place right on the beach.’
‘If anyone can persuade him, it’s you. If you’d told me I’d be in a lake in the middle of March, I’d never have believed you. And now look at me. Invincible.’ It had taken two thermal rash vests, thermal leggings and a full wetsuit before she’d taken the plunge, but she sounded more evangelical about the lake than any of them now.
To prepare for going to Dorset, Nora had spent the past week finishing two overseas orders so that she could take the following week off. The experiments with the new range were still ongoing after a less than successful firing. Neil had given her several notes, as if she didn’t know that the thickness of the clay hadn’t been uniform enough. Still, she was going to persist, and she was going to win. Because that was part of the fun of pottery. The challenges and frustrations made the triumphs and successes feel amazing. And knowing that was where the joy lay for Nora.
Archie had stayed at the Court the night before they were due to leave for Dorset, so that he could dine and spend the evening with Constance. That suited Nora, who was keen for some time alone ahead of spending a whole five days with Archie.
But it had surprised her how she’d become used to spending every night together, to the point where she felt the gaping void in her bed that night. She missed him and it was nice to have had the chance to notice that, even if it was unsettling. How had she gone from independent to this in only two months? And was it something she should be worried about?
By the time Archie came to collect her later that morning, Nora was well and truly chilled-out and ready for their break. She’d stayed at the lake, chatting around the fire-pit with everyone, until they drifted off bit by bit to go to work or whatever else they were doing. Nora had come home, finalised her packing, enjoying the fact that she wasn’t in a rush. She added in a couple of extra things that had been delivered the day before and were a surprise for Archie for when they were in Dorset.
‘Your carriage awaits!’ Archie called as he let himself in. ‘I’ll take your luggage out.’
Nora slurped the last of her tea, rinsed the mug and left it on the drainer, then pulled her boots on and grabbed her bag and coat.
‘Ready,’ she announced when Archie reappeared at the door. ‘You look very dashing,’ she said, taking in his smart navy wool jumper and new chinos.
‘I thought I ought to dress the part. You’ve brought quite a bit of luggage for a short trip,’ he said, smiling, with an eyebrow raised. ‘Do you think we’ll fit it all in?’
‘I’ve packed for every eventuality,’ she said. In fact, she’d usually pack lighter, but the surprise she had planned for Archie took up quite a bit of room and necessitated an extra holdall.
‘I have packed exactly what I plan to wear. Nothing more, nothing less.’
‘And what happens if you spill something down yourself?’ Nora asked, climbing into the car while Archie held the door open for her.
He shrugged. ‘That’ll be my hard luck.’
Now that they were underway, Nora was excited. It felt like a real adventure, and being with Archie, away from Croftwood was wonderful. He quickly relaxed, almost visibly. Nora loved watching him drive. The age of the car made her feel like they were in a vintage film and it felt so romantic dashing down to Dorset together for a wedding.
‘This is our first holiday together,’ she said, feeling as if it was a landmark moment.
He smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners, making Nora’s stomach clench. Her heart was so full. This gentle, kind, beautiful man was making her fall in love with him, and she was ready for it. Falling in love again hadn’t seemed like a possibility and certainly wasn’t part of her plan. But that was part of what made it so special. The fact that it had happened despite her.
Dorset was playing ball. The sun was shining, even though the wind was still chilly, and as they caught their first glimpse of the sea, it glistened in the most inviting way.
‘Oh look! I can’t wait to swim in there,’ Nora said.
‘First things first. Have you got the directions ready? We’re almost in Swanage.’
The place Nora had found was off the beaten track and the owner had sent them directions since map apps didn’t tend to work very well once you got close.
‘Got them.’ Nora found the email on her phone. ‘Take the turning on the left here. And now slow down because we’re turning here.’
She leaned forward and pointed to a road which was little more than a wide path, bordered on either side by hedges. Archie turned in and then stopped the car.
‘I don’t fancy meeting something coming the other way,’ he said. ‘Are you sure this is right?’
‘Definitely. The directions literally say you need to trust that it’s the right way and the road opens out very quickly.’
‘Mmm. I hope that’s true,’ Archie said doubtfully. But he carried on very slowly, and the road did indeed open out. Ahead of them, as they rounded a last corner, a small cove bordered by trees came into view.
‘It’s exactly like it looked online!’ Nora said. ‘And look at the little cabin! It’s perfect.’
She looked at Archie who was delighting in her excitement. He pulled the car up in the parking spot behind the cabin and came round to let her out.
‘It is a rather spectacular spot,’ he said. They took the luggage out of the car and went inside the cabin. It was exactly as Nora had hoped. Cosy, with an open fireplace so they could snuggle up and get warm again after a refreshing dip. The host had left a welcome basket for them, which included a bottle of champagne that had been chilling in the fridge.
‘Let’s take this outside,’ said Nora. Archie picked up the glasses that had been thoughtfully left on the side and headed outside to where a tiny patio with a bistro table and two chairs looked out over the beautiful view of the sea.
‘This is just about as perfect a spot as I can imagine,’ he said, popping the cork on the champagne and pouring it. ‘To our first holiday,’ he said.
‘Our first holiday.’
It wasn’t long before the call of the sea could no longer be ignored. Before she would let Archie pour a second glass for each of them, she insisted they take a dip.
Nora opened her holdall and pulled out her dry robe. Then she reached in and pulled out another dry robe. This one was green camouflage with a black fleece lining. A masculine version of her own green one that had pink inside.
‘I bought this for you,’ she said, handing it to Archie.
He took it from her, but looked unsure. She knew his good manners were ingrained enough that he wouldn't be able to reject the gift. But whether it was enough to entice him into the sea, she wasn't sure.
‘You could paddle and see how it goes,’ she suggested. ‘Going in from the shore is so different to plunging into the lake at home. It gives you chance to take your time and get used to the water. And we can do it together.’
‘Alright. I'll come in with you. But not until I've got the fire going.’
Nora threw her arms around his neck. ‘Thank you.’
There was a substantial log pile around the side of the cabin. Archie carried an armful inside. There was a basket of kindling next to the chimney breast and a fancy jar of matches. He laid the kindling in the grate and took a match to it. It lit easily, so he piled some of the smaller logs on top, staring into the flames and enjoying the feeling of warmth that seeped into the cabin. Once the kindling was glowing, he placed several of the smaller logs on top and was satisfied that the fire was lit.
‘Come on then. Let’s go,’ he said.
The shingle shore sloped away from the cabin, and it was only about twenty metres to the water’s edge. Once they got there, Archie could see how clear the water was. Since it was a still day and there were no real waves, the bottom was visible for as far as he could see. Very different to the lake at home and, he realised, part of the reason he didn’t find it appealing. This was much better. At least you could see what you were getting into.
He grabbed her hand and before he talked himself out of it ran into the water.
‘Good grief!’ The water was colder than he could have imagined and it literally took his breath away.
‘Stop!’ Nora said. ‘You need to go slower to let your body adjust.’
‘My body is never going to adjust to this,’ he gasped.
‘It will.’
Nora looked entirely at ease in the freezing water, which was up to their thighs. Archie wasn’t sure he could even feel his thighs anymore.
‘Okay?’
He nodded, noticing that his breathing was back to normal.
‘Ready to go a bit further?’
He rolled his eyes and laughed. ‘At what point is it supposed to feel as wonderful as you make it out to be?’
‘Not yet. This is the hard part.’
‘You’re telling me.’
Holding hands still, they waded further in, Archie continuing to gasp as the cold water rose up his body, until they were almost chest deep.
‘Right, let’s dunk our shoulders in,’ Nora said.
Thinking it was best to get it over with, to get to the point of it being wonderful as quickly as possible, Archie dunked in.
‘Yes! You’ve done it!’
Swimming helped. It almost felt as if he was swimming away from the cold, and after a minute or so, he actually felt warmer.
‘You’re enjoying yourself,’ Nora said, grinning at him.
‘I am.’ He felt stupidly pleased with himself. Almost euphoric. And he wondered what had been holding him back from doing it before.
Late that evening after they’d eaten, and after Archie had made love to her, Nora lay in his arms.
‘I love you,’ he murmured into her ear.
Nora turned to face him.
‘It’s too soon isn’t it,’ he said, looking wounded.
‘No, it isn’t. I love you too.’
‘It scares me that I can’t imagine my life without you. Already.’
Nora cupped his cheek with her hand. ‘I feel like that too. I missed you last night. It took me by surprise.’
Archie laughed softly. ‘I wish things were different. I wish I could offer you more.’
‘No. Things are perfect. I don’t need anything except you. We’re both too old to come into a relationship with no baggage. And while I might not be living with my mother, I do have a very needy business and a hangover from my last relationship that means I will probably always want to keep my cottage.’
‘And you should. I would never ask you to give anything up.’
‘And I wouldn’t ask that either.’ She paused and idly circled a finger on his breastbone. ‘Do you think it’s ridiculous to carry on like this? Living in each other’s houses?’
‘As far as I know, there are no hard and fast rules that say what a relationship looks like. Look at Hilary and Toby, they’re making it work. If it makes us happy to arrange our lives like this, who is anyone to tell us that’s wrong?’
‘And you think Constance will go along with that?’
‘I may live with my mother, but I’m my own man.’
Nora stifled a laugh. ‘I love that you think that.’
Archie pretended to be affronted but couldn’t help grinning. ‘I suppose sneaking into my own house after spending the night with you doesn’t make me seem particularly masterful.’
‘I think you’re very masterful. Just scared of your mother and Mrs Milton.’
‘That’s a fair assessment. But I have told Mother that where our relationship is heading is no one’s business but ours.’
‘Thank you. I like your mother, Archie, you know that. But I do worry that she’s putting pressure on you to…I don’t know, make some kind of commitment that I don’t think either of us want.’
‘Well, you mustn’t worry,’ he said, tightening his arms around her. ‘Things are perfect just as they are.’