Chapter 13
CHAPTER 13
N ina reached the village green of Eversley. She stopped the car, thinking how beautiful it was in the evening sunshine. She’d so many memories attached to this village. Attending the opening day of Julian’s bistro, which was now a favourite with food critics. Bidding at Kelly’s Auction House on a few items, none of which she’d won. It was run by Helen Kelly and her son’s girlfriend Grace Bunning, whose father was in business with Jaz. She smiled. The village was so interconnected, there was a part of her that envied those who lived there, in the tight-knit community.
She watched children playing catch on the green and wound down her window to take in some deep breaths of fresh air and thought back to the village fairs that used to be held there when she was a child. Her parents often brought her to them. Maybe this would be the ideal place to bring up their child, rather than the remote house in Shepton Mallet. If Ethan would be living between the UK and Qatar, maybe it would be better for her to move to a place with neighbours. And Eversley Village Primary School always had good inspection reports. Living in isolation in the country had always given them a sense of freedom, but it would be more practical to be closer to amenities for family life.
Ethan also loved Eversley. It was where she was when Ethan had asked her out on their first date, having not seen him since college. She’d caught up with him years later at the reopening of Holly’s nursery after it had suffered a fire. Initially, Nina had not recognised him at all. This tall and muscular man, with a white smile and fair hair, was nothing like the boy she’d known at college. She’d been waiting to meet the perfect man, and he’d been standing before her, gorgeous and confident. He’d told her he was waiting for a woman to come into his life, who he could love, spoil and treat like a princess. And he’d done just that after they’d hit it off, going to the gym together, off to a yoga retreat together, holidays to the Maldives where they learnt to scuba dive together. She truly believed they were perfect for each other. They’d celebrated all of their wins, taking many city breaks and eating in high-end restaurants.
Her eyes rested on the grocery store. It had been closed since the post office element had been shut down and the postmaster had moved on. It had clearly been taken over by someone new, as there was a bucket of daffodils outside, presumably for sale. She glanced at her phone, realising she had been reminiscing for a good fifteen minutes, and switched the engine back on for the last few yards of her journey.
She turned into the cul-de-sac where Jaz and Julian had bought the largest cottage in the village. It was within the first ever built cul-de-sac where the cottages dated back to the Victorian era and the builders had used stone mined from Somerset quarries. Ashbury Gardens was the most sought after and popular road with incomers to the village, and the locals found it difficult to afford to buy them. Jaz and Julian had been able to snap it up before it even went on the market as they knew the previous owners.
Nina drew up outside the cottage. The front door swung open and Jaz was grinning at her from the doorstep, before Nina had even switched the engine off. Nina opened the car door and gazed at the beautiful cottage with a wisteria in bloom against the front wall with hanging lilac flowers. There was a separate annexe, which Jaz’s parents were moving into. It was rendered in a dirty white and Nina imagined it would look pristine once Jaz had finished extending and refurbishing it.
“Congratulations on your new beautiful home,” she said to Jaz as she reached the doorstep and handed her a bunch of flowers. With Jaz and Julian owning a pub, she never gave them alcoholic gifts.
“I’ll show you around before everyone else arrives.”
Nina entered the welcoming family home and felt her throat constrict, wondering whether she would have a family home like this. Would she be a family of two? She paused; she needed to eradicate the negative talk and focus on Ethan coming around. Not to even entertain the thought he would reject her. She also did not want to harbour any resentment towards him which would affect their relationship going forward.
Jaz showed her around the house. It was quirky with a lot of cosy spaces and rooms.
They stepped outside into the rear garden and Jaz pointed to the building next door. “I wish the annex was ready for Mum and Dad to move into.”
“It’s more than an annex. It’s a whole separate house!” Nina said.
Jaz laughed. “I know. Julian’s putting a fence up in between our homes, to split it apart from us and we have applied for it to be shown on the land registry as two separate properties. I want Mum and Dad to feel it’s theirs, not part of our place. They can grow old there.”
“That’s so nice.”
“The renovation will include an extra bedroom over a new kitchen-diner and a conservatory. It will take a few more months.” She sighed. “Mum’s been in that house on Eversley Burrows since she was a teenager. It’ll be lovely for her to finally move out and to the village. And I’m not gonna lie, I do get the odd flashback to my childhood when I’m over there.”
Nina knew that Jaz had had a tough upbringing. “Don’t they mind leaving their community behind?”
“They don’t need to worry about that, it’s only a fifteen-minute walk, or so. The Burrows lot will be over here all the time, I’m sure. It’s another reason we want to have a clear divide,” she said with a laugh.
“I need some help in the kitchen!” Julian’s voice resounded from the house.
“Come on,” Jaz said, leading Nina inside and through to the large kitchen-diner which looked out onto the beautiful garden with a huge cherry tree.
The boys came running in. “Hi Nina,” they said in unison.
“Hands,” Julian said and the boys went to the sink.
“Where’s Belle?” Jaz asked.
“Probably upstairs on her phone,” Julian grumbled.
Jaz tutted and went to the foot of the stairs. “Belle, didn’t you hear Julian? He needs help.” She frowned. “Belle!”
“You don’t have to shout,” Belle said as she stomped down the stairs. “I heard the first time.” As she walked towards the dining table, Nina smiled to herself. The scowl on Belle’s face reminded her of the way Jaz used to look at her when they were the same age – sixteen. Jaz had been jealous of anyone who went near Holly and that had included Nina.
Nina could not help but cheer up as the family set out the plates and snacks for their guests. Once they’d finished, the boys ran back to the garden and Belle sloped off upstairs.
The doorbell rang.
“Here they come,” Jaz said.
The first to arrive were David Bunning and his wife Florrie. David had met Florrie aboard a cruise ship where she worked as a Shirley Bassey tribute act. His daughter Grace followed them in with Helen Kelly, the owner of the auction house.
Nina smiled at David and gave an inner groan as she predicted she’d have to endure another sympathetic chat about losing her seat on the council and how she would gain it back in no time. David had been a councillor at Wells for some time himself before he stood down after meeting Florrie, wanting to spend time abroad with her.
Grace stepped forward and gave Nina a hug. “How are you?”
“I’m fine, really I am.” She gave her a squeeze and then stepped back. “Enforced change is always a time for reflection and signifies a new phase in your life.” She didn’t elaborate. She was desperate for Ethan to return so she could begin to spread their news, once he’d got a handle on it himself.
“You look well,” Helen said with a broad smile. “You’re glowing. It’ll probably do you good to have more time to yourself. You’ve been living life at one hundred miles an hour!” Helen wandered off to the kitchen carrying a plastic tub of food.
Florrie stood beside David with her head cocked to one side.
“No need for the ‘next election’ chat,” Nina said quickly to David before he could speak. “I’m fine. I’m simply looking forward and focussing on breathing new life into my business. I’ve neglected it over recent years, so I’m on it.”
“That’s the spirit,” David said with a smile. He was an attractive man in his mid-fifties and Jaz’s business partner.
“I’m glad you’re bearing up,” Florrie said with a warm smile.
“You’re looking tanned, David. Have you two been away again?” Nina said, swiftly shifting the topic of conversation.
Florrie nodded. “We’ve spent a lot of time at my apartment in Grand Canaria.”
“I’ve come back to see what on earth that daughter of mine is up to.”
Grace laughed. “I’ve been rattling around this past week, as Brendan’s away now in California. He’ll be gone for months, other than a couple of visits, although hopefully I’ll be spending some time there with him for a holiday.”
“I thought he was supposed to be building the business here, in the UK?” Nina said, surprised.
“The MD is out of action, so he’s been called in to oversee while she gets over back surgery. And he’s already got managers in the three UK offices. Further expansion is on hold while they just keep things going in the US.”
“So Grace has been in our five-bedroomed house, while we’ve been living in a pokey two-bed apartment,” David said. He owned a house just outside the village.
Florrie laughed. “It’s hardly pokey, it has two huge bedrooms with ensuites and a terrace looking out to the sea.”
David put his arm around his wife. “True and I miss it already.”
The doorbell chimed again and Jaz passed them to answer it.
Florrie glanced at Nina. “We had to come back as Jaz needs an extra hand with the business.”
David sighed. “She’ll work me into the ground. She’s bought in a massive amount of stock from a liquidation deal, so we need to get our skates on and shift it. Mind you, it should raise a chunk towards her buying me out completely.”
“Where’s Ethan?” David asked.
“He’s in Qatar, he has a design going forward over there.”
“That’s a long way away,” Florrie said.
“I know the feeling,” Grace added. “You look worried. Is everything okay?” Grace asked as David and Florrie went over to greet the next guests to arrive.
“Yes, although I have a few issues,” Nina answered without elaborating. People would find out the full story soon enough when she started growing but she wasn’t ready to discuss it until she had Ethan back on side. “But I want to forget about them and have a pleasant evening.”
Grace tucked her arm in hers. “Come on then, I’m dying to have a look around. Jaz wouldn’t let me in until everything was in its place.”
The doorbell rang again and from then on there was a constant stream of arrivals for the next half an hour. After showing Grace and Florrie the house, Nina mingled and got the introductions out of the way and the expected commiserations about her losing her seat on the council. Val, Len, Holly, Mitch and the girls all arrived together. Jaz passed her a champagne flute. “There’s only orange and lemonade in yours. Everyone else has Bucks Fizz. You’ll be proud to know, I’ve not said a word. You must feel like you’re in limbo waiting for Ethan to come home.”
“It hasn’t escaped my attention that you’ve never liked Ethan,” Nina said.
“Not originally. I thought you all thought you were better than me as I didn’t go to college. I was working.”
“You know that’s not true.”
“Of course. But Ethan, he’s too particular about everything, his food, what he wears, his hair, his body. It gets right on my nerves.”
Nina smiled. “I think he’s always been a bit wary of you.”
“He should be now, if he gives you a hard time when he shows his face.”
Jaz got called away and Nina found herself chatting to Helen.
“How’s business?” Helen asked.
“It’s been a tough couple of years and I’m diversifying,” Nina said and then explained her plan.
“I’m sure you’ll do just fine. Something Special has been on the market square for years. I can’t imagine it closing. And how’s Ethan? I’m sure he’ll support you. I hear he’s doing very well for himself.”
“He’s excited about his new project in Qatar,” Nina said, not really wanting to discuss him. She needed the bathroom and to escape the constant questions about Ethan. She didn’t want to think about him, not knowing what would happen. “You’ll have to excuse me for a moment.” She went out of the room and up the stairs as the downstairs toilet appeared to be in use.
On the landing she went inside, relieved to be alone. It was bad enough telling people she’d lost her seat and business. How would it be if she had to tell them she was pregnant, if Ethan didn’t come around? She felt so out of control when the negative thoughts clouded her mind.
As she exited the bathroom, having remained in there for as long as she could, she saw straight through to Belle’s room. The teenager was on the phone to someone.
“I’ve already said, yes.” Belle shut her eyes. “Not yet.” She paused. “Look, I have to go.” As she ended the call, she spotted Nina and placed her phone on the bed.
“Are you okay?” Nina asked.
“Yeah, someone wants me to help them with their revision.” She gave a short laugh. “I told them I can’t do it right now. I have to focus on my own grades.”
Nina looked around the space from the doorway. “You’ve a lovely room.”
“It’s okay. I liked my room at the Eversley.” She pointed to the window. “All I can see outside are other cottages and parked cars. I used to be able to sit and look at the green and the people sitting outside until it went dark and then the lights twinkled. And at Christmas, we could see the big tree, with all the lights on.”
“But you’ll all be together here, the whole family.”
Belle made no comment.
Nina heard footsteps pounding up the stairs and expected to see the boys but it was two girls.
“Where’s Belle?” they asked.
Nina stepped aside and Belle jumped off her bed to greet her friends. As Nina reached the bottom of the stairs she heard a baby crying. She stopped and realised, that since she’d found out she was pregnant, she’d not been anywhere near a baby.
“I’ll do it,” Simon said. “Oh, hi Nina. Have you met Alex?”
The baby began to scream as he crawled towards his mother, his face turning crimson.
“Not yet,” she said.
“I’ll bring him to you in a mo,” Simon said. “He needs changing.”
Nina turned around to find Kimberly, Simon’s wife, smiling at her.
“Simon’s so good. I don’t know what I’d do without him.” She sighed. “My eldest, Max, didn’t have a father around much, as my first husband was married more to his job. Then we split up.” She grinned at Nina. “But Simon makes up for it. He spends so much time with Max as well – he was going off the rails but he’s been like a different child since Simon came into our lives. Now come on, let me hear your news.”
Nina followed Kimberly into the lounge and sat beside her and filled her in on losing her seat and her attempt to bring new life to the shop.
“You’re an amazing woman, I know you’ll turn it around. Oh, here they are!”
Simon handed over Alex and a bottle.
“Do you want to feed him?” Kimberly asked Nina.
“Oh, yes,” she said, cradling the warm baby in her arms.
“I’ll get a drink. What are you having?”
“Only orange juice, I’m driving.”
Alex stared at her as he sucked hard on the bottle. Am I really cut out for this? she asked herself.