Chapter 31
Willow and Lindon’s uncle was a sign-maker so we’d commissioned a large new sign for the end of the farm track from him.
It wouldn’t be ready for a couple of weeks but, this morning, Lindon had dropped off a welcome banner which looked amazing.
It would hang on the outside of the barn at the top of the farm track, welcoming visitors and directing them to the parking area.
Mam was holding the ladder secure and I was halfway up the rungs when I spotted Jude’s car coming up the track.
‘Jude’s here!’ I cried, before descending the ladder. ‘We’ll hang this later, Mam.’
Jude stopped her car near us and rushed over to hug me but got waylaid by Nova and Skye who were evidently delighted to see her too.
‘I know it’s been less than a fortnight but I’ve missed you so much.’ Jude squeezed me tightly after she’d given the dogs some attention.
‘Same here.’
She hugged Mam and thanked her for letting her stay.
‘Pleasure to have you here,’ Mam said. ‘Especially when you’ve offered to help.’
I directed Jude to where she should park and Mam and I followed on foot with the dogs. While Mam put the kettle on, I helped Jude up to the spare bedroom with her luggage.
‘You look really well,’ she said, smiling at me. ‘You’ve got colour back in your cheeks.’
‘I feel good. It’s been hard work non-stop but I’m loving every minute of it. Well, nearly every minute. The moments of attitude aren’t much fun.’
‘Where is Maddie?’
‘Out on her bike.’
‘On her own?’
‘I’m guessing with Willow but she never tells me anything. I’m glad she’s finally moved from her bedroom and I love that she’s making friends, but she knows we need help so…’ I tailed off, shaking my head. ‘You must be hungry.’
‘I picked up a sandwich at the services but I’d love a coffee.’
I pointed out the bathroom then went downstairs to give Jude a chance to freshen up after her long drive.
* * *
‘You struck gold here,’ Jude said a few hours later as we stood by the gate to Big Field with icy cold fizzy drinks.
She’d helped Mam and me put the welcome banner up and the three of us had led the horses from the back pastures to the front ones, which had been the perfect opportunity to introduce them all to Jude. Mam had now returned to the farmhouse to continue reading her book.
‘The view is spectacular, the farmhouse is beautiful and these boys and girls…’ Jude clapped her hand to her heart, her eyes pooling with tears. ‘I needed this today.’
‘Aw, don’t cry!’ I said, putting my arms round her. ‘You’ll set me off.’
‘I need to be with horses,’ she said, wiping her eyes when we pulled apart. ‘I came here to find clarity and, on day one, I’ve already found it.’
‘There’s something about them, isn’t there?’ I said, reaching out my hand as Duchess approached us.
‘She’s gorgeous,’ Jude said. ‘Aren’t you, Duchess?’
‘I love how you’re rubbish with remembering human names but not horse ones. I bet you know all of mine already.’
She grinned, nodded and proceeded to point at each one in turn, correctly naming all eleven without hesitation.
‘What did you need clarity on?’ I asked as we set off towards the farmyard so she could meet the goats.
‘Returning to teaching.’
‘Teaching? I had no idea that was on the cards.’
‘It isn’t. Being here has confirmed that for me. But I do need to find a new job. I walked out yesterday – told Ross Langley where to stick his job.’
I stopped and stared at her. ‘You didn’t! Oh, Jude! What happened?’
‘Apparently I don’t rake out the stables the way he likes. I was already smarting from the calling me June thing so I handed him the rake and told him he could either use it to muck out the stables his way or he could shove it up his arse but, either way, I wasn’t sticking around.’
‘I know it’s not funny, but…’ I couldn’t get the rest of my words out for laughter. I could imagine Jude saying those exact words and the shocked look on Ross’s face.
Jude laughed too. ‘It’s okay. It is funny. His face, Grace. I swear the man turned purple.’
‘How are you feeling about it now?’
‘I’m relieved to be away from him, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t worried about my next steps. I should be at the pinnacle of my career right now and I hate that I’m jobless and floundering. My fortnight here couldn’t be more perfectly timed.’
‘We’ll get our thinking heads on together while you’re here.’
We set off walking again.
‘I wanted to get your take on something,’ I said. ‘Nothing to do with animals, jobs or Maddie.’
‘Intriguing. Hit me with it.’
‘Mam and I were talking about Laurie and she said she was really disappointed in how he handled the split – no discussions, no explanations.’
Jude raised her hand. ‘Joining your mum’s club.’
I raised my hand too. ‘She admitted that she’d had reservations about us getting engaged while we were still in our university bubble as she called it and was glad we waited a few years to be certain it was right.
That phrase triggered something which I couldn’t quite get to at the time but I think I’ve sussed it now.
All six of us loved uni but who would you say loved it the most? ’
‘Laurie. He loved every second of it.’
‘I agree. Is it possible he wanted to stay in the university bubble forever and that marrying me helped him do that?’
She pondered for a moment before shaking her head. ‘I agree with you about Laurie wanting to stay in the bubble but there’s no way he’d have married you just for that.’
‘But if he hadn’t married me, the bubble would have burst. Even if we didn’t ask them to, everyone would have taken sides. You’d have been on mine, or at least I hope you would.’
‘Absolutely! And so would Erica but… urgh! It’s really messy thinking about it.’
‘Exactly! If Laurie and I had split up after uni, everything would have changed between the six of us.’
‘But if Laurie married you just to keep his university life alive, that would mean…’
‘That he stayed in a loveless marriage for twenty-one years – loveless at his end, that is.’
‘No! He wouldn’t do that, Grace. I understand your train of thought, I really do, but Laurie loved you. I’m certain of it.’
‘How? What did you see that makes you so sure that he loved me as a wife rather than as a friend?’
Jude was quiet for a moment, evidently pondering on that.
‘Even if it was more friendship than romantic love, he still loved you,’ she said eventually.
‘Is it worth putting that theory to him? If you’re right – or at least on the right lines – it would pave the way to him telling the truth and, if you’re wrong, it might encourage him to open up about why he left, knowing you’re questioning the validity of your whole marriage. ’
‘I guess I’ll have to try again at some point but, right now, I need to focus on the farm and hopefully some visitors.’
We fed the goats, returned to the farmhouse to wash our hands then set off on a tour of the barns and buildings.
‘Cute cottages,’ Jude said, looking from The Dovecote to Peartree Cottage. ‘What’s this Caleb like?’
I shrugged. ‘Can’t make him out. He was a bit off with me when I arrived but then…’
* * *
‘You know what I’m going to ask…’ Jude said when I’d finished telling her about Caleb.
‘Am I attracted to him?’
‘Yes!’
I was about to declare a vehement no but something stopped me.
‘I don’t know. Possibly. Probably. It’s too early to say. It was exciting thinking there might be some chemistry but, after he was so cool with me on Saturday, I’m thinking I imagined it. Not that it matters. I’m not in the headspace for a new relationship right now.’
‘Who said anything about a relationship?’ She gave me a playful nudge and I knew exactly what she was suggesting.
‘Definitely not a good idea when he’s my only neighbour, my vet, my farrier, and I see him most days.’
After Clemmie’s injury, I’d done some digging and the veterinary practice where Caleb worked had a great reputation so I’d registered with them for the farm animals and our pets.
Jude and I had reached the far end of the farm and, after I pointed out the site of the now removed dilapidated shed where we’d thankfully found Clemmie, we set off back.
Maddie was cycling towards the farmhouse as we walked past the forge.
Jude shouted her name twice but got no acknowledgement.
She had to have heard but, even if she hadn’t, she couldn’t have missed the dogs charging towards her.
Maddie rested her bike against the fence and went inside, closely followed by Nova and Skye.
‘Probably had her earbuds in,’ I said to Jude. ‘Sorry.’
‘You don’t need to apologise or make excuses for her. I’m big enough and ugly enough to handle it if she’s off with me.’
I hoped she wouldn’t be. Jude had taken her godmother role very seriously and had played a key part in Maddie’s childhood, taking her on days out and even on holiday.
As Maddie got older and felt the pull of friends and hobbies, the trips and holidays might have ceased but they’d still seen each other regularly and, after moving to Twyford and joining the team at Silvervale, Jude became Maddie’s riding instructor.
If Maddie gave her any nonsense during her stay, Jude would call her out on it and perhaps that’s what she needed – somebody who wasn’t family to hold a mirror up to her.
Mam was in the kitchen making a quiche.
‘You’ve just missed Maddie,’ she said.
I gave Jude an apologetic shrug.
‘Honestly, Grace, don’t worry about it,’ she said. ‘When she comes down for tea, I’ll pin her to her chair and make her talk to me.’
I made Jude a mug of tea and washed some new potatoes while Mam put the quiche in the oven. I’d just finished preparing a salad when Maddie appeared dressed in her best jeans and a smart top with her make-up done and her hair styled.
‘Well, hello Ms Maddie Coates, don’t you look gorgeous this evening?’ Jude said, pulling Maddie into a hug before she had a chance to protest. ‘But you didn’t need to dress up for me.’
‘I didn’t. I’m going out. See you later.’
Mam spun round from the sink. ‘You’re not having tea?’
‘No.’
‘We’ve prepared a meal for four,’ Mam said. ‘Did you not think to mention it earlier?’
‘I didn’t know earlier.’
‘But you must have known before you started getting ready,’ I said, taking care to keep my voice frustration-free.
‘Yeah, but what difference would a few extra spuds and a bit of salad make? It’s hardly major food waste.’
‘That’s not the point.’
‘It is! If tea had been a big steak each, I’d see the issue, but Nanna would have made the same size quiche whether there were three or four of us eating it.’
Embarrassed by our usual family drama unfolding in front of a guest, I chose not to prolong it.
‘Enjoy your evening.’
Maddie rolled her eyes at me. ‘Like you care.’ She lifted her bag onto her shoulder and stomped out of the kitchen without a goodbye.
‘Oh, my God!’ Jude exclaimed. ‘Who was that?’
‘Not the lovely granddaughter I used to know,’ Mam murmured.
I put my arm round Mam’s shoulders and rested my head against hers, at a loss for words.