Chapter 6
Our Sunday dinner was delicious, but having read what the email was about, along with checking the Instagram notification which had also landed, I was unable to reach the same levels of ecstasy over what the veg tasted like as Rafe did.
Fortunately, he didn’t notice my dip in mood and waxed lyrical about the potential having the community garden to tend and harvest was going to offer us.
Apparently, our vitamin D levels were going to be fully topped up and our diet much enhanced.
Knowing he was keen to get writing again once we’d finished eating, I insisted I would clear away and load the dishwasher, and I didn’t hear another peep out of him.
I sat in my sitting room and fell to brooding, then didn’t sleep well, so wasn’t feeling at my best when Freya came to meet me after her lunch break the next day.
‘Ready?’ she smiled, when I opened the door.
There had been a definite downturn in the weather, and it was cool and rather breezy, so I pulled a jumper on over my long-sleeved T-shirt before locking the door and slipping the key into my jeans pocket.
‘I am,’ I nodded. ‘It was really kind of you to offer to do this.’
‘It’s no trouble.’
‘No Nell today?’
‘She was with me this morning, but there was no budging her just now. She’s not a fan of windy weather, so I’ve left her curled up in her basket.’
‘Sensible Nell,’ I sighed.
‘Are you all right?’ Freya frowned.
‘Yes,’ I said. ‘Sorry. I had some news yesterday, and I suppose it wasn’t entirely unexpected, but it’s still made me feel a bit… sad.’
‘Do you want to talk about it?’ she asked, as she keyed in the code to the garden gate once we’d crossed the road.
‘I daresay I’m being over the top,’ I shrugged. ‘It’s a silly thing really—’
‘Nothing’s silly if it upsets you,’ Freya cut in. ‘What might be completely insignificant to one person can mean the end of the world to another.’
‘Well,’ I said. ‘It’s not the end of the world, but it isn’t insignificant, either.
Not to me, anyway. I had an email from the people I used to work for letting me know that they’d decided to delete the Insta account attached to the hall.
They were still getting email booking enquiries, although there was a pinned post explaining that Highfell now has different owners. ’
Madeline and Tobias had also been keen to know how I was settling in and if Rafe and I were getting along but Freya didn’t need to know that.
‘Did you think they might keep the account going, even though they no longer live there?’ Freya asked.
‘I hadn’t really thought about it,’ I told her. ‘I suppose it wasn’t very likely but by the time I’d read the email and then gone to look for one last time, the account was already gone. I would have liked to have taken some screenshots of the grid…’
‘Maybe you could ask them if there’s any way you can access the photos you wanted to save?’ Freya suggested.
‘It’s not so much about that,’ I sighed again, struggling to explain. ‘I was the one who took most of the photos, so they’re all on my phone anyway.’
‘Well, that’s something.’
‘I suppose…’ I continued, still struggling to find the words, ‘I guess this has made me properly realise that part of my life is now completely over. I probably should have grasped that when I packed my car and drove away last week, but this was the last connection to the place I had and having it severed before I had a chance to prepare for it, feels… well, I don’t know exactly, but rather like another blow. ’
Freya put an arm around me. It was a kind, but unexpected gesture from someone I’d only just met, but I gratefully rested my head on her shoulder, nonetheless.
‘I completely understand,’ she said. ‘I think it all stems from it not being your decision to leave. I know that impacted on me when I left Broad-Meadows.’ She’d said something about that before.
‘Go with the flow and allow yourself to feel these emotions, Skylar. Don’t try to dismiss them because ultimately that won’t help you come to terms with the changes. ’
‘You’re right,’ I swallowed, aware that she was talking total sense. ‘I know you are.’
‘Endings are tough,’ she said and squeezed me closer.
‘But they’re also the gateway to new beginnings.’
She smiled at that and let me go. ‘Who said that?’
‘I read it on a tea towel somewhere,’ I smiled.
‘Great,’ she grinned. ‘Not really what you want to hear when you’re in the midst of something traumatic though, is it?’
‘No,’ I agreed. ‘Now come on, show me where all this fruit and veg that my father has fallen into raptures over is growing and what he’s supposed to do to help it make the journey from seed packet to saucepan.’
‘This way,’ Freya pointed, thankfully not saying that I was supposed to play a part, too.
However, I was barely through the Grow-Well gate before I realised why Rafe had been so smitten.
Created within the original and sheltered Prosperous Place walled garden, the scene before me wouldn’t have looked out of place in a self-sufficiency magazine six-page spread.
That number of pages would have been needed to do it all justice.
There were raised beds full of healthy looking veg, some ready for harvesting, various varieties of fruit bushes and trees growing both near and along the brick walls, a hen house and spacious run, complete with half a dozen clucking hens and the cutest bothy with two cats stretched out along the windowsill where it was doubtless warmer than reclining outside in the wind.
‘That’s Violet and Dash,’ Freya told me. ‘Brother and sister, born and bred here and always up to some mischief.’
‘That sounds like my father’s cats, Socrates and Plato,’ I smiled, my former upset about the Highfell Insta account for the moment forgotten. ‘One is quieter than the other but still far too easily led astray.’
‘Cool names,’ Freya approved. ‘This pair are neck and neck on the mayhem front. What one doesn’t think of the other one does.’
I laughed at that.
‘Is that an oven?’ I asked, pointing towards what I thought looked like a traditional pizza oven.
‘It is,’ Freya confirmed and headed over to where it had been built. ‘Lisa’s husband John is head chef and this is where we hold various parties and celebrations throughout the year. Even right through the winter if it’s dry.’
There were tables set out and chairs of all kinds, along with bunting flapping in the lowest branches of a vast oak tree.
‘How lovely,’ I smiled.
Even though I had been reluctant to join Rafe and meet everyone the day before, I could see the appeal of a party in the Grow-Well and perhaps I might at some point develop an urge to pitch in with the growing and so on, though I would need guidance because I was no gardener.
‘The whole place is an oasis in the city,’ Freya said wistfully.
‘Though,’ she added, as she looked around, ‘it’s currently getting a bit out of hand.
’ It looked fine to me, but then I wouldn’t know a weed from a wallflower.
‘Graham and Carole mostly take the lead because they’re retired, but Graham hasn’t been well this year, though he’s on the mend now. ’
I remembered Rafe had mentioned them as our nearest neighbours.
He hadn’t said that Graham had been poorly but given that it was the first time he had met them, it wasn’t likely to have come up in conversation, and he wouldn’t have noticed if Graham looked different because he hadn’t known him before.
‘I’m sorry to hear that,’ I said. ‘Though obviously pleased that he’s recovering.’
Freya went to say something else, but a sudden spattering of cold raindrops landed with the next gust of wind and she shrieked instead.
‘Shall we wait it out in the bothy?’ I suggested as it started to rain harder.
‘No,’ she said. ‘Come on. I’ve got a better idea!’
I followed her back out of the Grow-Well and along a path I hadn’t been down before.
‘I’ll introduce you to my partner, Finn,’ she said, as we briskly walked side by side. ‘He’s got a studio where he creates his art just along here.’
‘His art?’
I tried to match the description of the Viking that Rafe had given me with my idea of an artist.
‘Yes,’ Freya said, filling in the blanks for me. ‘He’s a sculptor. He made the hares and dragons in the garden, among other things. Did I not say?’
‘Wow!’ I gasped. ‘No, you didn’t. What an amazing talent to have.’
Further conversation was halted as the rain came down even harder and we both squealed and made a dash to get under cover.
Had I known what was waiting for me on the other side of the large door, I might not have been so keen to rush through it.
However, by the time I’d realised who one of the deep voices inside belonged to, it was too late.
I came to an abrupt halt and Freya had to nudge me further in to close the door behind us.
‘Well,’ she laughed, ‘this wasn’t in the forecast. There goes my plan to cut the main lawn this afternoon.’
‘That’s my fault,’ I apologised. ‘Giving me a guided tour has held you up.’
She shook her head at that. ‘I would have hardly got started,’ she said kindly, making me feel better.
I was looking everywhere but at the two men standing opposite us but I knew Freya wouldn’t put the moment of introduction off for ever.
‘I didn’t expect to find you here, Erik,’ she continued, ‘but I’m pleased I have because that kills two birds with one stone. Erik, Finn may I introduce you to Skylar. Skylar, this is our friend, Erik, and my partner, Finn.’
I took a deep breath and looked up. I looked at Finn first and found him to be everything Rafe had described.
‘Hello Skylar,’ he smiled. ‘I met your dad yesterday.’
‘Yes,’ I nodded. ‘He did say.’
‘He mentioned me?’ Finn blushed.
‘He did,’ I confirmed.
‘Crikey,’ he said and fiddled with one of the leather bracelets he was wearing. ‘I hope I didn’t make a fool of myself. I’m a total Rafe Harding fan and to be honest, I didn’t really know what to say to him.’