Chapter 9 #2
‘Okay,’ I said, ‘but only if you tell me exactly what to do Graham because my biggest fear is pulling up your prize parsnips or something.’
‘The parsnips stay in the ground until at least the first frost,’ he said seriously, ‘so they’re not ready to come up yet.’
‘Noted,’ I nodded, though I had no idea what a parsnip top looked like.
Accepting that I was a total novice, he set me up with something failsafe – clearing a bed of bolted salad leaves and then emptying out a couple of pots.
I took my time pulling the plants up, putting them in the wheelbarrow and then depositing them on the compost heap with any weeds that had made their home there, too.
Graham had explained that not every weed could be composted but those in the bed I was working on would be fine.
I then added some well-rotted manure and forked the bed over so it looked as good as new and was ready for whatever would be going in next. The plants in the pots came out leaves, compost and all because they’d dried out.
‘Our watering rota went a bit awry at the end of the summer holidays,’ Graham sighed, when he came to inspect my work. ‘So, these have gone over a bit earlier than they usually would.’
‘Have you considered installing an automatic watering system?’ I suggested, as I ran a hand over my brow.
It was a chilly day, but I’d worked up quite a sweat, and I realised then that I hadn’t thought about anything other than what I’d been doing since I’d started.
So far, my efforts were proving to be the ideal distraction.
Grandad George and Erik would be as thrilled about that as I was.
‘I did a bit of googling about growing veg last night and some of the irrigation systems looked very impressive.’
‘It has crossed my mind, but I haven’t looked properly into it. I might run the idea by everyone at the party.’
‘What party?’ I echoed.
‘Oh,’ Graham said, with a nod to the garden entrance. ‘Stand by your beds. Here comes the boss.’
I turned around to find Kate coming towards me with a man I’d never seen before. He was very good looking.
‘Lisa said you were making a start today, Skylar,’ Kate smiled at me.
‘And I thought it was about time I introduced myself,’ the man said. ‘I’m Luke. It’s a pleasure to meet you.’
‘Likewise,’ I said, ‘I would shake your hand, but I’ve got a bit mucky, even with Lisa’s gloves on.’ They were too big for me, so I’d buy some of my own ahead of my next visit.
‘We don’t stand on ceremony here, so no worries,’ Luke smiled. ‘How are you finding life in the square?’
We chatted for a few minutes and then Beth arrived with her partner, Eli. It was certainly a day for meeting people, but I found I didn’t mind that. Eli didn’t linger because he needed to get to his work, but Beth stayed.
‘So, Graham,’ she said. ‘Do you think the weather’s going to hold for the party? It’s not anywhere near as warm as it was last week, is it?’
Graham refused to be drawn on the weather saying it was as changeable as a woman’s moods. This earned him a look from his wife and stifled laughter among the rest of us.
‘We always have an evening gathering here to celebrate the autumn equinox,’ Kate explained for my benefit.
‘How lovely,’ I smiled.
‘It is,’ Luke agreed. ‘We have a meal together and talk about the year so far.’
‘It’s nothing as grand as the autumn festival we attended last year,’ Kate said, linking her arm through Luke’s. ‘But it’s fun in its own way.’
‘An autumn festival,’ I said wistfully. ‘That sounds wonderful.’
‘It was,’ Kate nodded. ‘My brother, Tom, and his wife, Jemma, live in this lovely Fenland town called Wynbridge with their kids, and it has an autumn festival now that runs for weeks.’
‘They had some really fun activities,’ Luke added. ‘Great stuff for the kids to do.’
‘Where are your girls today?’ Beth asked him.
‘Erik’s taken them to a crafting workshop at the castle,’ he explained. ‘Jasmine was really keen to take part, and he volunteered to take both her and Abigail along.’
I had wondered if he might come and find me as Lisa had mentioned I was here, but clearly not if he was off-site. I found the thought of him in the ‘fun uncle’ role most endearing.
‘If only we weren’t all so rushed off our feet with other commitments,’ I heard Kate say as I tuned back into the conversation, ‘we might have been able to organise a couple of extra things to do at the party here this year.’
‘Everyone’s lives seem far busier than when we set this garden up originally,’ Carole said. ‘The square has seen so many changes over the last few years, but we keep going and I’m proud of how we all still manage to come together.’
‘Me too,’ agreed Luke. ‘The Grow-Well is such an integral part of Prosperous Place, I can’t remember life without it now.’
‘That’s because you hadn’t been moved in five minutes before we were setting it up!’ Kate reminded him and kissed his cheek.
‘And I know Rafe wants to get over here to help,’ I told them all.
‘And of course, if Graham’s happy to keep telling me what to do, I’m happy to pitch in as much as I can.
In fact,’ I added as inspiration struck, ‘I’d be happy to take on organising some things for the party if you like.
Assuming,’ I quickly added, ‘I wouldn’t be standing on anyone’s toes. ’
‘You wouldn’t be,’ Kate rushed to say. ‘But are you sure you can spare the time?’
‘Time is the one thing I currently have an abundance of!’ I laughed. ‘And I’d be delighted to fill some more of it.’
‘You used to be an events organiser, didn’t you?’ Beth asked.
‘I still am,’ I told her. ‘I’m just between jobs at the moment but keen to keep my hand in if it would be any help?’
‘Come over to the house,’ Kate beamed. ‘And we’ll give you more of an idea of what usually happens, and I’ll look up the Wynbridge Autumn Festival details online, too, in case you want to take a look.’
‘All right,’ I accepted. ‘I will.’
‘But not until you’ve brushed out and given those pots you’ve just emptied a good scrub,’ Graham said with a smile. ‘The job needs finishing. Come on and I’ll show you where the brushes and detergent are kept.’
‘We’ll see you in a bit then,’ Luke grinned.
‘I’ll join you as soon as I’m done,’ I promised and followed Graham over to the bothy.