Chapter 5
Tess wasn’t sure who was more excited, her or Barney, as they anticipated Rob’s arrival on Saturday morning.
She’d gathered her keys, phone, water bottle, the dog’s lead and the rest of his paraphernalia and put the items on the table, while she went in search of her small backpack.
Barney, who was highly attuned to Tess’s every movement, dashed around the kitchen, his tail wagging enthusiastically, knowing that a walk was in the offing, and clearly wishing Tess would hurry up and get a move on.
‘Won’t be long, Barney,’ she said, laughing, putting a hand down to reassure the dog. ‘Oh look,’ she said, peering out of the front kitchen window. ‘Here he is now.’
It was a scramble to see who could get to the door first, although Barney was always going to win that race, and Tess chided him as she gently pushed him to one side with her leg so that she could open the door.
‘Hi,’ she said, her face lighting up to see Rob’s familiar figure standing there.
His appearance sent a frisson of excitement along her spine.
Tall and broad, he was wearing his customary dark jeans and black t-shirt, which reminded her of the first time they’d met.
Then, he’d sported a shadowy stubble across his jaw, accentuating the inky rings beneath his eyes, which had lent him a mysterious, if somewhat intimidating air.
It was only when he smiled, bringing a softness to his features and highlighting the intensity of his blue eyes, that he seemed so much more approachable.
Now, she loved that expression, the way he looked at her, his arms open wide to welcome her into his embrace.
Wrapped in his arms felt entirely natural, as though this was where she belonged, and when they kissed, his face against hers, the gentle brush of his stubble against her jawline, she caught a whiff of his heady scent, the notes of his usual aftershave: citrusy with mossy undertones, mingled with the aroma of the great outdoors.
‘It’s so lovely to see you.’ She ran a hand over his face, appreciating his familiar features, before smiling.
‘Right,’ she added, not wanting to get distracted, or else they would never get out of the house.
‘I think we’re ready. Well, Barney’s been ready for ages. ’
They headed down the drive, hand in hand, and out of the gates, turning right onto the lane, before walking across the country road into the fields.
It was a route they’d followed several times before and Barney certainly knew the way, leading from the front, his white-tipped tail carried jauntily behind him.
They fell into step together, crunching over the fallen leaves, chatting easily, catching up on their news, throwing each other sidelong glances, laughing at throwaway comments.
It was how Tess had grown to know Rob better after he moved into the annexe, when she’d slowly become reassured by his presence around the grounds of the cottage, catching sight of him through the window as he left for his daily walk.
Soon, he was taking Barney with him, and on occasions, Tess as well, when the act of simply being outside, of walking together, without having to make direct eye contact, meant they could gradually open up to one another.
It was during those walks that they had learned so much about each other: what had led to their respective marriage break-ups, how those upheavals had made them feel and their hopes and plans for a new future.
It was cathartic to talk freely to someone who didn’t know Tess as part of a couple, as Charles’s wife.
She could voice those thoughts and feelings aloud that she wouldn’t necessarily share with her closest friends, who were bound to give her well-meaning advice based on what they thought they knew about her relationship.
In a short space of time, she had come to value Rob’s friendship, his ability to simply listen and show concern without overwhelming her with his own opinion.
Now, she felt as though she’d known him much longer than the five months since he’d first come into her life.
Even with a cool nip to the air, Tess could appreciate the beauty of the day, the rich, red colours of autumn evident in the trees and fallen conkers and sweet chestnuts littering the forest floor.
The squirrels were industrious, darting through the woods, gathering acorns ahead of the winter months.
Tess relished being alongside Rob, snatching glances of his strong profile, reacquainting herself with his handsome face as though she was seeing him for the first time.
After walking for a couple of hours, following the paths through the woods, circumnavigating the lake, crossing the little bridge and stopping to watch the ducks, coots and moorhens, as Barney pitter-pattered up and down the wooden structure, eager to move on to their next adventure, they finished up at The Royal Oak in Lower Leaping, opting to take advantage of the sun breaking through the clouds, and finding a seat in the garden.
There was a pint of cold lager for Rob, a refreshing orange and lemonade for Tess, and a bowl of water for Barney, and a couple of gravy bones from the dog treats jar on the bar, after which he settled on the ground beneath the bench, happily tired after his morning exertions.
‘Oh, I forgot to tell you!’ Tess put down her drink after taking a reviving mouthful, enjoying the taste of the fruity flavours on her lips. ‘I have my first paying visitors arriving in a couple of weekends’ time!’
‘What? I didn’t realise you were open for bookings.’
‘Well, I’m not sure I am.’ She gave a nervous laugh.
‘The official launch won’t be until the spring, but a friend in the village is having a family party and she hasn’t got room at her place to put everyone up, so she asked if they could stay in the annexe.
She’s insisting that they pay the going rate. ’
‘I would expect so too! I can vouch for the charm and the comfort of the annexe at Hollyhocks Cottage, and it’s worth every penny that you’ll be charging.’
‘I’m glad you think so. It’s just a bit nerve-wracking taking that first step, after I’ve been talking about it for so long. Now, it’s becoming a reality, and I want to make sure everyone who comes to stay has the best possible time.’
‘You have nothing to worry about on that front. You’re a natural hostess and once word gets out, I’m sure you’ll have an influx of bookings. Anyway, did you decide how you would market the place? You can’t keep calling it the annexe,’ he said with a grin. ‘It’s not very aspirational.’
‘I’ve been thinking about that and I wondered about The Garden Retreat? It seems to sum up the place nicely.’
‘I love that. And of course that’s exactly what it is.
Once you walk through the gates of Hollyhocks Cottage and down the path into the garden, you feel as though you’ve left the stress and the madness of the outside world behind you.
The Garden Retreat,’ he said, trying the name out for size. ‘It’s absolutely perfect.’
She appreciated how Rob was one of her staunchest cheerleaders.
If ever she expressed the slightest doubt about her ability to do something, then he would be there with a word of encouragement or a reassuring smile, the smallest of gestures, but it went a long way in boosting her self-confidence.
For so many years, she had deferred to Charles, asking his opinion before making a decision, putting his needs and wants before her own.
It was something of a revelation to discover that she didn’t need Charles’s approval and that she was more than capable of managing on her own.
Now, as she took another glug from her drink, she took a moment to sit back and relax, closing her eyes briefly, soaking up the vibrant atmosphere of the busy pub garden, hearing the laughter and chatter around them, before she opened her eyes again and fixed them on Rob.
‘Are you hungry? I’m starving after all that exercise and I’ve got a lovely selection of cheeses and breads we could have back at the cottage, if you fancy it?’
She’d bought them specially, along with some olives, stuffed peppers and crackers, knowing how much Rob enjoyed a cheeseboard.
She had popped a French dry white wine in the fridge to chill, and there was a bottle of red on the dresser, if Rob might prefer that.
She’s also prepared a bowl of fresh berries that she would serve with some meringue swirls and a dollop of cream.
It had become something of a routine after they’d completed one of their long walks over in the woods, to return to Hollyhocks Cottage and have a leisurely lunch, but Tess never took it for granted as a definite arrangement.
Especially not today, now she came to think about it.
She’d sensed that Rob was distracted. He was making a good attempt at hiding it, but she’d caught him checking his phone a couple of times, his forehead furrowing as he read the insistent messages that had been buzzing none too discreetly in his pocket.
‘Honestly, Tess,’ he said, exhaling a sigh, ‘there is nothing I would like more, but I think I’m probably going to have to go. There’s some family stuff I need to sort out.’
‘Oh, of course,’ she said, taken aback, trying to quash her disappointment, the rest of the day now stretching out interminably. ‘Are Josh and Issy okay?’
‘Yeah, they’re fine. It’s not the kids. It’s Jennifer.’ Tess noticed the quirk of his eyebrow as he mentioned his wife’s name. ‘I’m sorry to let you down like this, but I need to get this sorted,’ he said, looking at his phone regretfully.
‘Sure.’ So many questions sprung into Tess’s mind.
Rob rarely said his wife’s name aloud. The wife who’d had an affair with Rob’s friend and business partner, Jack, which had led to Rob walking away from everything he knew in his life: the successful design company, his marriage and, briefly, his kids, although not before first taking a hammer to Jack’s expensive sports car and inflicting thousands of pounds’ worth of damage.
That small act of rebellion may have gone some way to making Rob feel better for a brief, fleeting moment but it also landed him with a suspended sentence and a hefty fine.
Rob had reached rock bottom then, but had slowly, over several months, and with some not inconsequential help from Tess, rebuilt his life.
He’d found a new home and job, saw his teenage children on a regular basis and was rediscovering his creative flair, working with his hands, making things, and in particular, painting, for which he seemed to have a natural talent. ‘She’s not ill, is she?’
The thought struck her in a flash. That would explain why he was distracted and concerned.
‘No, she’s not ill. Just very upset. Apparently, she and Jack have split up.’
‘Oh…’ She felt the words like a punch to her stomach.
Her immediate reaction was to think what it might mean for her.
She felt irrationally angry towards a woman who she didn’t know, but who had caused so much heartache and upset to Rob.
Tess had seen Rob at his lowest, when he didn’t even have a job or a roof over his head, and now, just as he was taking positive steps and moving forward with his life, his ex-wife pops her head up again when she’s feeling down and expects Rob to drop everything and go running back to her.
‘That’s tough,’ managed Tess, trying to keep a lid on her own emotions.
‘Look, I’m really sorry, Tess. I know this isn’t ideal. That you probably had plans for us back at the cottage, but to be honest with you, I wouldn’t be the best company today, with this playing out in the background.’
‘It’s not a problem. You go. We can do this some other time.’
Rob finished off his drink before standing up.
‘Thanks, Tess. For being so understanding. I’ll make it up to you, I promise.’
He leaned forward and kissed her on her cheek perfunctorily, and she was tempted to pull him into her body, to recapture the closeness of earlier, but she could tell he was anxious to get away.
She watched him dash out of the garden, without even a glance over his shoulder, leaving Tess bewildered and deflated.
It took her right back to the day Charles had announced he was leaving her for another woman.
She’d been totally blindsided then, her whole world upended in that moment, but was she simply foolish to be experiencing a similar sense of rejection and loss with Rob?
She’d only known him a few months, admittedly a heady, intense period of time, when they had supported and leaned on each other emotionally, but had she put too much importance on their fledgling relationship?
After all, Rob was still married, as she was.
For all she knew, if Jennifer’s split from her new man turned out to be permanent, then Rob and Jennifer might want to give their relationship another try.
She knew that Rob had a great listening ear and a solid shoulder to cry on so would his ex be taking full advantage of those qualities and if so, where on earth would that leave Tess?
How could she know, she wondered, as she hooked her leg over the bench and picked up Barney’s lead, who leapt to his feet, looking up at her expectantly.
At least she had one faithful male in her life!
What she did know was that she hated the way the uncertainty with Rob made her feel.
She shook her head and bit on her lip to stop an undercurrent of emotion from overwhelming her.
She’d been a fool to get so close to him in such a short space of time, mistaking their friendship and closeness for something else, projecting her hopes for something more serious onto him.
Humiliation swept over her as she walked through the pub garden, her skin smarting as she imagined all the other customers looking at her, recognising what a fool she’d been.
‘Come on, Barney,’ she said, holding her head high and brazening it out. ‘Let’s get you home.’