Chapter 14
After Tess had made Rob a coffee, giving a silent prayer of thanks to the stalwart coffee machine which had been kept very busy this morning, she started making some sandwiches, while Rob looked on, perched on one of the kitchen stools.
‘Oh, I must tell you, Michael was here this morning: the guy who was leaving when you arrived.’
‘Ahh… Mr Silver Fox?’
‘That’s right. He was looking at The Garden Retreat and has booked his friends in for a couple of nights after Christmas.
Honestly, I tried to play it super cool as though I’d booked in hundreds of guests before, but I’m not sure I pulled it off.
I wonder if it will always be this exciting when I take bookings; it felt so empowering. ’
‘I’m sure it will be. Your passion and enthusiasm are infectious and that’s going to be picked up by your guests. You deserve to make it a success.’
‘Well, I really hope so. By the way, Michael spotted your painting and asked if you did commissions. Can you believe it? He’s interested in getting a painting done of The Old Post Office. Can I pass your telephone number onto him?’
‘Please do. As you know, I’ve been meaning to make more time for my art, but life has kind of got in the way in recent weeks. Something like this would give me the incentive to get the brushes out again.’
‘You must, Rob.’ She went over and wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing him on the lips.
His background was in graphic design and he had a natural artistic flair that was put to good use when he had his own company.
Now, working for a property company, on the maintenance side, he didn’t really have an outlet for his creative skills.
‘You should share your talent with the world,’ she said, returning to the job in hand.
‘I’ve always said you could easily sell your paintings.
You need to get your work out there and your name known. ’
‘That’s the dream,’ he said with a beguiling smile. ‘And when I make it big, I’m going to employ you as my agent.’
‘I’d do a great job, but I should warn you, my commission rates will be high.
Although we can probably find a way to negotiate on that front,’ she said, laughing, as she turned from the worktop, knife in hand, where she was buttering slices of bread, before adding a selection of cheese, ham, tuna and salad.
‘Anyway, I’ve not heard you mention Danny before.
Have you just started working with him?’
‘Yeah, he’s new. He’s great, a quick learner and easy to get along with.
He makes me laugh with his stories of his personal life, though.
He’s had a chequered relationship history, by the sounds of things, and he’s recently started dating again, although it doesn’t seem to be going that well.
Who knows, maybe tonight will be the night.
Honestly, though, it sounds grim out there.
It makes me thankful that I’m not on the dating scene. ’
‘Oh, me too! Everything seems to have changed so much since we were young.’ She laughed. ‘I know we’re not that old, but there’s a whole set of rules you have to follow now. Are you dating? Are you exclusive? Are you a proper thing? It all seems incredibly complicated.’
Although she supposed the process of meeting someone, discovering if you had feelings for them, and wondering if those feelings were reciprocated, was still the same as it had ever been.
Falling in love was never straightforward, especially when you were more mature and doing it for the second time around.
As Dilly had accurately predicted, she was back within twenty minutes, letting herself in through the front door of Hollyhocks which had been left on the latch, with Danny following behind, a bemused look on his face, sporting a much neater and tidier hairstyle.
‘Hey, that looks great,’ said Rob, spotting his colleague.
‘Yes, Dilly’s done me proud and she wouldn’t accept any payment either, so I’m doubly grateful. I just hope it does the trick,’ he said, putting a hand up to the back of his neck to feel his new cut.
‘Well, remember what I told you. Be interested in what she might have to say, don’t drink too much and avoid talking about your exes. Then, just try and relax, and enjoy yourself.’
‘You see, now I know where I’ve been going wrong,’ he said, casting an amused glance in Rob’s direction. ‘I’ll do my best, but I can’t make any promises.’
It was the first time Tess had met Danny, but she immediately warmed to his open and self-deprecating manner. He was a couple of inches smaller than Rob, and stocky, with a twinkle in his eye and a disarming smile. She put him in his late thirties.
‘Now, I’ve made some sandwiches. You’re welcome to stay, but would you prefer to take some with you?’
‘Don’t tempt us,’ said Rob. ‘If we stay, then we’ll never want to get back to work and we have got a busy afternoon ahead of us.’
Tess quickly wrapped the sandwiches in some greaseproof paper and made a separate parcel of flapjacks that she’d made earlier in the week, handing them over to the boys.
‘Well, I shall definitely come again,’ said Danny with that endearing smile, ‘if this is the kind of welcome I receive. Thanks for the lunch, and for the haircut,’ he said, turning to Dilly.
‘Nice meeting you,’ Tess called after him.
‘Good luck with the date!’ Dilly added.
After they had left, Tess suggested they move into the peace and calm of the orangery to eat their lunch. The temperature outside had dropped in recent weeks so it was too cold to have the French doors open, but the light flooding in through the tall windows created a semblance of summer.
‘That was so kind of you to do that for Danny, but you should have charged him.’
‘Oh, I took pity on him. He didn’t seem to have much of a clue when it came to dating so I gave him the benefit of my advice.
’ Dilly’s glorious laughter rang out around the room.
‘As you know, I’m a complete expert on men.
And who knows, perhaps he’ll come back next time as a paying customer. I gave him one of my business cards.’
It was one of the things Tess had come to love about Dilly since she’d grown to know her better this year. She had a big and open heart, and would do anything for anyone.
‘So, did you learn anything new about Michael?’ she asked now, her eyes lighting up playfully. ‘He is really rather dishy. I get a bit flustered and tongue-tied in his company.’
Now it was Tess’s turn to laugh.
‘Only that he seems very decent and genuine. I’ve got his friends coming to stay at the annexe over Christmas and he’s interested in getting Rob to do a painting of his new home.
I think he’s keen to get involved in village life and to play an active part in the community so I’m sure you’ll be running into him.
Oh, and he is very much single, you’ll be pleased to hear. ’
‘Ahh, I thought that was probably the case, although I’ve realised men like Michael don’t give a second glance to women like me.’
‘Dilly, don’t say that!’
‘It’s true! Michael is educated, intelligent and cultured.
He’s not going to be interested in someone like me, an indiscreet hairdresser who gossips too much and laughs too loudly.
In my job, you develop a good instinct about people.
Michael is very charming and friendly, but I know his ideal woman would be someone classy and sophisticated, someone he would enjoy going on long hikes with and having intellectual conversations with. Someone like you, Tess.’
‘What! No. Michael is not my type at all. Besides, you know my heart is already taken,’ she said airily.
‘Yes, but you’re the sort of woman that men gravitate towards. And I’m the sort of woman that has men running for the hills.’ There was that familiar self-deprecating laugh again, but there was definitely hurt and vulnerability beneath the bravado.
‘Don’t be daft. You shouldn’t put yourself down, Dilly. You’re a gorgeous, funny woman, who is kind and terrific company. Any man would be lucky to have you in his life. And I’m lucky that I have you in my life as a friend.’
‘Well, I don’t know about sharing my life with a man.
It’s been a long time and I’ve got used to being on my own.
Sometimes, I think it would be nice to have someone to depend on, to snuggle up with on the sofa.
I’d be lying if I didn’t admit to missing the physical companionship, but I think, for me, that ship has probably sailed.
Oh stop it,’ Dilly said, seeing Tess’s sympathetic expression.
‘I’m happy the way I am. Especially when I hear you say how much you value our friendship.
I don’t think you realise how much that means to me. ’
‘It’s only the truth.’
Dilly slipped off her shoes and tucked up her legs beside her on the wicker sofa, making herself comfortable. Barney took that as an invitation to join her and leapt up onto the sofa, snuggling up beside her in the nook of her legs.
‘I’m not like you, Tess. I don’t make friendships easily.
’ As she spoke, she ran her hand over Barney’s back as he lapped up the attention.
‘Obviously, through my job, I’ve got lots of lovely clients and I know plenty of people, but that’s not the same as having someone who genuinely appreciates having you in their life.
I’ve always felt like an outsider, not really fitting in anywhere, not finding my tribe.
For many years, it really bothered me and I often wondered what was wrong with me, why I couldn’t make friends in the same way as other people, but I’m much more forgiving of myself these days.
I’ve spent too long trying to force the issue, joining clubs where I didn’t belong, putting myself into situations that only ended up making me feel miserable.
It’s taken me this long to accept the person I am; to realise that I actually enjoy my own company and can keep myself busy and entertained. ’
‘I didn’t know you felt that way,’ said Tess, feeling even worse about all those times she’d ignored or excluded Dilly, not thinking how her own behaviour might have made her neighbour feel. ‘You always seem so confident and outgoing.’
‘Oh, it’s all a front,’ she said, chuckling. ‘That’s why it has meant so much to me getting closer to you; it’s nice to have someone to confide in, and when you invited me into your friendship group with Gina and Suzy, well, it’s the first time I’ve ever experienced anything like that before.’
‘Well, we’ve loved having you in the group. You’ve brought a new dimension and energy that we all bounce off.’
‘What you mean is, I make you stay up too late and drink far too much wine.’
‘Well, yes, definitely, but it’s more than that. We enjoy your company. You don’t need to mould yourself to fit into our group; we appreciate you just as you are. You make us laugh, so you’re stuck with us now whether you like it or not.’
‘Oh, but I do like it,’ said Dilly, waving a hand in front of her face to ward off a swell of emotion. ‘Really, I won’t be going anywhere. I just hope you don’t all get fed up with me! It wouldn’t be the first time it’s happened,’ she said lightly.
‘Never,’ said Tess emphatically.
She knew how much Dilly appreciated their new friendship, but she suspected that Dilly had no idea just how important it was to Tess too.