Chapter Eleven #2
The main gallery was hung with paintings by a local Dales artist, a woman who had retired from nursing and was a keen hiker and wild swimmer.
Pippa had fallen in love with her work inspired by the landscape, reflected in acrylic and oils on canvas.
After the opening night preview six weeks ago, half of the paintings had been sold, and Cassie had her eye on one to welcome her parents-in-law to their new home.
A carpet of bluebells framed by woodland backed by the sharp grey ridges of a fell, she was sure they’d love it.
She wandered through the rooms and found Pippa at a table on the terrace.
Maud leapt up with a madly wagging tail as she bounded across, an enthusiastic welcome Flynn returned more cautiously as the two dogs exchanged sniffs.
‘I’m so glad you’re here.’ Pippa stood to hug Cassie, holding her close. ‘Now I feel like summer can really begin. How’s everyone?’
‘We’re all good, thanks. Grateful to be here.’ They separated and Cassie pulled out a seat. She looped Flynn’s lead around her chair leg, hoping he wouldn’t take off after something and tip her up.
‘Isn’t he a sweetheart?’ Pippa looked fondly at the grey wolfhound. ‘He’s been so good for Raf, even though I never imagined him actually having a dog.’
‘You really are, Flynn.’ He looked up at the sound of his name and Cassie patted him. Already she loved having him within reach, his presence a comfort. ‘Size notwithstanding, you’d hardly know he was there, and we’ve all fallen in love with him.’
‘I take it Rory’s gone on the gather with the girls?’ Pippa flipped open the cover of an iPad on the table. ‘Alfie appeared at first light for Harriet, and they were waiting for Isla to arrive before they set off.’
‘I didn’t hear a thing when she left, I was well away.’ Cassie scanned the menu, wondering whether to have the fishfinger butty or a healthy salad. ‘The gallery looks wonderful, Pippa. You must be so thrilled at how it’s all come together.’
‘I am, and it’s partly down to you we’re so busy. You’ve been amazing at getting the word around.’
‘It’s my pleasure and the least I can do.
I’ve offered to help Raf with the distillery, too,’ she said casually.
Just mentioning his name had a quiver darting across her skin.
She was thinking of his hand on her face last night, the support he’d offered when he’d learnt she was planning to retrain.
Did everything lead back to him? Even her own heart?
‘But I thought you were supposed to be taking the summer off?’
‘I am, but I can’t sit around doing nothing for weeks on end. Isla and Rory are busy making their own plans, and using my skills to help you and Raf is my way of thanking you for all you’ve done.’
A young waitress arrived and Cassie made a snap decision in favour of the salad; breakfast had been much larger than usual. Every seat in the garden and on the terrace was taken, and she noticed a queue forming at the door for tables.
‘I hope my brother is taking good care of you.’
‘Oh, you know Raf.’ She pulled down sunglasses from her hair to hide a quick flush.
Would she ever get used to keeping their secret from his sister?
How was she meant to forget, when every look, every touch, seemed to drag them straight back to that night?
‘He’s been very kind and typically generous. ’
‘I don’t suppose you’ve managed to pin him down about his birthday yet?
’ Pippa lowered her voice, elbows on the table as she pushed the iPad aside.
‘It’s only two weeks away and he counters every suggestion I make with a reminder that none of the family were here for my fortieth last year, so why should he be any different. ’
‘No joy, I’m afraid, he told me the same. Maybe we should surprise him if it’s not too late?’
Pippa nodded enthusiastically, grabbing Maud’s collar before the spaniel could wander off and say hello to a pair of border terriers at the next table. ‘That sounds great. I’ve been preoccupied with Jago’s launch on Friday, so I must confess Raf’s birthday had mostly slipped my mind.’
‘He definitely doesn’t want a fuss, so it shouldn’t be a big party,’ Cassie said firmly. Pippa was wonderful, but she had been known to run away with an idea before. ‘Maybe a nice dinner with the family, at home?’
‘That sounds good. Shall we put our heads together and come up with something? If I mention it, he’ll only tell me to shove off again.’
Their lunch arrived, and as they chatted, Pippa was thrilled to hear of Cassie’s plan to become a counsellor. She told Cassie firmly that she must go for it and grab every opportunity.
‘I’m so happy you’re planning to follow something you really want to do. And look at Raf.’ Pippa thanked the waitress when she arrived to clear their plates. ‘I never imagined I’d see the day when he took on a house here, invested in a business and decided to study.’
‘He’s becoming quite the grown-up,’ Cassie replied lightly. She spotted lemon meringue pie being carried to a nearby table and decided to indulge this once, catching the waitress’s attention to order. Maud had shifted to follow the sun, Flynn sprawled beside her, little and large.
‘Not so grown up that he’s making any headway with Allegra, though. She’s lovely, so different to his previous girlfriends, and I really do think they’d be good together.’ Pippa pulled a face as a sigh escaped. ‘Not that I’m sure I’m doing her a favour by encouraging it.’
‘What do you mean?’ Alarm had Cassie’s pulse spiking. Raf had barely mentioned the land agent she’d met back in May at Home Farm, other than to assure her they were not dating.
‘I love my brother to bits, Cass, you know I do, but heaven help the woman who eventually takes him on. He’s not exactly known for his ability to commit beyond a few months, and I think she’d need to be someone with very little baggage who has a complete life of her own, separate to his.
The house is precisely a case in point. He couldn’t make up his mind whether to buy it, so he got Allegra to persuade the vendor to rent it instead, giving him the perfect exit strategy.
Who knows where he’ll be for Christmas? Probably on some faraway beach while the rest of us are stomping through snow and a freezing winter. ’
Their desserts arrived along with flat whites, and suddenly Cassie’s bowl filled with pastry and lemon topped with waves of whipped meringue didn’t look quite so appealing. She picked at it, flicking crumbs from the table for Maud while Flynn dozed.
But this was exactly what she needed to hear to remind herself that her crush on Raf was exactly that. A silly feeling which would pass. She lifted a nonchalant hand to cover the new blush staining her cheeks.
‘Ah well, never mind, I certainly won’t be able to change him. So you are coming to Jago’s launch on Friday night, yes?’ Pippa raised a brow.
‘That’s the plan. I’m looking forward to it,’ she said casually. It would be a good distraction from Raf, too. Dipping a tentative toe in the dating pool, as it were.
‘I’m sure Jago will be delighted. He made sure to let me know you’d been in touch.’ Pippa dropped her voice. ‘So is there anything you want to tell me?’
‘About what?’
‘Dating? Jago? Anyone else?’
‘Nope, nothing to share.’ Cassie was keen to keep things simple, as well as truthful.
‘Jago and I have emailed and messaged a few times, but that’s it, Pippa.
’ But given both Pippa and Fiona’s misgivings about Raf, and her own determination to put their kiss behind them, there was no harm in seeing Jago at the gallery and celebrating his launch.
‘Please don’t get carried away,’ she warned. ‘He’ll probably wonder why he bothered sending me an invite the moment he sees me again.’
‘He won’t, Cass, I promise you. And let’s not forget the obvious, either.’ Pippa’s smile spread. ‘He’s hot, right?’
‘I suppose. For an older guy.’ Cassie would probably have swiped right had she been looking.
‘He’s forty-nine. Not that old.’
‘Yeah, well, like I said…’
‘I know, I heard you. You’re not really looking. But maybe it’s time to go with the flow and see where it takes you.’
Cassie had done that once before, and now she couldn’t get that damn kiss out of her mind. She had zero intention of doing anything like that again, and definitely not with a middle-aged sculptor she barely knew.