Thirty-Four
Matt sat on the top step of the porch and looked out across the small car park to the trees which stood between the house and the field beyond. He raised his beer bottle and took a deep swallow, watching the fairy lights twinkling in the dark beyond the tall, leafy sentries.
He smiled as he remembered when Sally had done her “recce” of the fields on either side of the road leading up to the farm. It was the day he took her and Flora out shopping and he was driving his Transit van. They were bumping their way down the farm track to the main road when she’d suddenly asked him to stop. Much to his amazement, she’d then asked him if he would mind greatly if she stood on the top of his van. Naturally, he’d asked why and she’d explained that she couldn’t get a clear, elevated view of these two fields from the house and although she had an idea of what she wanted to do with them, she needed to see them from above to decide if her hopes were feasible.
Deciding that her slight frame was unlikely to cause any damage to his van he agreed although the shenanigans of getting her up there without a ladder had almost caused him a hernia! Common sense told him that they could have come back later with one in the van but she was already half on the roof by that time.
After she’d taken a number of photographs on her phone and they’d helped her back down again, he’d asked what her plans were for those two fields and was pleasantly surprised when she said she wanted to leave them as they were – more wild meadow than fields – and build raised decked walkways around them with a couple of gazebos in each field where guests could go and have some quiet time with nature. Her intention had been to keep any disturbance of the wildlife which had taken over the fields in the years they’d lain dormant, to a minimum and she’d succeeded. She’d also had various sized tunnels put in before the new road surface went down, to allow the wildlife to traverse safely to either side. This small act of trying to ensure the safety of the animals around her had hit a soft spot inside him and he now found himself having to face up to the fact that his schoolboy crush had grown into something considerably deeper. He couldn’t quite bring himself to say he was in love with her but he would struggle to find any other description if someone were to question him hard enough.
He heard the door click open behind him and looked over his shoulder to see Sally walking out with a blanket in her hands.
‘Here, put this over you. It’s blooming cold out here and I don’t want you catching anything three days before Christmas! Flora would do her nut!’
She draped the blanket over his shoulders before sitting down on the step next to him.
‘How did you know I was here?’
‘I saw you slip out and had a quick look out of the window to see what you were up to.’
‘I needed a bit of breathing space. I’m not the best in a crowd.’
‘I understand that. I have to be honest and say that it’s strange having so many people here. I’m not sure how I feel about it.’
‘So why on earth did you decide to have a Christmas party?’
‘It’s not a party, as such. More of a social gathering and I wanted to say thank you to everyone who’s been kind, welcoming and helpful. Ten months ago, I’d never heard of this village and now I’ve become a part of it. In two weeks, my new business opens to the world, the vet surgery will be taking in its first clients and I’ll have any number of stray or unwanted cats to look after and find homes for. Everyone in there,’ she pointed over her shoulder with her thumb, ‘has shown me kindness in every way possible. I mean, for example, Essie has told me that my plan to give away all the berries picked in the summer is daft and that I should stick to the old tradition of keeping some, which I have to pass on to her and she will make Bramblebush Jam and Bramblebush Chutney that I can serve up to my guests and, hopefully, sell to them too. Now, I wouldn’t have thought of that!’
‘Essie is rather clued up. I’ve heard she runs the local WI with a hand of steel.’
‘She’s been very supportive in all of this and has become a good friend too.’
Matt tipped his bottle towards the trees and the field in front of them.
‘I was just remembering the day you climbed on the van to survey those fields.’
‘Oh yes,’ she laughed, ‘it was like something from a Carry On movie.’
‘Worth it though – they’re a lovely little haven of tranquillity now.’
‘Yes, I think so too. What’s more, Sukie came up with a great suggestion of placing a fold-up table and chair in the gazebos and advertising the B&B on writers Facebook groups as a writing retreat. Apparently, that had been her plan for her windmill until Charlie fell in love with it and moved in before the paint had barely dried on the walls!’
This time it was Matt who laughed.
‘Yes, that one took us all by surprise. It was the second time I’d worked with him and had him pegged as being a true city boy – London through and through I thought – but it just goes to show you never can judge another man. He adores living here and I think Sukie will be hard pushed to get rid of him.’
‘The way she spoke, I don’t think she’s in any hurry to.’
‘She’s very good friends with Molly, Charlie’s partner, so is probably more than happy with them being close by.’
‘I’m hoping she’ll be a good friend of mine too – I like her a lot.’
‘Sukie’s very much a “Marmite” gal – you either love her or you don’t. Her straight-talking, no BS manner can rub some folks up the wrong way while other people love those traits the most. You always know where you stand with her and she’s no gossip either.’
‘I like her for being to the point. People like that are the best kind.’
‘For sure. Now, to completely change the subject, are you still joining Flora and I for Christmas dinner?’
‘I absolutely am and looking forward to it.’
‘Well, you might regret that as I’m doing the cooking but—’
‘Hey, you two! What’re you doing out here? I’ve been looking everywhere for you, Sal – do you have any more of the fruity pickle? There’s a bloke called Bob looking for some and he’s threatening to sing if I don’t find any.’
‘Oh, good grief, Karen, don’t let him do that – he’ll empty the place within minutes. I’m on my way.’
‘Fab. Oh, and by the way, you do realise you’re both sitting underneath a large bunch of mistletoe, don’t you? Don’t be bringing bad luck on yourselves by breaking the tradition, now!’
Karen grinned wickedly at them before disappearing back inside.
‘Has she forgiven you yet for keeping all this a secret from her?’
Sally looked over her shoulder at the now closed door before turning back to face him.
‘I think so but I’ll find out for sure later when everyone has gone home and we’re here alone.’
‘Can I ask why you didn’t tell her? She is your best friend after all.’
‘I… I want to say it was my secret but that makes it sound like I deliberately withheld from her, which wasn’t the case. It’s more that I just didn’t want to tell anyone. Apart from my brother, who was sworn to absolute secrecy or I’d take my old house back off him, the rest of my family don’t even know yet – I led them to believe I needed a change of scenery to help me move on from Steve’s death. I suppose… I guess I was doing something for me and wasn’t in the right place for sharing that with those close to me.’
‘Would they have tried to talk you out of it?’
‘My parents may have done – I don’t know. Karen? Nah! She’d have been right behind me from the off. Which is why my conversation with her later could be awkward.’
‘Well, we’d better get inside before Bob starts to warm up those pipes of his which could piss her off even more!’
He took the blanket off his shoulders, stood on the step, and held his hand out to help Sally up. When she stepped onto the porch, it brought her face directly in line with his and he inadvertently glanced up at the mistletoe above their heads.
‘Erm…’ he gave a small cough. ‘Err, do you think we should… you know…’
He looked up again and Sally followed his gaze.
‘Is it bad luck, not to kiss?’
‘I don’t know. I wouldn’t put it past Karen just to say that in order to make sure we did.’
‘I suppose we had better then, why take the risk?’
‘Good point, I suppose we should.’
Matt leant in, closing the distance between them. His intention had been to place a gentlemanly peck on her cheek – he would never be so bold as to go straight for the lips – but Sally moved at the same time and before he knew what was happening, their lips were touching and darts of electricity were coursing through him. Startled, his eyes widened and he saw Sally’s do the same. Had she felt it too? Every nerve ending in his body was tingling but he couldn’t bring himself to pull away. They both simply stood, lips barely touching and neither of them moved.
Eventually, after what felt like an age but was, in reality, merely seconds, he felt himself leaning in closer, putting more pressure on the soft mouth under his. His pleasure, when the pressure was returned, knew no bounds and of their own volition, his hands found their way to Sally’s waist and he pulled her closer until their bodies touched. Her hands came to rest on his upper arms and their warmth seeped through his shirt sleeves, sending pulsing shots of heat across his chest. A small moan vibrated against his mouth—
‘Sally, we’re getting desperate for that pick— Oops, sorry! Bad timing…’
Karen’s voice was the verbal equivalent of a cold shower and they pulled apart just as the wooden door clicked closed.
‘Oh… err… I…’
Matt didn’t know what to say or where to look.
‘I’d better… urm… get inside… Bob… singing…’
‘Ah, yes. You need… you need to nip that one in the… err… the bud…’
Sally bent down, scooped the blanket up off the porch and with a wan smile, scurried off inside, leaving him standing alone once more.
He picked up his beer bottle and looked out once again towards the twinkling lights behind the trees, willing his racing heart to slow down. He didn’t quite know what to make of what had just happened but it looked like the time had come for him to face up to the feelings he’d been making such an effort to ignore.
He let out a sigh, drained the dregs of his beer and turned to walk back inside, the jelly sensation in his legs seeping away with every step.