Forty-Two
Flora, once again, drove carefully up the lane towards the B&B while this time cursing the frequent road humps Sally had installed to ensure no one drove faster than the five miles per hour she desired. She appreciated the sentiment behind them – after all, Sally cared about the animals first and people second – but when she was in a hurry to get to her destination, they were a right pain in the derriere! The heavy rain pounding on the car roof did nothing to appease her frustration.
When she finally reached the parking area, she jumped out the car, slammed the door shut and ran up the porch steps, stopping only to give herself a small shake before bouncing through the front door.
‘SALLY? ARE YOU HERE?’ she yelled. ‘SALLY?’
She stuck her head through the door of the lounge, hoping Sally was somewhere in the building as she didn’t want to go back out in that rain. Maybe she should suggest to Sal and her father that a covered corridor between the main house and the cat barn would be beneficial. She was just pulling her phone out of her pocket when she heard footsteps on the stairs and walking over, she looked up to see Sally’s head peering over the banister.
‘Oh great, you are here. I really didn’t want to go outside again.’
‘Hi, Flora, lovely to see you. Come on up, your Uncle Craig is here. Did we have an appointment today?’
‘No, we didn’t but something amazing has come up and I wanted to share it with you as soon as possible.’
‘Oh, that sounds interesting. Go up to the office while I sort out some drinks. I’ll be with you in a few minutes.’
Flora went up as Sally walked down and they grabbed a quick hug on the middle landing where they passed. She ran up the next flight to the upper floor and turned right towards the office.
‘Hey, Uncks, how you doing?’
‘Flora, my favourite niece! Hello.’
She embraced her uncle tightly before standing back and saying cheekily, ‘Favourite niece? ONLY niece, mate! You don’t get any choice in the matter.’
They both chuckled as she sat down across the desk from him. She looked around the room before commenting, ‘I thought Sal was planning to put the desk under the window so she could look out while working?’
‘That was the problem – too much looking out, not enough working so it was moved. Anyway, what brings you here?’
Flora smiled before tapping the side of her nose.
‘I have some fantastic information but I’m not sharing it until Sally gets back.’
‘Oh, don’t I get favourite uncle privileges?’
‘Nope. You don’t even get ONLY uncle privileges.’
‘Well, that’s you disinherited!’
Flora burst out laughing. She did adore her uncle and since he’d hooked up with Essie Walton, he’d become a different person. The shy, diffident chap had morphed into a funny, witty, charismatic man with a wicked sense of humour. From someone who’d rarely laughed in the past, he never seemed to stop these days. She was happy that he was happy. She was also happy her dad had mellowed towards Craig and her grandfather again. She understood that thinking of her grandmother caused him pain but it wasn’t right to rail at Craig for re-establishing his relationship with his mum. That was his prerogative and not for her father to pass judgement. Thankfully, Sally seemed to have got through to him on this where she herself had failed.
‘Your grandmother was asking after you on the phone last night.’
Flora’s head whipped up. Had Craig taken up mind-reading?
‘Oh!’
‘Yes. She mentioned she’d written to you, extending an invitation to visit but hadn’t received a reply.’
‘Maybe because I haven’t received her letter…’ Flora frowned as she replied.
She knew she could occasionally be a bit scatter-brained, especially when she was working on new contracts, but this was something she’d definitely remember.
‘I believe she sent it about six weeks ago, before Christmas.’
‘Hmm, maybe it got lost in the post – it’s always much busier in December.’
‘Perhaps. Well, she’d like you to go up for a visit.’
‘Right… I’ll need to think that one over and discuss it with my dad – you know how he feels about her.’
‘I do, Flora, but this is your life and you have a right to know your only female relative. I’m not going to say anything more, just have a think. If you do want to talk it over, you know I’m always here for you.’
‘Thank you. Leave it with me.’
‘Here we go,’ Sally said, walking into the room, ‘As luck would have it, Flora, I made some of those Nutella cookies you like yesterday so I’ve brought some up.’
‘Oh, lush! Thanks, Sally.’
Once they were all sitting with their drinks and munching away on tasty, chocolatey yumminess, Sally asked, ‘So, Flora, are you going to spill? What brought you here in a state of such high excitement? You were practically bouncing when I came down the stairs.’
‘Oh, you are not going to believe this. The village wants to hold a fund-raising fete for the rescue.’
‘They WHAT?’
The surprise on Sally’s face was even greater than she’d imagined it would be and this made her even happier.
‘You heard – they want to do a fete with all profits going to the rescue.’
‘But… why? How?’
‘I was in the café earlier and when I was leaving through the book shop, I overheard Saffy and Jenny talking about how much fun they’d had arranging and doing the Christmas Fayre a couple of months back. Anyway, the three of us got to talking about when we could arrange another when Jenny suggested Easter Monday. With it being later this year, the weather should be better which would attract more people. At that point, Saffy piped up with the suggestion that we could make it an animal themed fete and the profits, or a percentage of them, could be donated to the rescue. As soon as she’d finished speaking, Jenny was all over it. You know how much she loves cats. Anyway, ten minutes later, she’s been on the phone to Sukie and Essie and they’ve already planned their committee meeting. I said I’d give you the heads up so you can let them know a good date for everyone to get together as you’ll need to be involved.’
‘Oh, I see.’
It was now Flora’s turn to look surprised.
‘You don’t seem all that thrilled, Sally. I expected you to be happier about this.’
‘I’m sorry, Flora, I’m just shocked. I never expected, or even considered, that the village would ever want to help out in this way.’
‘Hey, the villagers are thrilled with what you’re doing here. You already know they’re working on putting together rotas to come and help with looking after the cats? Jenny was also saying that several of the retirees over in the retirement village want to come and help – they say it’ll give some purpose to their days.’
‘Wow! I… I don’t know what to say. Thank you, obviously, but… well… wow!’
Flora looked at her watch and stood, placing her mug back on the desk.
‘Look, I have to go. I’ve got a client to visit in an hour and it’ll take me half that time to get back down that sodding lane. I told Jenny you’d give her a phone call to arrange a date – I hope that’s okay?’
‘Of course it’s okay. It’s more than okay, Flora. Sorry if my enthusiasm has been more muted than you’d hoped for – I’m just dazed from the surprise. I’m sure it’s going to be a wonderful event and I’ve already got a million ideas beginning to brew in my head.’
‘Well, I suggest you write them down as Sukie and Essie will also have some and you want to ensure they take on board your thoughts too. They are two very determined ladies when they’re working on a project. Aren’t they, Uncle Craig?’
‘I don’t want to speak ill of my lovely partner,’ Craig laughed, ‘but when she’s got the bit between her teeth, the safest course of action is to stand aside and let her get on with it.’
‘In that case, maybe I should get this committee meeting sorted out sooner rather than later?’
Flora smiled brightly as she replied, ‘NOW you’re getting the hang of village life. Right, I’m gone. Sally, would you think me rude if I took some of these cookies with me?’
‘I’d think you rude if you didn’t!’
Flora wrapped a couple of biscuits in a napkin, gave Craig and Sally a hug goodbye and literally skipped down the stairs.
She was so excited about the fete and glad that Sally, once she’d recovered from the shock, now seemed to be on board with the idea and, furthermore, from a small selfish standpoint, she’d be doing all the graphics for the flyers and banners which would be great advertising for her business.
This time, Flora barely noticed the rain while running back to her car as her creative brain had sprung into action and was already thinking on what she could do.