Chapter 32 Gilly #2
It wasn’t just about the village though. Her friendship with Kirsten was the best she’d had in years, the good she was doing at the school was satisfying and important, and her stress levels had reduced with the country lifestyle and working on the cottages. Was she ready to give all that up?
God, everything was such a mess.
‘Hello? Only me,’ Albie called from the open front door. ‘Can I come in?’
Wiping the tears away, she steadied her voice. ‘Yes. I’m in the lounge.’
‘I have Colin with me, that alright?’ Without awaiting a reply, footsteps sounded, and he swished in carrying the brown miniature sausage dog.
Gilly hadn’t met Colin, but Kirsten hardly stopped raving about how adorable he was. Albie set him down on the bare floorboards, and although she’d never been an animal lover, she knelt to take a closer look at his tiny triangular head, floppy ears and liquid dark eyes.
‘With his legs being so short he takes a while to get anywhere, hence I end up picking him up.’ With a relieved sigh, Albie sank into an armchair spilling stuffing which needed reupholstering.
‘I bet,’ she murmured, ‘he’s quite close to the floor.’ At that, Colin swung around and gave her an insulted look. ‘Um, can I stroke him?’
‘Should expect so, though he’ll play first to keep you waiting. He’s quite sassy. Just put your hand out and be patient.’
Obeying, Gilly extended her palm, watching Colin dawdle around the room sniffing different scents, not in any hurry to do her bidding. She held back a smile and the instinctive need to call him over, refusing to lose the battle.
Aware of Albie studying her face, she gestured to his outfit. ‘Interesting choice. Some of my Year 2 pupils would be jealous.’ Immediately, she worried it sounded snippy. ‘Sorry. I just meant—’
‘It’s fine, my dear. I have original tastes.’ He gestured to his yellow palm-tree splashed Bermuda shorts, twinned with a bright green shirt. A scarlet baseball cap sat atop his head, a pair of sunglasses perching on the brim. ‘I felt summery today.’
She was saved from answering as Colin nuzzled her palm with a small whining sound. ‘Aw, he is cute.’ Fondling his velvety ears, she stroked the soft fur on his back.
‘Yes,’ Albie said gravely, ‘and he knows it, the little bugger.’
‘Isn’t he well behaved?’
‘Oh, impeccably, other than when he’s weeing on my oak floors, nibbling my fingers or expensive furniture with razor sharp teeth, or trying to steal anything not glued down.
Still, one look from those big eyes and I can’t be cross.
His companionship has brought me immeasurable joy, he’s the most special gift I’ve ever received.
Now,’ his gaze sharpened, ‘enough about that. You don’t seem yourself. Has something happened?’
She’d normally pretend everything was fine, but after her bout of crying and as she petted Colin (strangely soothing), her defences dissolved under Albie’s concern. ‘I-I’ll be l-leaving at Christmas.’
‘Oh, no.’ He paled. ‘Both of you?’
‘Ariel first, me following later.’
‘The show in London?’ he guessed, astute as always. ‘I did wonder. Asked Ariel about it shortly after the gallery event.’
‘What did she say?’
‘Nothing much. Wasn’t in the right frame of mind, I don’t think.’ He pulled a face, ‘It was the morning Steve and his team left. There was a funny atmosphere, and I wondered if they’d had a disagreement. When I enquired whether she knew why they’d left, she got cross and exited rather sharply.’
‘Right.’ Another piece of the puzzle slotting into place? ‘Well, Ariel’s finding it stressful prepping for the London show, it’s so important to her career. We need to move back to the capital for that.’
Albie said gently, ‘But what about your career? Also, I’d be so sorry to see you go. We need you here, and you’re both well liked, not to mention respected.’
His kind words made her want to cry again, so she steeled herself.
‘Hers is the priority. When you’re in a creative job, these kinds of opportunities don’t fall into your lap.
Success is a mixture of perseverance, hard work, talent and luck.
Whereas I can do my job anywhere.’ Lifting her hands from Colin’s silky coat, she stood, ignoring the puppy’s disappointed expression.
‘Oh, by the way, I have questions about the association accounts.’
He rose, hurriedly scooping his dog under one arm. ‘I think you made a friend in little Colin, but we’d best be off.’
‘Albie, the accounts?’ No wonder he’d been so reluctant to share the finances and reveal the astounding price tag for thatching each cottage. Even more if rotten timbers needed replacing. They could ill afford any of it. More shocking was the fund’s disconcerting main income source.
‘Always be willing to compromise,’ Albie re-joined, quoting the latest of Rose’s rule for living.
‘We’ll talk about the accounts soon, but not today.
You’ve more important things to worry about.
Along with a few more months to give in your notice, if that’s what you decide to do.
’ With a tip of his hat, he ambled out with his furry best friend, leaving Gilly staring after them.