Chapter 19
Dixie watched through the window as Ned hurdled the stump she had now formally named Bastard Stump, raced off through the woodland and disappeared into the greenery.
The squirrel went as far as the fallen tree, jumped up and screeched for a bit, flicking its tail violently.
It turned around quickly, making Dixie gasp and let go of the curtain.
If this had been a horror film she knew exactly who would be next to die.
But in a flash the squirrel’s demeanour changed.
It hopped to the ground and began searching for food like nothing had happened.
After a few minutes things were restored to peace and quiet and the birds were idly twittering again.
Dixie had planned to make it to tomorrow and then arrange to get towed back to Melton Mowbray, but it felt like things had changed.
Her number of followers had risen dramatically and that was all down to the predicament she was in.
If she left now her followers would lose interest and most likely a shedload would unfollow her.
This was all bigger than her now, so she had to stay.
She realized that just because she couldn’t drive Elsie didn’t mean she couldn’t do all the other things she’d planned to do, like making cute curtains and matching cushions and generally refitting and updating the inside.
For one thing, it would make use of the items she’d brought for repairs and free up some much-needed space.
It was also excellent online content. There was probably a nature angle she could include as well.
Visions of the squirrel helping her popped into her mind.
That was possibly a long way off but she did still really want to see if she could make friends with the squirrel.
They’d got off on the wrong foot. She made a mental note to look for something it would like at the service station so that she could begin winning it round.
While she didn’t like to admit it, there was also Ned.
Their meeting had been fleeting but he’d made an impression.
Perhaps that was because she’d been deprived of human contact for so long, apart from the lady at the service station, who she now knew was called Lesley.
The thought of Ned made her feel less alone.
Maybe if she stuck around she might see him again and that would be useful because someone who was managing the woodland would know about plants and flowers.
Ned would make excellent content and he’d also help her to avoid poisoning herself when she was foraging.
And the other thing was that if she went now the person leaving the mystery rude messages would think they had won.
There was no way she was going anywhere.
*
Jay and Nora met up to do a bit of bouldering together. Jay had said he wanted to improve his strength and he definitely needed to work on his holds so the low-level climbing activity seemed the perfect answer.
‘You boob-flashed him and now he wants to meet up?’ asked Jay, summarizing Nora’s late-night video call with Liam. ‘I can’t imagine why he wants to do that.’ He gave her a look.
‘It’s not because I … it wasn’t boob-flashing. That’s something people do on purpose. This was accidental.’
‘OK, got it,’ said Jay. ‘Accidental boob-flashing.’
Nora shook her head at him. ‘Anyway, it’s just a coffee and it was me who suggested it before the boob … incident. But we’ve not put anything in the diary because he’s busy with work. I might catch up with Mickey before then.’
Jay gave her a rather puzzled look. ‘Are you two-timing your exes?’
‘No, because I’m not seeing either of them, or anyone for that matter. It’s simply not efficient to not overlap the research.’
‘I’ll mention that when I’m dating more than one woman. I’m just being efficient.’ He winked. ‘Tell me about Mickey,’ he added, struggling to get a climbing shoe on. He hopped a couple of steps, toppled and Nora grabbed him to keep him upright.
‘Mickey is a personal trainer.’
‘I’ve been thinking about getting one of those,’ said Jay, finally succeeding in getting his foot in his shoe.
‘I could ask him if he’s taking on clients but then I don’t think he’s local any more because we’re meeting in Skegness.’
‘I love Skeggy,’ said Jay, clapping his hands together and making Nora smile. Jay saw the look and quickly reached into his chalk bag and slapped his hands together again as if he’d been spreading chalk all along. The chalk made a cloud of dust and Jay breathed it in, making him cough.
‘Are you OK?’ asked Nora, unsure whether patting him on the back would make things worse or better.
‘I’m fine,’ he spluttered, pulling out his inhaler and taking a puff. ‘You were saying,’ he wheezed.
‘I wasn’t really saying anything. I’m catching up with Mickey in Skegness in the next couple of weeks.’
‘I wonder what Bruce will make of the seaside?’ said Jay, his voice intermittently sounding like his own.
‘You can come if you want. To the beach, I mean, not to meet Mickey, obviously.’
‘Obviously,’ repeated Jay. ‘But yes please to a day out at Skeggy. Thanks.’
They decided to climb on two different sides of the bouldering room and Nora was quite in the zone.
There was something freeing about climbing without a harness, and the extra thick mat below her gave her the reassurance that the odds of seriously injuring herself were minimal.
She understood why some people chose to free-climb but the chances of having a major accident were far too high for her liking.
A thud behind her made her check over her shoulder.
Jay was lying flat on his back on the mat.
‘Are you OK?’ she asked.
‘Yep, fine. Just missed that tricky hold.’ He pointed at the wall. ‘I think I’ll take a break. You carry on,’ he added as he got to his feet.
Nora traversed the room and had a go at the tricky overhang. This was her nemesis. It took a lot of upper body strength to get around it.
‘Hey, Nora, have you seen this?’ called Jay.
Nora lost concentration, let go and landed safely on the mat.
‘Sorry, did I put you off?’ he asked.
‘It’s OK.’ Nora walked over to where Jay was studying the noticeboard.
‘There’s a climbing mini-break next weekend and they need two more people or it’s cancelled. What do you think?’ he said.
Nora skim-read the notice. Hostel accommodation, lots of outdoor climbing and abseiling, country walks and hearty meals. ‘Statistically outdoor climbing is more dangerous,’ she said.
‘Yeah but a weekend away would be fun, right?’
‘What about Bruce?’
‘Bugger,’ said Jay.
The weekend climbing trip came up again at the next Crafting and Cocktails.
Nora had to admit she had been thinking about it but felt she couldn’t go on her own.
That would be unfair, given it had been Jay who had told her about it.
It had been Jay’s turn to sort the cocktails so this week they were having Pina Coladas.
‘It’s in the Forest of Dean,’ said Jay. ‘I’ve always wanted to go there.’
‘It’s a bloody beautiful part of the country,’ said Renee. ‘Unfortunately after I stayed there for a folk festival with a travelling community they introduced a bylaw to stop you sleeping in tents and caravans in the national parks. Shame, I love Cockadilly.’
There was a pause in conversation while Nora and Jay were processing what Renee had said, pondering whether Cockadilly was a place or a euphemism, while Renee had another sip of her cocktail.
‘It’s nice, Jay. Any chance you brought the rum with you?’
He shook his head.
‘I’ll have Bruce for the weekend,’ said Nora, double-checking the measurements on the pattern for a man’s jumper, this time for one that had enough space for her dad’s two spare tyres.
‘But then you wouldn’t be able to come too,’ said Jay.
‘I know, but you want to go more than I do.’
‘Very selfless,’ said Renee. ‘But I’ll look after the dog, then you can both go.’
‘Thank you,’ said Jay tentatively. ‘But are you allowed pets at Wrinkly— I mean Brinkley Place?’
‘Kenneth Sturgeon has a sparrow in a cage. He says it’s a pet-shop finch, which is piffle because any fool can see it’s a sodding sparrow, and Audrey Kennet has a geriatric Persian that pisses in the vegetable patch, and everyone turns a blind eye to those.
But you’re right, officially they don’t allow pets. ’
‘Bruce is a bit bigger than a sparrow and his bark is louder than a car horn. You’d not be able to smuggle him in,’ said Jay. ‘But it was really kind of you to offer.’
Renee stopped knitting and fixed them with a steely gaze. ‘I could get him in. I know things.’
Jay and Nora swallowed in unison under Renee’s steely gaze.
Renee shrugged a shoulder and went back to clicking her needles. ‘But it’d be easier if I stayed at your place with the dog. Less disruption for everyone.’
Jay scrunched up his features. ‘He’s really big, Renee. He’s more bear than dog.’ Nora wondered if he’d had visions of Renee being knocked over by an overenthusiastic Bruce.
‘That’s fine. I can handle a bear.’
Jay spluttered a laugh but Renee didn’t look like she was joking.
‘I used to work in a pub just outside Romford. They had a bear,’ said Renee.
‘What? An actual bear. Like a grizzly?’ asked Jay, his eyes wide.
‘Big furry black one she was. Ahhh, lovely old Rhani. I didn’t like that they kept her in a cage.
Ruddy health and safety.’ Renee shook her head.
‘I used to share a pint and a packet of crisps with her during my break. I had the occasional wrestle with her too.’ She paused her knitting again.
‘And my friend Tippi Hedren had a lion called Neil who lived in the house. The rotter used to take up all the bed and he didn’t like it if you kicked him off.
He used to make a right fuss, the snarly pussy cat.
So if I can manage a bear and a tetchy lion, then a dog definitely won’t be a problem. ’
Nora looked at Jay. He had the usual, slightly dazed expression he wore when Renee was sharing one of her anecdotes.
She hoped he was mulling over the offer because Renee looking after Bruce seemed like a good solution.
But then, it wasn’t her handing over her house keys to Renee.
‘OK,’ said Jay, nodding vigorously as if trying to convince himself.
‘That’d be great. Thank you.’ He smiled at Nora.
There was a tap on the open door and an older gentleman with thinning grey hair stepped in. ‘Is this the wellness class?’ he asked.
‘It’s usually next door,’ said Renee, ‘but the teacher is off sick. Ironic really. Sit yourself down and have a Pina Colada instead. Welcome to Rafting and Cocktails,’ she added.