19. Lena
19
LENA
L ena padded down the stairs feeling fresh and relaxed after enjoying a lovely shower. She smelt like Thomas because she’d used his shampoo, conditioner and shower gel and she was wearing a pair of slim fit jogging bottoms, a fitted vest and a hoodie that smelt like his washing liquid. The clothes were soft and warm, and her hair was damp. Even though she’d worn sunblock and her hat for most of her time on the beach, her scalp was tingly from where it had caught the sun. One of the reasons she wore a hat most of the time in the summer was because her pale scalp burnt easily, but when she was in the water she’d taken it off and now she could feel the after effects of that. However, the shower had washed away the salt and the sand and all the activity had worked up an appetite.
Thomas was in the kitchen chopping onions and mushrooms and Fifi was lying in a bed near the open bifold doors, her eyes flickering in sleep.
‘Hi,’ Lena said, noticing that he was wearing jogging bottoms and a clean T-shirt. ‘Did you dress already?’
‘I showered Fifi then myself.’ He grinned.
‘You showered in the garden?’ she asked.
‘It’s very private out there with the high walls and no cottages overlooking me.’
‘I’m sorry. You should have had the bathroom before me.’
‘Don’t be. I feel great.’ He flashed her another grin. ‘But I am starving now.’
‘Me too. Can I do anything to help?’
‘Do you make a good gin and tonic?’ he asked.
‘I think so.’
‘Well, the gin is in the cupboard there and the tonic is in the fridge, so if you fancy a drink…’
‘I’d love one.’
Lena got two glasses from one cupboard then looked in the lower one for the gin and found a selection of bottles.
‘Blame Marnie. She buys me gin for birthdays and Christmas but it’s mainly for when she comes over with Bligh. Not that she’s currently drinking but she came over once and I didn’t have anything in, so she said I’m now prepared. She also said it’s good to have gin in the cottage in case I have guests, which I never do.’ He shrugged. ‘But she lives in hope.’
‘Guests of the female variety?’ Lena asked as she poured generous measures of gin into the glasses then opened the fridge to find the tonic.
‘Yes, those kinds of guests.’ He widened his eyes as if the idea was preposterous.
Lena got some ice out of the freezer and dropped it into the glasses then she handed one to Thomas. ‘What will she think if you tell her about me being here?’
‘She’ll be delighted and ask me a thousand questions. So perhaps we should keep it between us for now?’ He took a sip of the drink. ‘This is perfect.’
‘I’m glad you like it.’ Lena sipped hers. ‘Ooh, yes, that Cornish gin is divine.’
‘Marnie will like you. A lot. You’ll get on with her.’
Lena felt her cheeks glowing. He’d said will like you so he was planning on introducing them. ‘I hope so,’ she said.
‘Do you like stir-fry?’ he asked. ‘I have veg that I need to use and some prawns, so I could make us a ginger and chilli stir-fry. There’s ice-cream in the freezer and some strawberries in the fridge for dessert. I grew them myself in the courtyard.’
‘You grew your own strawberries?’
He nodded. ‘I grow what I can out there. It’s nice to feel the sense of accomplishment when I eat things I’ve grown.’
‘It’s a yes to all your questions!’ Lena took another sip of gin. ‘I like stir-fry and strawberries and ice cream.’
‘Why don’t you sit in the garden and enjoy your drink and I’ll make the stir-fry then we can eat it out there?’
‘Are you sure you don’t want help?’
‘No, it’s fine. It won’t take long, and I want you to relax and enjoy being here.’
‘OK then, thanks.’
Lena went outside into the courtyard. She sat down on a wooden bench with padded cushions and placed her drink on the table in front of it. Curling her feet up underneath her, she sat back and relaxed. The heady scent of the roses that climbed the wall of the cottage and the lavender that grew in a square pot next to the bench, along with a variety of other herbs, filled the air. The garden was a tranquil haven, secluded yet open enough to allow her to gaze at the blue sky and to hear the sounds of the harbour carried up on the breeze.
She had a beautiful place to sit, a delicious gin and tonic and a man cooking her dinner. And at that moment, Fifi plodded outside and hopped up next to Lena then turned around and settled with her head on Lena’s knees. Lena stroked her fur and the dog grunted with contentment.
There were moments in life that had to be savoured, and this was one of them. It was a moment of true happiness, when nothing could make it any better than it was and when her heart was bursting with joy. Whatever happened with Thomas from this point on, she would always have today, and for that she would always adore him. But, of course, the evening was just getting started, and who knew what could happen between two mutually attracted, consenting adults?