Chapter 33
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
Later I returned to my bedroom at the manor house, feeling warm and gooey inside after my hot chocolate chat with Ben. The worrying incident with Denise had left my mind and all I could think about was how gorgeous Ben was.
The smell of vanilla greeted me as I stepped inside the room, and it made me smile. It could have been from one of Maddie’s perfumes and creams on the dressing table, but I chose to see it as a sign Olivia was with me.
She entered my dreams again after I fell asleep. We were still in Boots and had moved away from the perfume counter. She was leading me down the expensive haircare aisle telling me that she was in a serious relationship with her hair, and it was making her spend a lot of money. I woke up smiling.
Before getting out of bed, I read the next chapter titled, Make a Big Life Change. Olivia talked about her decision to leave Surrey and head for London. She applied for several jobs and secured a marketing position. After selling her car, she bought a bicycle and applied for a vacancy in a flat-share with three other girls. This was her big life change.
When someone special dies your entire world is flipped upside down. Once your world corrects itself and flips back over, life isn’t the same again. Living in Surrey wasn’t for me anymore. That part of my life died with Sophie. Making such a life change was what I needed to do.
The flat-share arrangement with the three girls would slowly drive me insane as I would keep bumping into half-naked men on the landing in the middle of the night, but it would eventually lead me to my soul sister, Rachel Reid.
I stared at Olivia’s words and my name. Tears pricked my eyes, and her swirly writing went blurry. After getting showered and dressed I went downstairs.
Layla was at the table with Zac on her knee. He was squealing at Humphrey who was sat wagging his tail and staring up at him.
‘Coffee, Layla?’
She grinned. ‘Yes, please.’
I carried the mugs over to the table. ‘Last night I had a run-in with Denise.’
Layla cast me a worried look. ‘What did she say?’
‘My family have given Harp Brook a bad name.’
‘That’s not true. I have heard people around town singing your praises about helping the school out.’
‘Will you tell me what you know?’
She tried to smooth down some of Zac’s unruly curls. ‘Maddie lives in the west wing. Whenever I come to clean and there are no guests, Maddie is in the west wing and he’s in the east wing. It’s like they’re neighbours.’
I took a sip of my coffee. ‘Do you think they’re living separate lives?’
Layla shrugged. ‘I’m just their cleaner. It’s always felt strange to me.’
‘My aunty Bev peeked at Maddie’s journal.’
Layla’s thick eyebrows shot up her forehead. ‘Really?’
I nodded. ‘She only read one page. Maddie had circled in red pen the names Frank and Vanessa.’
Layla bowed her head. ‘All I know is that…’ she paused. ‘Frank and Vanessa had an affair.’
Tears pricked my eyes. It was true. Frank was a scumbag and a cheat. My poor sister.
Layla continued. ‘It was the worst kept secret. Everyone knew what they were up to.’
‘Is it over now?’
‘He dumped her. Apparently, he drove her to a local picnic area and told her he had to end their affair.’ Layla took a drink of her coffee. ‘He had asked her to sign a legal document at a dinner date a few days before he ended it with her. She didn’t know what was coming next and signed it. Ryan told me she’d had far too much champagne. The signed document meant she couldn’t go to the press.’
‘Oh no.’
‘Vanessa went mad at the picnic site. The rumour is that she took out his pink fluffy handcuffs and locked his hands to his steering wheel. She then phoned Ryan to come and collect her. Frank went berserk. I don’t know who rescued him.’
‘I can see why Vanessa doesn’t like Frank. It also explains the handcuffs being in the suit Grandpa wore to the Tea Dance.’
Layla nodded. ‘Vanessa was upset. Ryan told me she could see herself becoming the next Mrs Baxter.’
‘Maddie must have found out somehow.’
‘That’s the odd bit. Maddie spends all her time in the house. She’s never seen in the town.’
‘Weird. If you knew my sister before Frank, you’d know she was the life and soul of her old community.’
Layla fiddled with her gold chain. ‘Please can you keep me out of this? I don’t have a job after Christmas, and I know Frank can make people’s lives a misery.’
‘I promise you, Layla, I will make it clear that you were not a part of this.’ I reached across and gently squeezed her hand. ‘We are going to get you sorted. I promise.’
Layla smiled. ‘Thanks. I am still grateful to you for everything you have done for me. What will you do?’
‘I think we will get Christmas out of the way on Friday and then when Maddie and Frank return after, I will speak to Maddie.’
‘About Christmas…’ Layla said, squirming in her seat. ‘Zac’s still young and he doesn’t understand what’s going on, so I am not getting him any presents. I know it sounds cruel, but I don’t have much money and…’
‘I understand. Don’t worry. Grandpa, and I would like to get little Zac a gift. Is there a toy he wants?’
Layla’s face brightened. ‘There is a toy car garage in the charity shop which I know Zac would love. It’s ten pounds and is in great condition.’
‘I’ll go into town in a bit and go buy it. Do you fancy coming with me?’
‘I’d love to, but I also need to drop some keys off at a cottage I have been cleaning. The owner is putting it up for rent after Christmas.’
After, I made breakfast sandwiches for everyone, including Ben and Tom, who were both full of festive cheer. When everyone was talking in the kitchen about their favourite Christmas song, Ben pulled me through the construction sheet for a quick kiss. ‘Hello,’ he whispered. ‘I like your breakfast sandwich although I think mine is going to be better.’
‘Fighting talk,’ I said, with a cheeky wink.
‘One day you will have to stay over and try one.’ He arched his eyebrows suggestively and we both laughed.
After ordering Aunty Bev to keep a close eye on Grandpa, Humphrey, and little Zac, I took Layla into town.
The little Fisher Price garage was perfect for Zac. It was colourful, had lights which flashed, music, a car wash, a huge ramp to a car park on the roof and a few little cars. I also bought some wrapping paper and tags.
While Layla went into the pharmacy, I popped into Kay’s gift shop. Kay wasn’t working. I was served by a teenage girl who helped me pick out some earrings for Layla. She deserved a little Christmas gift.
Back in the car, Layla gave me directions to the little cottage which was coming up for rent. It was called ‘The Duck House’ and was on the grounds of a farm. I parked the car on the road, and we trudged up to the main farmhouse.
‘Do you not fancy renting somewhere like this, Layla?’
She shook her head. ‘Living on a farm is not for me. What about you? I can see you living here. Wait till you see The Duck House.’
As the old farmer came out to meet us, Layla pointed to the tiny blue cottage sat apart from the rest of the farm. It was like someone had taken it out of a toy box and placed it in a field. My heartbeat quickened.
‘In the summer I let it out,’ explained the farmer, ‘but in the winter I struggle to find someone to rent it. The Duck House has one bedroom, a shower room, a galley kitchen, and a small living area downstairs.’
‘When would you need it for the summer?’ I asked the farmer.
He scratched his head. ‘Start of May.’
Layla gave me a nudge. ‘It’s better than a London flat with a leaky roof.’
The thought of returning to London made my heart sink. I didn’t want to leave Harp Brook and now that I knew Maddie’s marriage was in trouble, the urge to stay closer was even stronger. My landlord had sent me several apologetic emails about the leaking roof, and it still wasn’t fixed. I could rent The Duck House for a few months to get myself on my feet and see what happened. I saw Olivia’s notebook in my mind. Maybe this was the big life change I needed? Maybe my life in London had died when Olivia passed away?
Mum’s face appeared in my mind. There would undoubtedly be a new family WhatsApp chat created about me.
We walked over to The Duck House. It was tiny inside, but it was perfect.
‘I’ll rent it,’ I said, without hesitation. The farmer grinned. He reached out to shake my hand. ‘Well, that’s made my Christmas.’ He caught sight of one of his farm hands trudging towards us. ‘Josh, I’ve found someone to rent The Duck House.’
My mouth dropped open as my sister’s ex-boyfriend, Josh, walked towards us. He saw me and smiled. ‘Rachel, is that you?’
‘Josh – how are you doing? I didn’t realise you lived near here?’
He grinned. ‘I have always wanted to own a farm, so I am working with Bob to learn the ropes and one day buy my own farm.’
‘That’s great,’ I said, ‘I will tell my sister…’
His smile disappeared and I sensed something was wrong. Wanting to change the conversation quickly, I turned to Bob. ‘Can I come over after Christmas, next week sometime, to sort everything out?’
He nodded. ‘Layla has my number. Send me a text and you can come over for a pot of tea and some of my wife’s Christmas fruit cake.’
‘Thank you and merry Christmas.’
Ben accompanied me on a dog walk around the snowy grounds of the manor house when I returned. Once we were away from the rest of the house I told him my news about the cottage. ‘I’m going to be renting The Duck House here in Harp Brook.’
‘The Duck House? On Harp Brook Farm?’ He queried as if he had misheard me.
‘Yes – why? Do you know something about it?’
He fiddled with his woollen hat. ‘How did you know it was up for rent?’
‘Layla had to drop the keys off. Why? Ben – you’re acting strange.’
He laughed. ‘Sorry, I don’t mean to act strange. That is great news,’ he pulled me close. ‘Have you finished Olivia’s book?’
‘No – why?’
After kissing me he said, ‘I think you should hurry up and finish it. Tell me when you have, because then I will tell you why I acted a bit odd just then.’
I looked at him. ‘I don’t like secrets.’
‘When you move into The Duck House, can I date you properly?’
‘Yes, and I promise I won’t ghost you this time.’
We laughed and I remembered my encounter with Josh. ‘I bumped into a guy who Maddie used to date years ago on the farm.’
‘Really?’
‘He’s called Josh. It was weird seeing him at the farm as the last time I saw him he was working in Oxford where Maddie went to university.’
Ben took hold of my hand. ‘Will you invite me for dinner at The Duck House?’
‘I might do,’ I said, with a cheeky smile. ‘You can’t stay over though as there’s only one bedroom.’
He grinned. ‘I bet I can make you change your mind about that.’