Chapter Five Jenna
Chapter Five
Jenna
Iwish you’d let me replace that window. In fact, they all need replacing.’
Nate loomed behind Jenna as she picked at a sliver of wood on the frame. It had been unseasonally stormy for July, and twilight had descended early. She hoped the weather would be kind for the Kilt Challenge.
‘It doesn’t need replacing, just a lick of paint. Which I can do.’ Jenna drew the curtains, shutting out the grey evening.
Nate slipped his arms around Jenna’s waist. He smelled of sawdust and the aftershave she’d given him for his thirty-sixth birthday the previous month. ‘I suppose you’re right. It hardly matters anyway because we’ll be moving to the Glass House.’
Jenna twisted to frown at him. ‘We can’t keep calling it that.’
‘What do you want to call it?’
‘I don’t know yet, I can’t decide. I’m going to open that bottle of Pinot Gris my mum and dad gave us. It is Thursday, after all, and I’ve had a tricky day.’
‘Shall we forget cooking and have fish and chips?’
Normally, they had fish and chips from the local chippy on Friday.
Once they moved to the Glass House, Jenna was going to miss being able to nip to the Codfather and saunter down to the First he was so motivated to succeed in memory of his brother, Keiron.
She found the corkscrew on top of the microwave and had no idea how it had got there other than Nate.
He was only trying to be helpful . . . though she quite missed having the cottage to herself sometimes.
That was probably normal for anyone about to get married and live with someone for the rest of their life.
After opening the wine, she poured a glass, popped the bottle back in the fridge and took the glass with her into the sitting room to wait for Nate.
She ought to relax but her mind kept being pulled back to the Kilt Challenge and all its logistics. She wanted this event, of all others, to run like clockwork.
While she and Cam had their coverage planned as far as they could for the Kilt Challenge, it was always a tricky balancing act.
The rides couldn’t be predicted perfectly, so even if Sholto hoped to complete the ride in fifteen days, there was no guarantee, which made planning for media slots very tricky.
Though, she conceded, not as tough as actually doing the challenge.
But after seeing the state of the participants, with their blisters, sprains, strains and bruises, there was no way she fancied it.
‘Shit. That bloody beam.’
Hair damp but bearing a parcel of fragrant food, Nate cursed as he always did when he forgot to duck.
He was always bumping his head on the low beam and moaning about how poky the cottage was.
It was small, but it had always been fine for Jenna, cosy on a winter’s night and cool on a hot summer’s day.
She couldn’t tell Nate, but she would miss it when they moved.
Though it gave her a warm glow to think she would be able to let it to a couple or small family to build their own memories.
Decent rented accommodation was like gold dust around here and Jenna was happy to know she could pass on part of her good fortune.
The chips were as good as ever – perhaps even better now that Jenna knew she probably wouldn’t be tasting them as often.
Afterwards, Nate poured another glass of wine and massaged Jenna’s feet as they rested in his lap.
‘So, want to talk about this tricky day?’
‘Not too much . . .’ She was beginning to feel relaxed and mellow. ‘My appraisal went well.’
‘I told you it would. You’re so dedicated. I don’t know how you deal with all these people.’
‘I don’t mind. It can be a bit emotional, though. I’ve had a few welcome events and they can trigger some upsetting memories . . .’
‘Hmm,’ said Nate, letting go of Jenna’s feet to check a message on his phone.
‘Then I had to do some more PR on the Kilt Challenge. Sholto Mackenzie is such a big draw. Cam’s even got his ex to do a TV feature.’
Nate’s head jerked up from his phone. ‘Cam’s ex is famous?’
‘Yes, Carly DiLuca.’
Nate swore in amazement. ‘Is he having you on?’
‘No! And it was years ago, when they were at uni,’ she said, bristling at Nate’s scorn.
‘I bet she won’t leave London to go up to the arse end of Scotland,’ he retorted. ‘I can’t imagine living all the way up there.’
‘We live all the way down here,’ Jenna pointed out, feeling quite annoyed.
‘But it’s civilised here. There’s nothing for bloody miles at John O’Groats. It rains all the time and it’s dark in the winter. Plus, they all live on haggis.’
‘And whisky,’ Jenna said, hearing Cam’s soft Scottish burr saying wee dram in her head, before shaking herself. ‘There’s a distillery there.’
‘The place has to have some consolations, what with the shitty weather, and the haggis and the long dark nights.’
Jenna laughed, pretending that Nate was joking and very glad that Cam would never hear his beloved home discussed like this.
‘Anyway,’ Nate said, topping up Jenna’s glass before she could refuse. ‘I have some news of my own. I got our Glass House extension past the planners.’
‘What?’ She lifted her feet out of his lap.
‘Yup. Told you our solicitor is a bloody genius. You’ll be eating fish – well, sushi – in the biggest kitchen you’ve ever laid eyes on. Plus, the council has agreed to the swimming pool and garden room. I knew he could get it through, even if he did have to twist a few arms.’
‘I – I thought we’d agreed that we were happy with the revised scheme?
’ Without the extension, pool and garden room that had raised so many objections with the locals.
It was an amazing house but far bigger and grander than Jenna originally expected, and would definitely stand out, literally looking down on the locals.
‘I never settle for anything, especially not where my own place – our own dream home,’ he corrected, ‘is concerned. Plus, we’re going to need the extra space for all the kids.’
Jenna almost choked on her wine. Children hadn’t been discussed. There might only be one, of course, or none at all, but they were still somewhere on the distant horizon.
She laughed. ‘You’ll be having this brood yourself, will you?’
Nate frowned then raised his glass. ‘Very funny. Though we probably do need to discuss it, because you’ll need to think about when you plan to take a career break, not that you’d need to go back to work after.
Unless you wanted to, that is.’ He reached for the bottle while Jenna sat dumbfounded.
‘Anyway, the house is all sorted. In fact, I also have another surprise: I called in at the new spa hotel today to see how the renovations were going, and guess what?’
‘I – er – can’t.’ Jenna was still processing the suggestion that she leave her beloved job to bring up a football team of kids.
‘The owner heard we were engaged and offered me a bloody amazing deal on being their first wedding, after we’ve completed the work, which if I say so myself is the absolute dog’s bollocks.
Nothing like it in Cornwall in my opinion.
Anyway, I snatched her hand off. She offered me a couple of dates in October . . .’
‘October? This October?’
‘Yeah. I know it’s a bit shorter notice than we planned but the deal is jaw-droppingly good and the function suite is already getting booked up for the year after next.
We’d be mad not to take it, and why wait?
The only thing is, we have to decide by the end of next week.
’ He wiggled the bottle at her, beaming.
‘Shall we have a look and celebrate while we finish this wine?’
‘So, Sholto and the support crew arrive in John O’Groats on Thursday and the challenge starts on Friday at nine a.m.,’ Cam said, as he and Jenna ran through the final arrangements for the Kilt Challenge.
It had been a few days since Nate had dropped his triple bombshells about the house, football team of kids and a wedding in just over two months, and Jenna was glad to escape into the haven of work, while realising that work shouldn’t be the haven – home should.
‘We’re all set then,’ Cam said, sipping tea from a seal-shaped mug, which made Jenna smile. She guessed that his nephew had given it to him – but then again, it could have been a gift from Iona.
‘Yes. For the challenge. That’s the easy part.’ She sighed.
‘What do you mean?’
‘Oh, nothing really. It’s – well, Nate and I have been discussing the new house, and . . . it’s much bigger than I was expecting.’
Cam put down his seal mug. ‘How come? Surely you’ve been involved with the plans?’
‘Of course I have. The thing is that some of the additions were supposed to be turned down by the council, but Nate – um – got them through.’
‘I – er – see. And you don’t feel comfortable about that?’
‘No. I don’t.’ She smiled, feeling disloyal yet also relieved to have someone to vent to. Everyone at work knew Nate, and she didn’t feel she could say that she was anything less than overjoyed with their plans.
She checked her office door was closed.
‘Nate’s been joking about us needing a huge house for the hordes of kids he thinks we’re going to have.’
‘Let us come and live there,’ Cam joked. ‘Hannah and Lachlan would love it. My flat feels like a rabbit hutch when he’s here with a couple of friends. It’s mayhem. Mind you, there’s no way I could let him anywhere near a glass palace.’
‘It’s not exactly a palace!’ Jenna said in horror. ‘I hope it won’t be, although the locals have already dubbed it Eyesore Towers.’
‘Och. They’re probably just green with envy.’
‘More like brassed off at the way we got round the planners. Oh, look, what kind of pampered princess am I? Moaning about having to live in a beautiful house overlooking the most beautiful place in Britain.’
‘Ahem.’ Cam raised his hand.
‘OK, one of the most beautiful places in Britain.’ She grinned back at him, feeling lighter than she had in days.
Glancing at the blue skies behind Cam, she bet the wild and sometimes bleak coast looked wonderful today, the sea stretching all the way to the Arctic.
It would be nice to escape for a while and see where Cam lived.
‘Yeah. You see,’ she continued, ‘I’d have been just as happy to stay in my cottage, but Nate loves a project, and it is his job, and he’s always dreamed of having this huge pad. He had nothing when he was little. His mum was on her own and they had to sofa-surf and live in some pretty dire places.’
‘Then you can see why he wants the best for you.’ Cam sounded so soothing and sensible, Jenna felt guilty about moaning.
‘Yeah. He does. I’m very lucky, and this conversation can’t be about me. In fact, once again, I’ve spent our working time talking about my personal life.’
‘You know me, I’m always ready to listen. Even if I don’t have any answers.’
‘Do you talk to Iona about stuff? Problems? Only I picture you both huddled round a fire on the beach, setting the world to rights. I bet she’s a good listener.’
‘Oh, she’s that all right. She’d listen to me droning on all day if I let her.’
‘You’re lucky. Nate’s incredibly helpful, he’d always help me out – or any of the family or his friends – but he doesn’t do deep and meaningful conversations. He just likes to have an idea and get on with it. He says I worry too much.’
‘Being decisive can make life a whole lot simpler,’ Cam said. ‘I envy him.’
‘Do you?’ Jenna asked. ‘You’re so perceptive, and a good listener. Iona is lucky to have you.’
Cam looked embarrassed and clicked his pen rapidly before smiling.
‘I also envy Nate for another reason. At least he won’t have to wear a kilt to his wedding. It’s compulsory here.’
Jenna laughed. ‘Do Scotsmen really wear them?’
‘Definitely for weddings and some funerals. The cloth is heavy and pretty scratchy and all the paraphernalia – the sporran – well, it weighs a fair amount. It’s draughty too. Sholto is going to have quite a task on his hands, cycling in that get-up for over a thousand miles. Rather him than me!’
The call ended with Jenna giggling so much there were tears in her eyes. There was only one more call with Cam to go before the challenge started, then they’d agreed to catch up the day before Sholto set off and just keep in touch if there were any glitches. She’d miss these calls.
Jenna was dabbing at her eyes with a tissue when there was a knock on the door, and she quickly closed down the Google search she’d done for sporrans. They actually looked pretty useful, but perhaps not dangling around your waist on an extreme bike ride. She giggled again.
‘What tickled you?’ Kerry walked straight in without waiting.
‘Tickled?’
‘It’s what my nan’s always saying. What made you laugh? Was it Cam again?’
‘Yeah. We were joking about the Kilt Challenge.’
Handing over an iced latte, Kerry smiled. ‘It’s good to hear you laugh.’
Jenna nodded thanks for the drink. ‘I laugh a lot though,’ she said, feeling quite taken aback.
‘You certainly do when Cam’s on Teams.’ Kerry gave her an odd smile. ‘You deserve to laugh more than anyone, after what you’ve been through.’