The Lost Garden in Lily Vale Village (Lily Vale Village #9)
Chapter One
‘Oh, for God’s sake! ’
I curse loudly as I examine the large splat of bird poo that’s landed on my shoulder. The culprit, a pitch-black crow, flutters up onto the eaves of my rental cottage and looks down at me with a distinct air of superiority. I flap my arms in an attempt to shoo him away, but he won’t budge. I swear he might actually be smirking at me.
Well, they say it’s supposed to be good luck, but as I gaze up at the cottage before me, I don’t exactly feel like the luckiest girl in the world. It looks charming enough - a small, slightly tired habitat of red brick with a butter-yellow door at its centre, but it’s not the sort of place I ever dreamed I’d be living in.
This is not the sort of life I ever dreamed I’d lead, either.
Wiping a tear from my eye, I haul a pile of boxes and my suitcase out of the boot of my car and rifle through my coat pocket for the key. It’s a little stiff when I turn it in the lock, but thankfully, it clicks into place and the door creaks open.
The hallway is narrow and long, with dark oak floorboards that creak as I walk tentatively along them, and the walls are lined with faded sage green paper that appears as though it’s been there since the cottage was first built. The living room is just as dated, appointed with an ancient floral patterned three-piece suite and a rug the exact shade of goose poo. My nose wrinkled, I drop a load of boxes in the kitchen and ascend the staircase up to the main bedroom, which thankfully, is light and airy despite its small size.
Plopping my suitcase on the floor with a thud, I sit down upon the soft, squashy bed, contemplating the decisions that led me to this village I’ve never even heard of.
‘Come to Lily Vale, Ruth,’ my mate Lucy had insisted over the phone last week. ‘It’s the perfect setting for an artist, all gorgeous greenery and sweet little houses, you’ll love it.’
I didn’t exactly have a wealth of options before me, and Lucy’s plan seemed as good as any other. But now I’m actually here in this little village where I know no one but her, I’m scared shitless. What on earth was I thinking, packing my whole life up into boxes and carting myself away from everything I ever knew? It was such a rash, last-minute decision that I didn’t even have time to ruminate on whether it was a good one or not.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
A knock at the door has me jumping straight out of my skin, and I almost slide off the bed and onto the floor in shock. Puzzled, I hurry down the stairs and wrench open the yellow door, only to be met with a silver-haired man sporting a thick, bushy moustache. The stranger is dressed in a forest green woollen jumper and a pair of pale brown slacks that have mud and paint stains adorning them like a pattern.
‘Hello there, you must be the new tenant!’ He takes me by the hand and shakes it warmly. ‘I’m Victor, I’m your landlord.’
‘Oh yes, of course,’ I brave a smile. ‘Hi, I’m Ruth Harper.’
‘It’s lovely to meet you, Ruth Harper.' With an arch grin, he glances pointedly at my shoulder. ‘Oh, someone has a touch of good luck in store!’
For half a second, I wonder whether this poor man is slightly mad, but then I remember.
Oh God, the bird poo!
Mortified, I yank my soiled cardigan off and toss it to the floor. ‘Ha, here’s hoping!’ I giggle shakily.
‘I just wanted to pop round to see how you’re doing. Settling in okay?’
Swallowing hard, I nod. ‘Well, I’ve not long arrived, but yes, thanks. The cottage is beautiful, thank you so much for letting me stay here.’
Victor lifts his hands and shakes his head. ‘Ah, no problem at all. When young Lucy told me a friend of hers was in need of a place to stay, I was more than happy to help out. I’ve been looking for a long-term tenant for ages now, and you came along at just the right time!’
His energy is infectious, and the smile I’d been faking suddenly becomes a lot more genuine.
‘Well then, I’m glad we could both be of service to each other. Would you like a cup of tea, Victor? Everything is still in boxes, but I’m sure I can dig out the kettle and a couple of mugs.’
‘Oh, well I won’t say no to that!’ He chuckles. ‘I’ll help you unpack, if you like.’
I’m so astonished by his warmth and kindness that I almost burst into tears right then and there. It’s been a while since someone has been so sweet to me, especially when that someone is a perfect stranger.
Thank God, I manage to keep it together, and the two of us head through to the kitchen and begin searching through boxes.
‘Sorry there’s so much stuff,’ I apologise as I awkwardly manoeuvre around the teeny room. ‘I brought loads of crap down with me that I probably could have done with chucking away.’
‘Oh, don’t worry one whit, Miss Harper!’ Victor says as he opens up a box marked Crockery. ‘You ought to see my own cottage if you want a real shock.’
‘Where is your cottage?’
‘It’s not far from here, just down the road on Birch Lane, so if you ever need anything, don’t hesitate to knock on the door. I live next door to Lucy, you know.’
‘Oh, I didn’t, actually.’
I’ve never been to Lucy’s home before, despite being her friend and book cover illustrator for years now, most of our correspondence has been via emails or phone calls. I know that it used to be her gran’s cottage - she was supposed to do it up for her parents to sell, but she loved it so much, she ended up buying the place herself.
If only I could afford my own home, but that ship has not only sailed, it wasn’t even in the harbour for me. I couldn’t do anything without Nathan, and now, I never will.
‘Ah, here’s the kettle!’ I pull it out triumphantly. ‘Now we just need some mugs.’
‘You fill it up, and I’ll continue the search party!’ Victor chortles. ‘So, what brings you to Lily Vale, Miss Harper? Lucy said that you’re an illustrator?’
As I switch the kettle on, I nod. ‘I do book covers, mostly. That’s how I met Lucy, we’ve been online pen pals ever since.’
‘How extraordinary!’
I can’t help but giggle at his bafflement. I have a feeling old Victor would struggle to wrap his head around email, let alone video chatting.
‘I suppose it is kind of … extraordinary. It’ll be great to finally meet her in person.’
‘Ah, yes, Lucy is a lovely lady, I’m very fond of her myself.’ Victor grins wide beneath his snowy moustache. ‘Was it just a change of scenery you were seeking when you came here, then?’ He gives me a long, knowing look. ‘Or something more, perhaps?’
I don’t know if it was the hastily signed tenancy agreement that’s given me away, or I’ve just got a terrible poker face, but somehow, Victor seems to see right through me. Drawing a sharp breath, I shrug my shoulders.
‘It’s a bit of both, I guess, mixed with necessity.’ I rub at the pale mark on my ring finger. ‘I - I’m going through a divorce.’
‘Oh, I’m sorry to hear that.’
I give him a wane smile. ‘Well, once my marriage fell apart, shit just hit the fan, if you’ll pardon the phrase. I couldn’t afford to live in Surrey by myself, and I needed to get away from all the memories, so when I was venting to Luce, she suggested I come here.’
‘And a very good suggestion, too! Lily Vale Village is the perfect place for a retreat, I’d say.’ He lets out a loud whoop and unearths two mismatched mugs from the bottom of the box. ‘Huzzah, we have drinking vessels! And just in time for the kettle to finish boiling.’
We sip our tea companionably at the small kitchen table, surrounded by the mess we just created.
‘So, have you got any recommendations as to where a newbie should go to immerse herself in village life?’ My whole heart isn’t in the question, but Victor takes the request seriously.
‘Well, there’s The Cosy Little Tearoom, that’s a lovely spot for a cake and an indulgent hot chocolate, I do so love their brownies! Then there’s the park, you can take a stroll and watch the ducks in the pond. And come autumn, Simmons Farm will be opened to the public and you simply must go to visit the famous pumpkin patch.’
Listening intently, an idyllic image of life in this little village appears in my mind. Duck ponds, pumpkin patches - it all sounds too good to be true, like something from a storybook. Is it possible I might really find the peace I’ve been seeking here, or is it all going to blow up in my face like everything else does?
‘And of course, if you fancy a hike, there’s the Heather Hills. It’s quite a rocky walk though, along those cliffs, but the views are breathtaking.’
I rest my chin on a fist, head tilted to one side. ‘Hm, I’ve never been much of a hiker.’
‘Well, if you change your mind, do let me know. I’d love to go up there, but at my grand old age, it’s not really safe to tackle it alone, I’ll need backup!’
Chuckling, I take a sip of my tea. I couldn’t find the sugar so it’s a bit naff, but I need the caffeine dose, so I chug it down without complaint.
‘Okay, so we’ve got tearooms, parks and pumpkin patches. What else might a person do in Lily Vale for fun?’
Full of fresh enthusiasm, Victor leans across the table. ‘Well, there’s plenty of activities to get involved in at the community centre, I myself have been enrolled in a pottery class for a couple of years now. There’s a gym on the high street too, if that’s your sort of thing.’
I pull a face, leaving no doubts that weight-lifting is most certainly is not my thing. ‘Hm, perhaps not.’
‘Whatever takes your fancy, I’m sure you’ll find your way here, Miss Harper.’ Victor clasps his mug in both hands and takes a large gulp. ‘I’ve lived in Lily Vale my whole life, and I’ve never once been tempted to stray. This place has everything one could ever want, in my humble opinion.’
With a pale smile on my lips, I nod along as Victor waxes lyrical about his beloved village, but the truth is, I can barely concentrate on a word he’s saying. My minds keeps going over the same old worries - like what on earth am I going to do without Nathan? Will I be okay on my own? It’s not like I have a choice in the matter, I’m all alone now, whether I like it or not. I just wish I felt a little more sure about my next step, instead it feels like I’m walking on paper-thin ice, one careless step away from cracking the surface and plunging into the freezing cold depths.
Although I was enjoying his company, I’m a little relieved when Victor leaves after helping me sort the rest of my mugs and cups into their respective cupboards. Dropping the dirty mugs in the sink to deal with later, I collapse into the old sofa. I’d expected it to be hard and uncomfortable, but it’s surprisingly squashy and easy to sink into. My fingers itch to open the red wine bottle I know is lurking somewhere in one of the many carrier bags scattered through the hallway, but I resist the urge. I have a weird relationship with alcohol, I do like a drink every now and then, but too often, I find myself going overboard simply to cope with whatever unpleasant situation I’m facing, so I have to watch myself.
My drinking only got worse this last year, when it was becoming clear that things between Nathan and I were reaching breaking point. It started off innocently enough, a glass of wine on an evening here and then to take the edge of the sorrow of being abandoned again after an argument, but before I knew it, I was polishing off half a bottle in one sitting. It’s a habit that’s stuck lately, and though I’m working hard to break it, it isn’t easy.
Sighing, I snuggle up into the couch cushion, breathing in the strangely comforting dusty scent of old furniture. I wonder whether I was drunk when I asked Lucy to make the arrangements with her landlord friend for me to move in here - that would certainly explain things! But no, I was stone-cold sober when I made the decision, and I don’t know if that makes this better or worse.
All I know for sure is Nathan isn’t coming back, he’s made his choice, and now, I’ve made mine. It might be a tough pill to swallow, but I’ve got to pull on my big girl pants on and start a new life for myself, no matter how terrifying the thought of that might be.