Chapter 23
TWENTY-THREE
‘What you need,’ Jules said after a couple of days, ‘is a social secretary and a florist, not a nurse.’
Rita chuckled.
‘I do seem to have a lot of people phoning and wanting to visit. I’m astonished.’
‘You shouldn’t be. You are a much-loved lady.’
‘Have you seen those cane toppers that Lance has made me?’ Rita asked.
Even the mere mention of his name made Jules’s heart jump.
She pointed to three ceramic flower shapes on the table in the corner.
‘Aren’t they beautiful? Came all nestled in a little box of lavender clippings.’
Jules couldn’t resist picking one up and cradling it in her hand. It made her feel close to him and far away all at the same time.
‘He popped his head around the door yesterday afternoon for a few minutes when he was dropping Erin off. You missed him. You’d nipped back to the cottage for your afternoon respite.’
Jules was aware that Rita was watching her keenly.
‘Tasha told me he’d been.’
‘I reckon he was disappointed that you weren’t here.’
Jules didn’t reply, but placed the sea green cane topper back on the table.
‘Said he thought I’d have more than enough fresh flowers and he’s right.
Probably won’t get as many as this when I die,’ she said with a laugh.
‘And Christabel knows that I hate lilies. Do you think you could put those in another room, Jules? The scent is so cloying. It reminds me of a crematorium.’
Jules picked up the large cut-glass vase of deep red lilies and crossed the room.
‘I’ll put them in the hall,’ she said.
‘Thank you, dear, and would you mind finding somewhere for Lance’s gift? I don’t want them to get broken.’
‘Why don’t I place them on top of the canes supporting the dahlias? You’ll be able to see them through the window from your chair.’
Rita nodded and leaned forwards to rub her knee.
‘Lance says they’ll stop me poking my eye out when I get back to my weeding which won’t be long now. He’s a very thoughtful person. He thinks a lot of you.’
Jules paused by the door.
‘You could do worse,’ Rita said.
‘Than the dahlias?’
Rita threw her a frustrated look.
‘I think you’re being deliberately obtuse. You could do worse than Lance.’
Jules sighed. She’d been successfully avoiding this conversation for several days, but Rita wouldn’t be deterred.
‘I know I could, Rita. Most of the people I’ve been out with aren’t a patch on Lance.’
‘But you don’t fancy him?’
Jules half laughed.
‘I don’t know why you’re laughing. It’s an important factor in a relationship. I fancied my George rotten.’
‘Of course I find Lance attractive.’
‘What’s stopping you then? You’re young, both of you. Have some fun. It doesn’t have to be a lifelong commitment. The Good Lord put us on this earth to enjoy ourselves and as long as you’re not hurting anyone else, give it a go, I say.’
‘The trouble is, I might hurt him and Erin. I like them both too much to risk that.’
‘Some risks are worth taking. My George left a good job and a steady salary to come and help me run this farm. We didn’t know whether he’d like it or if we could make enough money to support ourselves, but he took to it like a duck to water and we’ve done all right.
Even took my surname, you know, so that it was still Tompkins’ Farm? ’
‘No, I didn’t know that.’
‘Quite unusual back in the day. Brave even. Lance is brave.’
‘I know he is.’
‘Reminds me of my George. He wouldn’t let you down.’
‘No.’
Rita yawned. ‘Anyway, you think about what I’ve said. We oldies do know a thing or two about life.’
‘I will. You’re tired now. I think you should have an early rest.’
‘All of this sitting in a chair doing nothing takes it out of you.’
‘You’re hardly doing nothing. I’m having to fight off people wanting to visit! Socialising can take it out of you, too. Do you want to go back to bed?’
‘No, thank you, dearie. I think I’ll stay here.’
Jules placed the lilies on a side table and went to adjust Rita’s cushions and place a blanket over her lap.
‘Rest is very under-valued. I tell my new mums to rest as much as they can, not race around tidying the house or cooking meals. So many people have a baby or an illness and try to get back to normal too quickly.’
‘It is a very inconvenient time to be laid up,’ Rita fretted, ‘with harvest taking place.’
‘I think any time in this house would be inconvenient,’ Jules said with a smile.
‘You’re not wrong there,’ Rita said, rubbing her eyes. ‘It’s good for you to go back to the cottage each day and have a break while I take a nap. The cared-for must look out for the carers, too.’
Jules moved the phone so that it was within easy reach. She kissed Rita gently on the cheek.
‘Tasha’s in the kitchen if you need anything and I’ll see you later,’ she said.
By the time she had collected the vase of lilies and closed the door softly behind her Rita already had her eyes closed.
Tasha was standing by the table nibbling on some cheese and biscuits while sorting eggs into boxes.
‘Are you heading back to the cottage?’ she asked.
‘Just for a couple of hours, if that’s all right?’
‘You’re early.’
‘Your granny’s tired today. I think I might have to curb some of her visits and phone calls.’
‘Do you miss the cottage when you’re not there?’
‘Yes. I do.’
‘It’s the sort of house you do miss, isn’t it?’
‘Mmm, I suppose so.’
‘Will you miss it when you’re back in Manchester?’
‘Yes.’
‘And the island, too?’
‘And the island.’
‘And me?’
‘Especially you.’
Jules picked a feather off the top of one of the eggs and stroked her palm.
‘Will you be sad?’ Tasha said, stopping what she was doing to look at her directly.
‘I’ll try not to be, but when you miss people, you are a little bit sad, aren’t you?’
‘Erin says Lance is sad.’
‘Ah!’
‘Why don’t you like him? He’s a brilliant person.’
‘Oh, Tasha, I do like him. I’m a bit of a mess at the moment on the romantic front…’
‘He knows that. He could make you happy again.’
‘If only it was that simple.’
‘I think you’re making it more complicated than it is.’ She placed the egg cartons in a big box. ‘Can you drop these off on the table at the top of the drive on your way past? There are also some punnets of raspberries in the fridge which Erin and I picked yesterday and a few courgettes.’
Jules nodded. ‘There are some figs, too. I picked loads off the tree earlier and Rita’s not going to be making jam or chutney anytime soon, so she said to put those out as well. Is Erin coming around later?’
Tasha nodded.
‘In about half an hour. We’re going to do some baking. I think we’ll make an apricot and almond cake. There’s still some jam left from last year and it’s one of Granny’s favourites.’
‘You’re such a star, Tasha.’
She beamed.
‘Granny does loads for me. Now it’s my turn to pay her back. It’s not all about me, is it? You showed me that.’
‘Did I?’
‘By saying you’d come and look after Granny when I know you were planning to head back up to Manchester.’
Jules frowned.
‘How did you know that?’
Tasha picked up a piece of cheese and studied it.
‘I sense things. Mum says I’m hyper-sensitive and she makes it sound like the worst thing in the world.’
‘It can make life hard.’
Tasha nodded. ‘But it’s not always a bad thing. It does have its advantages. I can empathise. A lot of people can’t do that, or they shut that part of themselves down. I’m not going to do that any longer. Some of us need to cry or take ourselves off for some quiet time more than others.’
Jules smiled. ‘That’s very true.’
‘In the nineteenth century they said tears were heart-improving.’
‘I’ll remember that. My heart definitely needs some improving.’
Tasha took a bite of the cheese.
‘I’m trying to eat a bit more, too.’
‘I’d noticed.’
‘I’m not anorexic. There are people at school who are, and I know I’m not.’
‘I never thought you were.’
‘I got these viruses last year, one after another, and I couldn’t seem to pick myself up. Post-viral syndrome, the doctor called it. Mum and Dad argued a lot about whether I should go to school on days when I was really tired. When I’m stressed out, I find it difficult to eat.’
‘I can understand that.’
‘You understand a lot of things. Granny does, too. I want to get strong for her.’
Jules moved around the table and wrapped her arms around Tasha’s thin frame. She smoothed back her hair and kissed her on the forehead.
‘And she wants to get strong for you and Will and your dad and between the four of you, you’ll get there. Granny’s a determined lady. She’ll be almost as good as she was before, but no more climbing that ladder to the loft. You’ll have to put a stop to that. I think she’ll listen to you.’
Tasha nodded and Jules pulled away a little.
‘You’ll call if you need me?’
‘We’ll be fine. Mum’s just across the yard. Not that she’s much use in a crisis, but at least she’s there and Dad and Will are in the near field. I can see the combine from the yard.’
Jules picked up the box of produce and headed for the door.
‘Jules,’ Tasha called after her, ‘thank you for being here, for being my friend.’
Jules smiled.
‘Always, Tasha,’ she said. ‘I hope we’ll always be friends.’
Jules was stacking up the empty egg cartons and arranging the full ones on the table when Lance’s car turned into the top of the driveway.
Erin waved from the passenger seat, but Lance looked straight ahead.
She felt completely deflated as she emptied the honesty box and put all the money into a little leather purse to give to Rita later.