Chapter 24 #2
‘You’re so good to me.’ She looked around the cute kitchen and then out of the French doors onto the small back garden where rose bushes were beginning to unfurl their leaves and lavender spilled over on to the paths. ‘This is just what I need.’
‘Don’t thank me. Thank Edward.’
‘I intend to. But without you, none of this would be happening.’
‘In that case, you probably need to thank massive over consumerism which caused me to chuck in my sensible, well-paying job.’
‘And swap it for heaven.’
Freddy had always been prone to romanticising anything she possibly could. As a creative, I accepted that it was part of her personality and balanced out the fact that I rarely romanticised anything.
‘Less heavenly when it’s cold and you’re soaked to your pants and still have three more hours to do.’
She grimaced. ‘No. I can imagine.’
‘Right. So, most of the food is in here if you’re hungry later, tea and coffee in here, crockery in here, and cutlery in this drawer.’
‘Got it.’
‘OK. Let’s get you in to your room and then I’m going to have to shoot.’
Five minutes later, I left Freddy in her own heaven lying on a wonderfully comfortable bed that was dressed with a bedspread in pinks, pale greens and white broderie Anglais trim.
‘I’ll be home just after five. Make yourself at home but have something to eat and drink.’
‘I will,’ she said through a yawn as she wiggled her toes. ‘I might just take a little nap first.’
‘OK.’ I scooted over, kissed her forehead and ran back downstairs and out of the door.
* * *
‘Sorry!’ I called as I jogged back up to where I’d started the planting up of the pots earlier.
‘No worries. You got further than I thought this morning. Freddy settled in?’
‘It’s like she’s always been here. Taking a nap right now.’
‘Travel taken it out of her?’
‘A bit but she does love a nap. No excuse needed.’
‘Nothing wrong with that.’
‘Nothing indeed.’
‘Want to go and check out the restoration?’
‘Definitely.’
Isaac led the way to the buggy and we hopped on board and trundled off.
‘Oh!’ I exclaimed as we approached the site.
‘Don’t worry. It was always going to look worse before it got better,’ Isaac said, catching the look of horror on my face as we turned the corner and came face to face with piles of earth, torn-up turf and a small, impromptu pond in one of the holes from a brief but heavy rain shower last night.
‘How can you see past all the mess?’ I asked.
‘Practice and a little faith,’ he replied.
‘I think I’m going to have to gain more of both of those,’ I said, swinging myself out of the buggy and following him over to where Krish and his dad were beavering away.
‘How’s it going?’ Isaac asked over the noise of the little digger that was currently scooping out what looked like the last row of a trench.
‘Right on schedule,’ Krish replied with a thumbs up.
His gaze drifted to me and I received a brief nod and smile.
His initial interest clearly now caused him some embarrassment and I felt the awkwardness.
I was also reminded that he really was good-looking and tried not to stare as his muscles flexed as he shovelled some of our own homemade compost into the border his father had just finished digging.
‘It’s looking great!’ I piped up, doing my best to cover the discomfort.
Krish looked up but this time, there was a smile on his face. He leant on the shovel. ‘Has anyone ever told you you’re a horrible liar?’
‘Possibly.’
‘I’m afraid this might not be the year for your Oscar.’
‘Oh dear. Sorry. That bad?’
‘Not great but you made an effort so that’s something. And it will get better, I promise.’
‘That’s what Isaac just said.’
‘Wise man. You should listen to him.’
Isaac gave me a smug look.
‘Now see what you’ve done. I’ll never hear the end of it now.’
Laughter helped lift the atmosphere. Twenty minutes later, we’d chatted through the next stage in the plan and confirmed that their colleague was coming to deal with the repair of the wall.
Some of the brickwork was fine but other parts had been damaged back in the war by one of the family who couldn’t serve, determined to do their part and jumping in with both feet to keep the family and workers left at home well fed.
Unfortunately, one of his first attempts resulted in a runaway tractor which ploughed through part of the kitchen garden wall.
It was one of those things that had been on the ‘to be repaired’ list for decades but, as with most of us, it got put off and then forgotten, remembered and then put off again.
Now, finally, it was once more back at the top of the list.
‘Looking good!’ a well-spoken voice called out. We all turned to see Edward striding towards us, now in wellies and work clothes.
‘Liar!’ Isaac called back.
‘Rubbish,’ Edward said as he got level. ‘It’s all going exactly to plan, isn’t it?’ He looked from Krish to Shankar and back to Isaac.
‘It is, actually,’ Krish said eventually when it was clear no one else was going to speak.
‘Excellent. Good to hear.’ And with that, he walked off.
‘Oi!’ Isaac called after him.
I laid a light punch on his arm. ‘You can’t oi your boss!’
He looked down at me. ‘Why not?’
‘Because it’s rude, for a start.’
‘Emmeline is quite right,’ Edward said as he sauntered back towards us.
‘Well, you would say that, her being your fiancée.’
I thumped him again.
‘What was that one for?’
‘I didn’t like your tone.’
He opened his mouth to speak.
‘And if you say anything else, I may just have to report back to Freddy that you’ve been a bit of a wanker today.’
Isaac’s frown deepened. ‘You wouldn’t.’
I stuck my face in his. Well, as close as I could get on my tiptoes, which still left a fair gap but you could see the effect I was going for.
‘Watch me.’
Isaac shook his head and looked round at Edward. ‘Rather you than me, mate.’
Edward put his arm around my shoulder. ‘Now, steady on. That’s my fiancée you’re talking about.’
‘Oh, shut up, both of you.’ I laughed. ‘I need to get back to planting up. Are you coming, Isaac?’
‘You go on; I want to talk to Edward about something. I’ll catch you up.’
‘OK. See you later, chaps.’ I waved at the workmen and turned the key in the buggy.
‘Oi.’ This time, it was Edward.
‘Oh, don’t you start!’
He grinned and stepped over to the buggy. ‘Don’t I get a goodbye kiss?’ he said, his voice quiet but loud enough to be heard.
I narrowed my eyes at him. Isaac might know the truth but as far as the others were concerned, I was actually engaged to this man.
‘I suppose you think you’re hilarious,’ I whispered.
He flicked his eyebrows.
‘Isaac’s a bad influence on you. I might have to insist you stop fraternising with him.’
‘I heard that.’
‘Good!’
‘If it’s a choice between you and his ugly mug, that’s not difficult.’
‘Charming,’ Isaac mumbled.
‘And in the meantime, I’m afraid in my current position as the under-gardener on your estate, it would be inappropriate to act otherwise. Best to keep work and life separate, don’t you think?’ I asked with the merest hint of a brow raise.
‘That sounds like a sensible idea. Unfortunately.’
‘Doesn’t it?’
It was a shame Penelope hadn’t considered this weeks ago.
Edward gave me a smile, touched my hand and let me go.
‘I look forward to seeing you in your non-work capacity soon.’
‘My Lord.’ I nodded and drove off to the sound of his laughter.