Always and Forever at Glendale Hall

by Victoria Walters

  ‘Welcome to Hilltop,’ Heather said, throwing out her hand for Chloe to shake. ‘I’m Heather, thank you so much for coming. This is Cameron, the live-in manager here, and this is Anna, our chef,’ she said, gesturing to us.

  ‘It’s so lovely to meet you all. This place really is rustic. You’re right about it being a real getaway from the city,’ she said, looking around, her London accent contrasting with our Scottish ones. ‘I’m just hoping I can use my phone!’

  ‘We put in Wi-Fi in the end but it can easily be turned off for those who really want to get away from it all. I knew you’d want to post online though. Right, shall I give you a tour? Cameron, take her bag up please. Would you like a drink? Thanks, Dad, I’ll see you back at home,’ Heather directed everyone.

  ‘I could make a welcome cocktail,’ I suggested as we all filed inside. Chloe beamed at that suggestion so I headed for the kitchen. I was making more of a relaxed meal tonight but I needed to start chopping vegetables so I mixed up a cocktail for Chloe and placed it on a tray with a bowl of nibbles and pulled my hair back and went to the fridge to get out the food Heather had stocked it up with. I felt a burst of excitement. I was going to be a chef for the weekend! Not just cooking for the family back at the Hall but for a customer, although she was staying for free in return for a review but still. I stopped and snapped a photo of the kitchen on my phone. I wanted to document this.

  Heather came in a short moment later to collect the drinks. ‘Cameron is taking Chloe out for a walk around after this and then she wants a nice relaxing bath. I told her dinner will be at seven and then the living room is all set up for a movie night. I’ll be over after breakfast in the morning to take her to Fraser Farm to show her a working farm and give her a riding lesson. I really hope she enjoys it!’

  ‘She will,’ I assured her as I chopped vegetables. ‘Although hopefully Cameron will be friendly to her,’ I added, wondering how he’d get on alone with her on a tour.

  Heather looked surprised as she picked up the cocktail tray. ‘He’s great with the guests.’

  Huh, I thought as she left me alone to prep the dinner. Obviously he was just unfriendly towards me then.

  I chopped the next carrot with more vigour than was required.

  Chapter Sixteen

  For dinner, I had made vegetable tartlets to start, wild Scottish salmon with new potatoes to follow, and then a cheesecake with fresh fruit on top to finish as a light, summery Friday evening meal. I had served Chloe in the dining room, with the doors thrown open as the evening had turned sunny and warm. She had been happy for me and Cameron to eat with her, which was a relief as I was worried I’d have to eat alone with him.

  ‘Anna, this salmon is divine,’ Chloe said taking a bite once she had snapped a photo of it. She had a fancy camera and had stood on the chair to take it. ‘Honestly, I think this is better than some of the fancy restaurants I’ve eaten in.’

  ‘Well, that’s lovely to hear,’ I said with a smile. ‘Thank you. Is this your first time in Scotland?’ I glanced across the table at Cameron who was tucking in and seemed to be enjoying it although he hadn’t made any comment on my food.

  ‘I’ve stayed in Edinburgh before but not in the countryside. It’s stunning here. I think Heather is on to a good thing. I feel more relaxed than I have all week.’

  I knew what she meant. There was something relaxing about the air in Glendale and life seemed to move at a slower pace than I was used to from the towns and cities I’d lived in before. ‘So, you review things full-time then?’

  ‘I do. I basically blog and post about my travels on Instagram, I’ve been so lucky to make this into a job, I know that. Although my boyfriend wishes I was at home more. He can’t always come with me, so that’s hard sometimes, you know?’ I nodded although I didn’t really have any experience of that. ‘How about you? Have you been a chef here for long?’

  I shook my head. ‘It’s very recent.’ I glanced at Cameron, who appeared to be studying his plate rather hard. ‘I’ve never run my own kitchen before.’

  ‘Well, if this is anything to go by then you’re brilliant at it!’

  After dessert, I made coffee and then Chloe’s boyfriend phoned her so she took it into the living room, leaving us to clear the table. ‘I can do it,’ I said to Cameron. ‘If you need to get back to your cottage.’ He didn’t reply, just followed me with the plates. Outside, the sun was setting in all different colours, casting a golden light in the kitchen as I piled up the fancy dishwasher, hoping I knew how to make it work. ‘I think that went well,’ I pressed as he brought in our empty glasses. Was he really going to stay silent all weekend?

  ‘It did. The meal was really good,’ he said, putting everything down and reaching for his coffee cup to take a sip. ‘I actually do need to head back and sort a few things… Will you be okay alone with her? My number is on the hall table or just holler if you need me.’ He was already heading out.

  ‘Sure,’ I said, although he wasn’t waiting for me to agree. ‘Goodnight, Cameron.’

  He paused in the doorway to glance back at me. ‘Goodnight, Anna,’ he said softly before disappearing. I watched him go and shook my head. He really was an enigma, that man. But at least he had complimented the meal.

  After I finished clearing up, I went to check in on Chloe. She was curled up on the sofa with her coffee still chatting to her boyfriend and said she didn’t need anything when I asked so I slipped out of the French doors, deciding to have a walk while it was still light outside. I felt pumped up after the meal had gone so well and knew I wouldn’t be able to sleep yet.

  Walking out the side of the farmhouse, I spotted a trail which weaved around the edge of the woodland towards the fields that rose up on a hill. I knew that behind the hill stood Heather’s farm and their cattle grazing. I followed the path. The sun had dipped to the horizon now and the sky was a dreamy pink-and-orange haze, casting a golden glow over everything. There was complete peace here. I thought I’d find it unnerving but I didn’t. Instead, I breathed in the clean air and felt some of my tension in my shoulders lift, something that usually only happened on a fast run.

  I heard a noise then. Breaking the silence around me, catching my attention. A grunt followed by a splintering sound. Curious, I ducked under a low hanging tree branch and walked through a gap between two trees. I emerged into a clearing. At the back was a cottage and beside it, Cameron was chopping wood on a tree stump.

  With an axe.

  Shirtless.

  Feeling my mouth form an ‘o’, I couldn’t help but stop and stare for a moment. I was only human, after all. Cameron heaved the axe back and then sliced a piece of wood into two in one fluid movement. His back was bare and tanned contrasting with the green woods around him. I moved my foot and a twig underneath snapped. He stopped and looked up to see me.

  My cheeks heated up instantly at being caught watching him. ‘That looks like hard work,’ I called over as casually as I could manage.

  Cameron straightened and shrugged. ‘You get used to it. I’ve got a pile for the farmhouse in case Chloe wants to light the fire, it’s going to get cold later.’

  ‘I’ll take it back with me,’ I said, walking over, trying to ignore his bare chest facing me directly. He didn’t seem at all embarrassed so I was determined not to show that his skin was affecting me in the slightest.

  ‘They’re pretty heavy,’ he warned, holding out a basket filled with pieces of wood.

  ‘I’m pretty strong,’ I replied, taking it from him. It was true. I’d worked hard to build up my muscles when I was a teenager and yoga and exercise had kept them strong. I was determined to never be weak again. ‘Do you like living out here?’ I asked as I turned to go. I was curious. The cottage was small, made of grey stone with a thatched roof, and was tucked away in the trees. The only sound came from the light breeze rustling the leaves stretching above us like a canopy, light trickling through the gaps.

  ‘I like the peace and quiet,’ he said, picki
ng up his axe, turning to go the opposite way to me.

  ‘I don’t think I could survive being so far away from a coffee shop.’

  ‘And I like being alone,’ he added, turning to go into the cottage.

  ‘No kidding,’ I said with a chuckle. His whole presence screamed ‘stay back’, in my opinion. He faced me again and raised an inquiring eyebrow. ‘You’re not exactly what I’d call… friendly,’ I said. Surely he knew how stand-offish he could be?

  Cameron glowered at me. It was annoying that it didn’t affect how good-looking he was. ‘Maybe I just keep my friendliness for people who deserve it.’ And with that, he spun around and marched towards the cottage.

  Hell no. I wasn’t about to let him talk to me like that. I dropped the basket of wood and stalked after him. ‘What is your problem? Ever since we first met you’ve been so hostile to me. Why?’ I demanded to his retreating back.

  He stopped just in front of his open front door and with a sigh, turned around to face me. ‘I’m just not a fan of people who have no regard for their own safety. First, you almost ran into my tractor, and then you were going to get into a car with someone who was clearly drunk. If you don’t care about looking after yourself, you can’t expect other people to care either.’ His voice was low and sounded calm but I heard it crack at the end. ‘And—’ he began, but stopped abruptly.

  ‘And what?’ I said but he just shook his head, turned and walked inside, slamming the door shut behind him.

  I stared at the door in shock. Okay, so I almost walked in front of his tractor but I didn’t see or hear him and I was new to the area. How would I have known he was about to pull out of that hidden road on that bloody machine? And okay, the drunk-drive thing… It was a bad judgement call. But I had apologised for that. I had no idea why it had made him so angry with me he couldn’t even bear to be civil. I didn’t understand what his problem was at all.

  But I decided he was right about one thing – if he didn’t care about me then I sure wasn’t about to care what he thought of me. I left the basket of logs on the floor, I wasn’t going to do him any favours, and I walked as fast as I could back to the farmhouse, raging inwardly the whole way.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Awake before sunrise, I was already finishing off breakfast when Chloe appeared the following morning dressed in silky pyjamas, her hair piled on her head. ‘Please say there’s coffee,’ she greeted me, sleepily. She perched on one of the stools behind the island and I carried over a mug of coffee for her. I was already on my second of the day after not sleeping through sheer pissed-off-ness, if that was even a word, over what Cameron had said to me last night.

  ‘Didn’t sleep well?’ I asked as I drizzled pancakes in lemon and blueberries.

  ‘I’m just not used to waking up this early. Heather wants me to come to her farm so I set my alarm. I’m not a morning person, I guess.’

  ‘This should help.’ I passed her a plate of pancakes. ‘Would you like anything else?’

  ‘These look amazing. What a treat. Come and join me,’ she added, tucking in.

  I sat down with her with my coffee and pancakes, stifling a yawn. ‘Are you looking forward to your riding lesson?’

  ‘A bit nervous. I’ve never even been on a horse. Anna, these are so good.’ She glanced at me. ‘How come you’re stuck out here on a farm when you can cook like this?’

  I decided it was better to come clean. ‘Well, actually, I’m just helping Heather out as a favour.’

  ‘Oh, so you work in a restaurant? I thought it was weird…’

  The door behind us opened and in came Heather so I didn’t have to admit I was actually housekeeper of Glendale Hall. I fixed Heather a coffee and a plate of pancakes, thinking over what Chloe said. It made me feel good. She was used to eating at London restaurants and thought that I was good enough to work in one. I wondered whether my next step should be not to another pub job, but to try to get into a kitchen. I knew though that it was competitive and hard work and I had no formal training. Would they just laugh me out of there?

  ‘Okay, let’s go to Fraser Farm,’ Heather said to Chloe once breakfast was finished. ‘I’ll have her back in time for dinner at seven. Cameron is going to make a bonfire tonight, it’s meant to be a lovely clear sky,’ she said. ‘So, that will be fun. And we can toast marshmallows.’

  ‘I’d love that,’ Chloe said excitedly.

  Heather turned to me. ‘We’re all coming by for the bonfire but it’ll just be us three for your meal don’t worry, and Cameron, of course.’

  I tried not to flinch at that thought. I pasted on a smile and waved them off. I heard Cameron come into the farmhouse and head upstairs to sort out Chloe’s room, avoiding the kitchen, and me. Thankfully. I cleared up breakfast and as there was plenty of time before I had to start on the evening meal, I went out for a run.

  This time, I avoided the path that led to the woods and Cameron’s cottage but instead went through the gate into the field that rose up into a hill. I locked the gate behind me and took off, enjoying the burn in the back of my legs as I ran up the incline. It was a sunny morning but there was a breeze that cooled the back of my neck. When I reached the top of the hill, I stopped, breathless. Ahead was the top field of Fraser Farm and I could see the Highland cows up there grazing. I stood admiring the view in both directions. Up here it felt like nothing could touch me.

  I watched as Cameron left the farmhouse and walked towards the cottage. I saw him pause and look up at me. It was too far for me to see the expression on his face. I was flummoxed by him. There seemed to be this tension between us and I didn’t understand it. I’d never had anyone take against me before they even knew me.

  Clearly, I’d annoyed my bosses before. Hamish at the pub I’d just had to leave for one, and there were past boyfriends who hadn’t been amused when I’d left in a hurry, and there was Donna, who had been outraged when I hadn’t wanted to marry her grandson. But generally I thought people enjoyed my company, and I tried to be friendly to people. Yes, I made sure I never got too close to anyone. I always moved on before that happened. But people still tried. And then there was everyone at Glendale Hall, and Heather too. They’d all been welcoming. Why, then, was Cameron determined to dislike me?

  More importantly, though, why was I letting him get to me? Perhaps because I usually was able to charm people or because I quite liked being the one to walk away, not the other way around. Or, frustratingly, because I found him attractive and felt rejected?

  Groaning out loud, I walked across the top of the hill, and pushed Cameron to the back of my mind. Chloe’s words earlier came back to me. She loved my cooking, so much so she thought I should do it as a job.

  But that would mean changing my habits of a lifetime.

  I looked out over this Scottish farm and thought about my next planned stop – a beach, bar work watching the sunset over a deep blue sea, tourists just looking for fun… No one would want anything permanent with me on that island; they didn’t want it for themselves. The only difference would be the fact it would be a holiday for them; but I would never be looking for more. That thought suddenly made me feel a little sad.

  What was Glendale doing to me?

  It was making me think about my future, and usually I tried really hard not to think far ahead. I had planned to go on living as I was, but was my brother right? Was it stopping me from being happy?

  I closed my eyes and willed the universe to give me some answers because I certainly didn’t have any right now.

  * * *

  I spent the afternoon alone in the kitchen in the farmhouse preparing dinner. I put on my favourite playlist to cook to, tied my hair up, put my apron on, and let all my worries slide away as I focused on making the best meal I could. I wanted to wow Chloe. And Heather and Cameron too. And prove to myself that I could do something special.

  The sun had begun to dip in the sky when Chloe and Heather returned from Fraser Farm, Chloe heading up for a bath as Heather joined me
in the kitchen. ‘I’m exhausted,’ Heather admitted as she sat on a stool. ‘It smells really good in here.’

  I smiled. ‘The lamb is cooking so it’ll be ready in half an hour. I’d better set the table. Was the day okay though? Is she enjoying herself?’

  ‘I think so. She really liked riding and looking around the farm, and she was great with Harry. She took loads of photos so I’m hoping we’re going to get good promotion on her Instagram and blog. She’s sweet, I really like her so fingers crossed she likes us too. I’ll go over and get Cameron, he’s probably building the bonfire. Was he a good assistant today?’ She hopped off the bar stool. I was starting to understand that she rarely stood still.

  ‘I haven’t seen him,’ I replied truthfully as I headed into the dining room. I saw her look surprised at that but I had been determined not to ask him for any help, and he had clearly been happy to avoid me all day. I went into the dining room and laid four places, lit a scented candle and opened up the French doors as it was so warm. Heather came in with wine and glasses and soon we were joined by Cameron and Chloe. Chloe was wearing leggings and a long t-shirt, her wet hair in a bun, but she still looked effortlessly pretty. Cameron smiled at her and asked her all about her day. I tried not to show my irritation that he was able to be nice to her and not me. I really didn’t want it to bother me but it did.

  I concentrated on serving dinner and ignoring their friendly conversation, although it wasn’t easy. After the starter, I served the lamb shanks. The meat fell off the bone, I could see as I ate my nut roast, wishing for once I could try the meat main for myself. I had to content myself with the appreciative noises from the others. Even Cameron. And then for dessert I had made a berry tart with homemade ice cream – all the ingredients were local and fresh and organic, and I was really pleased with it. Cameron made us coffees afterwards and I put out a plate of cheese and biscuits but everyone was too full to eat much.