‘I know, I know. Thank you,’ Abbie said, sipping her coffee on the stool by the kitchen counter.
‘Hopefully there will be lots of cute puppies to make it worthwhile. What have you got planned with Jack?’
‘I don’t know really. He texted last night to say he’d come for lunch and that he wants me to show him around town. It’s going to be really weird to see him in Littlewood.’
‘Maybe I’ll finally get to meet him.’
When Louise had gone to London to see Abbie while she was living there, she had never got even a glance at Jack. He was too busy to take time out to see her, she had read between the lines, and she had worried he wasn’t in it for the long haul with Abbie.
‘I’ll make sure of it,’ Abbie promised.
‘Right – I’d better go, the animals need me.’
‘Have a good day!’ Abbie called as Louise grabbed her bag and left the cottage, missing the wink her sister had added to her words.
The bright and sunny morning cheered Louise up as she made her way through Littlewood to the large green on the edge of town that was useful for outdoor events like the fete. She was pretty sure parking would be a nightmare and, as it was a lovely day, she made the most of it and walked slowly over there.
The green was already a flurry of activity by the time she arrived. There were tents set up, all emblazoned with the logo of the animal charity, plus several food vans, a bouncy castle and a face-painting area. A lady wearing a Littlewood Animal Rescue T-shirt met Louise and she ticked off her name on the volunteer list, gave her a T-shirt to put on and directed her to the tent she would be helping in for the day.
‘We’re going to put you in with the vet – he’ll be taking questions from people thinking about adopting an animal. We’ll also be doing a raffle, a training exhibition and a dogs’ and owners’ race, so it should be a good day,’ the lady said, hurrying off to greet the next person walking across the green.
Louise slipped the T-shirt on over her vest top and walked across the grass to the tent she would be working in. She stopped in the entrance and stared, confused, at the person already in there.
‘Louise!’ he said, equally surprised, pausing in arranging leaflets on the table to look at her. ‘Can I help you with something?’
She swallowed. ‘I’m volunteering. They told me this would be my tent,’ she said, looking at Alex awkwardly. She couldn’t believe her luck – they would be spending the whole day together. She wasn’t sure who looked more embarrassed.
‘Ah, well. Excellent. Come on in, then,’ Alex said, letting out a nervous cough. There were two fold-up chairs behind the table and Alex gestured for her to sit down next to him. ‘Abbie said you’d be taking part as well today,’ he said, breaking the silence after a few seconds. ‘But I didn’t know we’d be in the same tent.’
‘Abbie?’ Louise asked, confused.
Alex nodded. ‘She came to my surgery and asked me if I’d volunteer today, as the charity needed a vet. She said she’d be here too. Where have they placed her?’
Louise’s mind started whirring. ‘She was meant to be here, but a friend from London has come to stay so she had to drop out.’ He nodded and she thought this was too much of a coincidence. Had her sister engineered this? Louise was almost certain she had.
She glanced at Alex who was pouring them cups of tea from a plastic flask he had. He didn’t seem suspicious, but she was embarrassed to think he might believe she was the one who had planned this. Why had Abbie done this?
The answer came to her suddenly: the kindness pact. Abbie clearly thought Louise should be giving Alex a chance and had decided to force her into doing just that.
Louise looked from Alex to the entrance, panicked, but then her decision was made as a volunteer arrived with a dog for their station and her heat melted. This was for a good cause; she would grin and bear it. She just hoped Alex didn’t think she had schemed to spend the day with him.
Alex got up from his chair then to greet the dog, who jumped up eagerly as he ruffled his fur, laughing when the dog tried to lick his face.
Louise looked away, hating that the scene had made her smile. She loved it when people were kind to animals; she was sure you could tell a lot about someone by how they treated them. She remembered asking Peter if they could have a cat, only to be told they couldn’t because he was allergic; she discovered later on from his mother that he had lied – he just didn’t like animals. Louise wondered if she should have taken that as a red flag right there and then.
The volunteer left the dog with them and went off to organise the raffle. It was a Labrador called Ben and he lay down at Alex’s feet, looking perfectly content there.
‘Do you have a dog of your own?’ she asked Alex as they waited for someone to come into their tent.
‘No. I did growing up and I would like one now, but I’m at work six days a week so it wouldn’t really be fair. At least I get to see so many in the surgery.’
‘I keep thinking about getting a cat.’
‘You should. Animals are great company, aren’t they?’
‘Yes, I suppose it can get lonely living on your own. It’s been nice having my sister to stay,’ Louise said, although she wasn’t so happy with Abbie right now.
Alex nodded. ‘If I didn’t have such a demanding job, I think I’d get lonely too. I used to live with my ex before I moved to Littlewood. It’s the little things you miss, like having someone to cook with or watch a box set with, you know?’
She nodded, a lump forming in her throat. She lifted her eyes to meet his. A look passed between them, but then a family came into the tent and Alex got up to greet them. Louise leant back in her chair, realising she had been absent-mindedly leaning towards him.
She pulled her phone out to text Abbie. Your matchmaking needs to be more subtle!
Abbie replied immediately. I just wanted you to see the possibility. He’s a nice guy, Lou, why not give him a chance?
Why not let me make my own choices? Louise fired back.
I just want you to be happy xxxx
Louise sighed and put her phone away. She knew her sister’s heart was in the right place, but why did Abbie always think she knew best?
Okay, so maybe she was a bit lonely; the news of Peter’s engagement had hit her harder than she cared to admit and left her longing for someone to love, but the thought of having her heart broken once more just made her want to run out of the tent and hide in her cottage. How were you supposed to take a chance on love again?
Ben the Labrador padded over to her then and she patted his head as Alex explained to the family how they would need to take care of a dog like him.
Louise wondered what his instructions might be for taking care of a human, because she really didn’t have a clue.
Chapter Nine
Eszter, Zoe and Anne walked across the green later that morning to check out the fete for themselves. Anne had been quiet on the walk there and Eszter realised she was nervous as they weaved their way through the throngs of people.
‘Would you have always gone to this sort of thing with Frank?’ Eszter asked her. She wondered why, after living all her life in one place, Anne didn’t seem to have any close connections with anyone there. Surely after Frank died, people would have rallied around her like they did for Joy when Harry was ill?
‘Frank liked to come to community events,’ Anne said. ‘But obviously he was very busy and often we had to be in London, especially when we were younger. He was a very successful doctor.’ Anne looked around nervously. ‘There are a lot of people here.’
‘We don’t need to stay long if we’re not enjoying ourselves,’ Eszter said gently. Zoe let out a squeal as a volunteer approached them with a black poodle. ‘Although how we’re going to drag Zoe away from all the animals, I don’t know,’ she said with a laugh.
Anne smiled. ‘Frank was allergic to most animals, so we never had any pets when Nick was growing up; he would have loved a dog.’
�
��We couldn’t have a dog back at our apartment in Budapest, which is a shame,’ Eszter said, watching her daughter patting the dog carefully. ‘It would be lovely to have a dog here though, there are so many beautiful places you could walk one.’
‘Anne Harris?’ called a voice from behind them. They turned to see a small lady walking towards them, her grey bob bouncing with her steps. She smiled. ‘I thought it was you; it’s been so long since I last saw you.’
Anne nodded. ‘Hello, Jane. This is Eszter, my daughter-in-law.’
Eszter smiled, pleased that Anne had introduced her as family so comfortably.
‘I run the community centre,’ Jane said, shaking Eszter’s hand firmly. ‘And who’s this?’
‘This is my granddaughter Zoe,’ Anne said, gesturing for Zoe to come over. She left the dog and went to Anne’s side, who wrapped an arm around her proudly.
‘We’re staying for the summer,’ Eszter told her. ‘How do you two know each other?’
‘We actually went to school together,’ Jane said. ‘I’m always trying to persuade Anne to come along to the centre; we have so much going on. And for all ages. There’s a kids’ club too.’
‘That might be good, Zoe, maybe you could make some friends in Littlewood?’ Eszter said.
‘Here, take a leaflet,’ Jane said, pulling one out from the stack in her hand. ‘There’s a list of all the activities we run. You should all come and see us.’
Eszter nodded. ‘Sounds great.’ She glanced at Anne, who was looking away, distinctly uncomfortable with the conversation. ‘It was lovely to meet you.’
Jane walked on, ready to hand out more leaflets, so the three of them made their way down the green. When Zoe spotted the face-painting station, Anne and Eszter stood by while she sat down and was turned into a cat.
‘I think Zoe might enjoy the kids’ club,’ Eszter said, looking at the list. ‘Do you know, I’ve always fancied taking a drawing class, so maybe I should go along too. You’ve never fancied it before?’
‘Jane and Frank didn’t get on,’ Anne replied, then walked over to look at Zoe being painted.
Eszter watched her go, frustrated. Anne seemed to have really cut herself off from Littlewood when there was so much there for her, and it all seemed to come back to her husband and the shadow he still cast, years after his death. She spotted Louise then in her tent and waved to her; pleased to see she was in there with Alex. Surely Louise would come to agree with her and Abbie that the vet was worth a date?
Perhaps everybody needed a helping hand in the right direction. They’d all be so much happier if they would just open up their hearts a little bit.
***
Abbie’s heart was beating faster than normal as she walked through town towards Huntley Manor to meet up with Jack. It felt as if two very different worlds were colliding as she walked in and waved to Amy, spotting Jack sitting on one of the leather armchairs in the lounge, glued to his phone. She glanced around but there was no sign of Thomas and, if she was being honest, she felt relieved. She wasn’t sure she wanted to introduce them to one another.
‘Abbie, darling,’ Jack said when he saw her, putting his phone in his pocket as he got up from the chair. She smiled as he gave her a big hug and kissed her on the cheek.
‘Hello, Jack,’ she said, looking at him when he pulled back. He was wearing his usual dark suit with his fair hair gelled back and she breathed in the musky scent of his expensive aftershave. ‘Have you settled in okay?’
‘All unpacked. I was expecting you to be working somewhere a bit more five-star,’ he said, looking around the room.
‘Well, admittedly, it needs some polish, but it has a lot of charm, don’t you think?’
Jack raised an eyebrow but then took her hand. ‘It’s really good to see you. Come on, I’ve booked us somewhere for lunch and I have something that I want to ask you.’ Taking her by the hand, he led her outside to his car. ‘You look gorgeous, Abbie,’ he said as he opened up the door for her. He pushed back a strand of her hair. ‘I’ve really missed you.’
Abbie smiled. It was good to see him again.
She glanced at Huntley Manor as she climbed into the car beside him and saw Thomas walking across the grounds, looking at them. She lifted her hand to wave, but he turned and disappeared.
‘Come on,’ Jack said, so she hurriedly got in.
They drove through Littlewood to a gastro pub a few miles away, up high in the Surrey Hills. Jack had always known how to find good places to eat. As they had passed the green where the fete was in full swing, Abbie wondered how Louise and Alex were getting on together. She hoped Louise would forgive her matchmaking.
They got a table outside in the sunny beer garden, Jack bringing out a beer and glass of wine.
‘What’s been happening in London?’ Abbie asked.
‘Oh, the usual,’ he replied with a wave of his hand. ‘But I want to hear all about you. Are you surviving in this backwater town?’ He grinned and brushed her fingertips with his.
‘I’m not missing the city as much as I thought I would. It’s lovely around here.’
‘Well, London is certainly missing you, and surely you want to get back to it? I was thinking about that time we stayed up all night in the office because we had so many ideas for that restaurant opening. Do you remember?’
Abbie smiled. She did. They had spent the night in his office coming up with ideas, eating a takeaway and drinking wine, and then they had ordered a taxi back to his flat, tumbling into bed and staying there all day. ‘We made a good team.’
‘We really did, and we could again.’ He reached for her hand, but the waiter arrived so they ordered lunch. When he left, Jack leaned in closer again. She had forgotten how he focused in on her when he spoke, his eyes fixed on hers, and his attention one hundred per cent hers. She had loved that about him. So many men in the past had pretended to listen, but Jack always did. ‘Tell me about the work you’re doing at the hotel, then. I want to hear all about it.’
So Abbie told him about Huntley Manor and how she was determined to help save it from closure. ‘It’s such a beautiful place, and I love that Thomas has been on board with all my ideas. That’s what I’ve really enjoyed about being here – I have creative freedom.’
‘You were always brilliant at coming up with ideas. Honestly, we’ve really missed that at work. I think all of the partners are starting to regret letting you go.’
‘Really?’ Abbie was pleased that her hard work hadn’t gone unnoticed, as she’d thought. She wondered if that was the reason Jack was there.
He took hold of her hand, and Abbie was surprised that his touch could still warm her skin so quickly. ‘Of course. Abbie, you have so much talent. I hope this Lord Huntley realises that. You could charge him a fortune for the help you’re giving him. I don’t want anyone taking advantage of you.’
Abbie smiled. ‘I can take care of myself, Jack.’
He shook his head. ‘I know that. But that doesn’t mean I don’t want to take care of you.’ He squeezed her hand and looked at her fondly. ‘I have really missed you.’
‘Is that why you came?’
‘I do want to talk to you about something, but let’s just enjoy lunch. I’ll get us more drinks.’ He went off to get her another wine and she leant back in her seat, the sun on her face, and smiled.
Abbie had forgotten what good company Jack could be. She was still hurt by how he had treated her, but he had clearly missed her and it was flattering to know she was missed at the office. She was intrigued to know what he wanted to talk to her about, but when he came back with a story of a couple having a row at the bar, it slipped her mind and they spent the rest of the afternoon chatting about London and all the people they knew. Abbie soaked up all the news he had of their mutual friends, and wondered why she had been so nervous about him coming. Jack was a master at putting people at ease; she had seen him charm the prickliest of clients. Abbie was soon having a much better time than she had told herself she wou
ld have.
Chapter Ten
Louise flopped down in her chair in the early afternoon and pushed her hair back off her face. ‘This place is crazy,’ she declared. She had been in the tent with Alex all morning, with a constant stream of people coming in to ask him questions and to meet the dogs that the volunteers kept bringing in. There was a tiny lull, so she had slipped out and got them both drinks and burgers from the nearby food van and they sank into their fold-up chairs gratefully.
‘I didn’t expect to have to work this hard today,’ Alex admitted, taking a big bite of his burger.
‘It looks like the rescue centre is going to be inundated with people wanting to adopt.’
‘I hope so. Thanks for all your help today, especially when that little girl started crying because her parents wouldn’t let her take the sheepdog home. They live in a flat and she just couldn’t understand why the dog wasn’t suitable for them. I’m sure I can still hear her having a tantrum out there.’
‘I’m used to kids at the hospital; we see a lot of tantrums there, bless them.’ She sipped her Coke.
‘I definitely don’t have your patience. I prefer dealing with animals, much less stressful, and far quieter.’ He grinned and she chuckled. ‘So, what brought you to Littlewood two years ago then?’
Louise wondered how honest to be. If she was going to keep things from being awkward between them, and she would like to be friends with him, then it was best to be honest so he would know why she didn’t want to date him, or anyone else. She swallowed her mouthful and sighed. ‘Well, I wanted to get away from my home town in Cornwall really, and this was one of the first vacancies I applied for. I had just broken up with my fiancé and it seemed far enough away but also a small, community town like the one I grew up in.’
‘So a broken heart brought you here?’
‘I suppose you could say that. It was a huge shock; he left me just before we were going to get married, so yes it really hurt me and I needed a change of scene pretty desperately. So, that’s how I came here, and I loved it straight away. I think you said you had recently broken up with someone too?’
Random Acts of Kindness--Part 2 Page 4