‘No – luckily. He had no money to invest in the property at the time, and deep down I think I knew our relationship wasn’t going anywhere. He lived with me, but it was my house.’
‘So … do you have anyone else who might wish you harm? Any enemies I should know about?’
‘No!’ Maddy glared at Harry. ‘Not that I can think of. I’m an artist. I run a gallery and take commissions, and sometimes I even exhibit.’
‘Oh yeah?’ Harry raised his eyebrows at her, still smiling.
‘My paintings. I exhibit my paintings! Seriously, Harry, I’m in no mood to joke.’
‘Okay, Moody.’ Maddy shook her head, sounding more frustrated as she reiterated, ‘No, it couldn’t have been Connor.’
Chapter 8
Maddy breathed a sigh of relief to see her house still standing as Harry drove into Annadale Close. Fire couldn’t strike twice, could it? She went to her washing line and removed the clothes, all dry and fresh from the sunshine and the Cornish breeze. Harry had opened up his house, washed his hands, and then come over and helped.
‘Can I borrow your ironing board?’ Maddy asked as Harry took the basket of washing off her. This man was doing so much for her and he really didn’t need to. ‘I should have bought a new cover for mine. It probably stinks of smoke.’
‘Yes, of course. You can do my ironing while you’re there.’
‘I have enough of my own, thank you!’
Harry chuckled, holding up his hands. ‘I’m joking.’
She worried she was over imposing by staying at Harry’s. Maybe she could go back to her house soon. But the smell of the smoke … would she even be able to sleep? Maybe she should stay at Valerie’s.
‘Are you sure you don’t mind me staying with you? I could stay with a friend.’
‘Maddy, how many more times do I have to tell you, no I don’t mind.’
‘Even the cat?’
‘Well,’ Harry pulled a face, making Maddy laugh, ‘obviously, I’d have preferred it if you didn’t have a cat, but I can’t do a lot about it now.’
They walked over to his house, Harry carrying the basket, like he’d carried her shopping. ‘Did you want to do some of your ironing while I cook us dinner?’ Harry set the basket down in his lounge.
‘Oh, good idea, I’ll pop across and get my iron.’
‘You can use mine.’
‘Oh, no.’ Maddy shook her head. ‘I want my own iron. I’m used to using it.’ Harry shrugged, as in disbelief. ‘Hey, if someone said you could use their lawnmower, I bet you’d prefer to use your own.’
‘Okay, good point.’
Maddy ran across the road to her house, and quickly retrieved her iron. There was a creepy ambience. It wasn’t dark, but with the burnt stench still lingering, she didn’t like being in the house on her own. Harry had said he’d seen someone around the house. Had they set fire to her house? Could it have been a burglar? She would check her belongings thoroughly tomorrow, but she hadn’t noticed any upheaval in her bedroom or in any of the other rooms, which was the usual sign of a burglary. And surely the police would have said something …
As she locked her front door, Sookie appeared purring.
‘Hey, girl,’ Maddy said, picking her up. ‘We’re living at Harry’s for a bit. I bet you want your tea.’ Iron in one hand, and Sookie under her arm, Maddy returned to Harry’s. The door was unlocked so she let herself in. Aware of the strangeness of it all, she wondered if she should have knocked first. Then a very different smell hit her, much more pleasant than that of her house, reminding her she was hungry: food cooking.
‘Look who I found.’ Maddy set Sookie down, and tail raised high, she trotted into the kitchen, also smelling the food. Harry’s expression said it all. He definitely wasn’t keen on cats. ‘She’s hungry, too.’
‘I’ll sort her out too, you get on with your ironing. You don’t want to be standing there doing it all night.’
‘I don’t think I could if I wanted to. I’ll only get some essentials done.’
Harry had already set up the ironing board for Maddy. He did seem to think one step ahead of her at times. He would be very good husband material … Maddy chided herself over the thought. He’s a neighbour, doing you a favour … don’t read any more into it than that.
But then she remembered Truro … had he been flirting with her?
He could have a girlfriend … although that looked highly unlikely because Maddy was sure if he did, his girlfriend wouldn’t be too pleased about a strange woman using his bed. At least they weren’t sharing it.
Half an hour later, Harry called her into the dining room. She switched off the iron, admiring her pile of clean, ironed clothes. She’d not been too meticulous about it, only choosing items she was more than likely going to need for working at the gallery and everyday use. It would keep her going for a week. In the dining room, two pasta dishes were on the table, steaming with a creamy mushroom and chicken sauce over fresh penne. Two glasses of white wine stood next to the plates, condensation forming on the glass, and there was a side bowl of baby leaf salad.
‘Take a seat,’ Harry said, coming out of the kitchen, carrying the condiments.
From the table, Maddy could see Sookie tucking into her food in the kitchen, her bowls sitting on some newspaper on the tiled floor.
‘Parmesan?’ Harry asked, passing Maddy a small tub of freshly grated cheese.
‘Yes, please.’ She sprinkled some over her dinner, then ground a little pepper. Blowing the chicken on her fork, she then took a bite. ‘Mmmm, lovely.’
‘I love pasta,’ Harry said after finishing a mouthful. ‘I need the carbs.’
‘Your high metabolism, yes?’
‘Yes.’ He raised his glass to Maddy, and they tapped their glasses together before taking a sip. The wine hit the spot for Maddy more than the food – even though she was hungry. Taking one sip helped to relax her as it slid down her throat. She would need to be careful, she didn’t need to drink the whole bottle. But then again it might help her sleep.
‘It’s a shame we’ve got to wait until the insurance company have been in because we could have used this weekend to start redecorating your bedrooms,’ Harry said.
‘Trying to get rid of me already are we?’ Maddy waved her fork at him, then put it down realising how rude she looked.
‘No, no, no, not at all.’ Harry shook his head. ‘I thought, well, you’d want to be back in your own house as soon as possible. You could sleep there, and eat here while your kitchen is being fitted.’
‘Look, Harry, if you’re regretting letting me stay, I won’t be offended. I can rent somewhere.’ Maybe he had changed his mind about her being there with him.
‘Nonsense. It’s not that. Honest.’ Harry looked both apologetic and sincere. ‘Look, we could look at paint, if you like? Good excuse for a change of colour.’
‘If feels like a mammoth job at the moment. I don’t even want to think about it.’ Her legs ached still, from traipsing around Truro, then standing there ironing. The thought of redecorating her house, choosing a new kitchen, just … daunted her. Some people would be excited to be getting a new kitchen and their house decorated, but Maddy’s had come at a cost, and with the busy summer season looming, and her need to make her gallery work, anxiety overpowered her. Where was she going to find the time to do it all?
‘The insurance should pay for decorators if you don’t fancy doing it yourself.’
‘If they pay out.’
‘They will.’
‘I hope so because I’m not sure I will have time to redecorate.’
‘I can help you, if you need it.’
‘Harry, your place needs decorating too. Maybe you should concentrate your efforts on your own home. I can’t take up all your time.’ Maddy pushed her plate away, still full to the brim, anxiety killing her appetite. The man could certainly cook, and seemed the perfect gent from carrying her bags to providing a roof over her head. So far he had successfully rescued th
is damsel in distress. Yes, very good husband material indeed.
Stop thinking like that.
‘I haven’t done anything to the house because I decided establishing my business first was a priority.’
‘Clearly.’ Maddy gestured to the dated floral wallpaper in the dining room, and snorted. Dear God, how un-ladylike. Luckily, Harry, in true gent style, ignored the fact she’d made an embarrassing noise through her nose and finished his glass of wine. She could empathise with Harry’s need to build up his business. She’d done the same with her own house. She’d just been lucky a young couple had lived in her house before her, so it hadn’t needed much redecoration.
‘I quite like the flowers.’ He smirked, trying to keep his face straight.
‘Yes, well, these kinds of flowers went out in the seventies – didn’t they? Those large floral designs in bold colours – now they’re in.’
Harry screwed up his face. ‘I think I’d prefer plain walls eventually.’
‘Yes, much more bloke-ish.’
Harry stood, taking both the dishes. ‘Would you like a top up on your wine?’
Maddy had finished her glass – like Harry – and she had a taste for it now. ‘It would be rude not to. Think I need the alcohol to help me sleep.’
‘Shall we sit in front of the telly, maybe watch a film? It might help you relax.’
‘Oh, no, I need to do the washing up first, you cooked.’
‘Don’t worry about it; I did most of it as I was going along.’
‘Well, those dishes need washing. Let me at least do those.’
‘There is really no need. Go sit down.’
Maddy’s hackles rose. She didn’t like being told what to do at the best of times. She felt useless and didn’t want to look as if she was abusing Harry’s hospitality. ‘Harry, if you’re going to let me stay, please let me help with the chores. It will keep my mind busy if nothing else. I can’t do anything at my house, and I feel really bad. I don’t expect you to wait on me hand and foot.’
‘You’re a guest.’
‘No, I’m not, not really.’ Maddy stared at him, determined. ‘Please, I don’t like to be idle.’
‘Okay,’ Harry held his hands up in defeat. ‘You wash, I’ll dry. Deal?’
‘Deal.’
***
After they’d finished the washing up, and Maddy had been satisfied she’d helped, Harry suggested again that they watch a film while finishing off the bottle of wine. He kept thinking about how he’d offered to help Maddy with the decorating. What was he thinking? Besides, the insurance company would pay for the decorators. He didn’t need to get involved. He’d thought the quicker he helped get her house back to normal, the quicker she could move back into her home. Because that’s what she wanted, and so did he. Not that he didn’t like having her in his house, but they were strangers, after all, only neighbours. He wasn’t sure he wanted her living here too long under his roof. At this moment in his life, he needed some time alone to work things through, to try and forget about Karin. He needed to keep things simple in his life.
Or was Maddy a good distraction?
As Harry switched the television on and navigated through his Sky channels, Maddy sat, poised on the other sofa with her glass in hand, still looking tense, as if unable to relax. It was odd, really, Harry thought. This is what he used to do with Karin, yet she’d be curled up in his arms, as they watched the film. Maddy had chosen an action movie over a romantic comedy and laughed heartily at the one-liners.
Half way through, Harry could hear a phone ringing. It wasn’t his; it was in his pocket and not vibrating.
‘Is your phone ringing?’ Harry asked, pausing the film. It was a different ringtone to the one that had played earlier when her mum had phoned her. It sounded like an alarm bell, a siren type ring tone. The type that warned you the caller was unwanted.
Maddy leaned around the sofa, to where her handbag was sitting on the floor and pulled out her phone. She scowled as she answered it.
‘What do you want?’ she said abruptly, dragging a hand through her loose hair, scrunching it with her fingers.
Harry tried not to listen to the conversation, but he could see by Maddy’s reddening cheeks she wasn’t happy. He went out to the kitchen, putting some of the pots and pans away that they’d left to dry on the draining board, trying to busy himself. He could still hear her half of the conversation.
‘No, I’m not coming home … No, I don’t care what my mum thinks, thank you. I’m a big girl; I’m staying with a friend,’ she caught Harry’s eye as he returned, ‘and I’m safe. I need to be here to sort out my house.’
Maddy looked as if she was about to explode as she listened to her caller. When she’d clearly had enough she said, ‘I am not listening. Goodbye, Connor.’ She hung up the phone, mumbled a ‘fuck off’ for good measure, and fiddled with her phone for a bit – Harry assumed she was putting it on silent – then threw it into her bag, and tucked the bag around the side of the sofa. Then, she finished her glass of wine in one large gulp.
‘Another glass?’ Harry said, standing up to take her glass.
‘Didn’t we finish the bottle?’
‘I have another or would you prefer something stronger? I take it that was Connor, your ex?’
‘Yes, and he had the audacity to tell me I should come home, that my mother’s worried about me and blah blah blah.’ Maddy let out a short scream of frustration. ‘How dare he?’
Harry hesitated. Did he hug her, comfort her? What should he say? He disliked seeing Maddy distressed, he suddenly realised.
‘Does he still see your mother?’ he said.
‘He’s bumped into her. Probably deliberately if I know him. My mother was blind when it came to Connor. Only Valerie saw the controlling nature of the man. His possessiveness. He’s seeing this as an opportunity for me to come home, so he can try again to get back in my good books. But I’ll tell you now; it is never going to happen.’
‘Something stronger …’ Harry nodded, saying it more out loud to himself than Maddy. She was clearly angered, and like her red hair – sorry, strawberry blonde hair – hot-headed. ‘A vodka?’
‘Yes please.’
Harry poured them both something stronger and handed Maddy her drink before sitting back down. He pressed play for the film to continue, and tried to relax back on the sofa but, occasionally glancing at Maddy, he could see she was not relaxing. He fought the urge to sit next to her, hug her, worried it would be inappropriate. Did he talk to her? Or was it none of his business? And how much did he really want to get involved? Was he ready to bear someone else’s burdens? He was doing enough by providing a roof over her head and her cat’s – and as if he’d summoned her there just by thinking of her, Sookie suddenly jumped up onto his lap and nuzzled him, purring.
Maddy noticed the cat. ‘Sookie, stop bothering Harry.’ Apologising for her cat, she picked Sookie off his lap and placed her on her own, stroking her until she settled. Maybe the cat did have a sixth sense. She purred making Maddy stroke her more. He noticed Maddy slowly relaxing, looking more comfortable on the sofa, and her expression softening, the frown disappearing as if all thoughts of her ex were ebbing away.
The film ended. It was close to half past ten and finally dark outside. Harry switched off the TV and Skybox as Maddy took the glasses to the kitchen.
‘Time to hit the sack,’ Harry said, stretching.
‘Yes, it’s been a long day.’
Harry let Maddy use the bathroom first while he made his bed on the sofa. As she walked into his bedroom, he said, ‘Good night, and don’t look at your phone.’ He’d noticed Maddy had taken her handbag with her. ‘Don’t let this Connor upset you.’
She returned his gaze with a gentle smile. ‘I won’t.’
***
Maddy shut the bedroom door and changed into the shirt Harry had lent her two days before. The bedroom was warm, so she opened the window to allow a breeze to come into the room. It was a clear
night, and she could see the familiar star constellations. Taking a deep breath, Maddy closed the curtains again and slid between the sheets. Sookie had already jumped onto the end of the bed, washing herself to settle down for sleep, too. Comforted by her cat, Maddy soon relaxed.
Then, remembering her phone needed charging, Maddy retrieved it out of her handbag, and placed it on the bedside cabinet, plugging it in. The screen flashed on and she couldn’t help seeing a message from Connor.
Please, Maddy, I’m sorry, come home. I love you.
Chapter 9
Sunlight beamed through the curtains, and the early morning birdsong trilled, waking Maddy. She rubbed her eyes and looked at the end of the bed. Sookie was gone, the bedroom door ajar. Poor Harry. He’d probably got another five a.m. start.
She picked up her phone and looked at the time, which wasn’t a good idea. Immediately her bad mood resurfaced. Not because it was five minutes past seven, but she remembered Connor had texted her late last night.
Never go back, always move forward, as Valerie had often quoted to her. And how many chances had she given Connor over the months? Their three-year relationship had been bumpy from about four months in. But he’d always managed to win her back. He knew how. In her heart – if she’d listened properly to it – she’d known he wasn’t the one, that’s why she’d followed her dream to come to Cornwall. And he’d followed, dutifully, but then the cracks had really started to show.
Cornwall had been a bit too laid back for Connor, too slow. He wanted the busy bustle of the city whereas Maddy wanted sea air and sunshine. She wanted the sand between her toes; he’d wanted tarmac under his feet.
Maddy slipped on her shorts underneath Harry’s shirt and made her way down the stairs listening carefully for any noise. If he weren’t awake, then she’d go back up to bed for a bit. To her relief, she could hear the kettle boiling and the clatter of mugs.
Meet Me at Wisteria Cottage Page 8