In the courtyard was a woman, black hair cropped close to her scalp, showing off the fine linear features of her face. She was wearing a pair of faded blue, dungaree type overalls with a bib and brace, a white T-shirt beneath, her arms and neck showing a residual tan. She was sitting on the gravel, singing along to the music coming from the radio. Ellie cleared her throat and the woman startled at the sound, turning around slowly to locate the source of the noise. She lowered her head and took a deep breath to calm herself. She dropped the tool she was using to take apart a large lawnmower, which lay on the ground upside down.
Ellie was greeted by sharp slate-grey eyes that blazed with fury. “What the hell are you doing! You scared me half to death. Who are you, anyway? If you’re selling anything, I don’t want it. If you’re a religious fanatic, I’m an atheist. Now bugger off!” She picked up the wrench from the floor and set about her tinkering again.
Ellie ignored her loud dismissal and approached the woman, ready to flee if the wrench came flying her way. “I’m sorry if I’ve interrupted something important. I’m Ellie Hanray, the interior designer working at the big house. Amelia told me you would be around.”
The woman’s eyes softened as she dragged them over Ellie’s body from top to bottom. She rose to her feet. “Yeah, sorry about that,” she said gruffly. “I only started a couple of weeks ago, and you wouldn’t believe how many callers there have been. I thought this place was off the beaten track, but it would appear not far enough. The name’s Jude Ramirez.”
Jude wiped her hand on the side of the overalls, but Ellie was still faced with hands stained with oil and unknown blackness beneath her fingernails but took the hand nevertheless.
“Pleased to meet you, Jude. It’s good to know I’m not marooned here on my own.”
Jude laughed loudly, never taking her eyes from Ellie. “Marooned! I like that. I certainly don’t feel it, although I’m sorry you do. I crave peace and quiet, away from city life and all its temptations.” Her eyes became briefly unfocused, as though she were drifting away to somewhere far away. “Can I interest you in a drink? I could do with one. I’m going to be on this for a while.” She jabbed her finger at the lawnmower.
Ellie pondered a little before answering. “Yes, that would be lovely, but I’ll have to give my landlady a ring to tell her I’ve been delayed. I may as well find somewhere to eat while I’m out, then book in later. I haven’t unpacked yet. Tea would be very welcome, though.”
Jude gave her a thumbs-up sign. “Just follow me in when you’re ready. First left off the corridor.”
Ellie watched her muscular figure walk away, with a gentle swing of her hips, taut buttocks pressing against the material. To say she was striking was an understatement and Ellie sighed deeply as she felt a clenching deep inside her body. She smiled briefly as she retrieved the phone from her bag, thinking of her encounter with Ciara and how wrong her gaydar had been. She was betting on Jude having three children and a burly husband, given her recent luck.
An efficient sounding woman answered the phone and said no problem, just to ring the bell at the house when she finally arrived. With her duty done, Ellie entered the lodge. It felt tinder dry, as though log fires had been burning in every room since the day it was built.
“Hello,” she shouted tentatively, knowing the fright she’d given Jude earlier.
“In here,” came the reply from the kitchen. “The leaves are wet. Just giving it time to brew. Have a seat.” Jude pointed to the chairs around the large oak table in the middle of the room, as she took milk from the giant American-style fridge/freezer behind the door.
To say the room was large would be an understatement. An Aga sat on the back outside wall to the right of the Belfast sink, and it was emitting a mouth-watering aroma. On the right hand outside wall was a log fire burning bright red embers, surrounded by a metal fireguard. Jude walked towards the fire, removed the guard, and then gave the fire a quick poke with the poker from the companion set on the hearth. She took a log from where it was stacked against the wall to the right of the fire, and placed it on the embers, then put the guard back.
“It’s still a little cool when you’re out of the sun. I don’t like being cold in the house. I’m not one for putting on an extra jumper, I’m afraid.” She came back to the table and stirred the tea in the pot, then handed Ellie a mug. She put the milk and sugar in front of Ellie, and then poured the tea. The liquid came out a shade dark orange. “Builder’s tea,” she explained with a wide grin.
Ellie laughed out loud. “I can see that,” she replied. “I like it that way. I have all my drinks industrial strength,” she said proudly.
Jude’s eyes crinkled at the corners. “Thank goodness. That means when I’m up near the house, you can reciprocate.” She added a little milk and two spoonsful of sugar to her mug and stirred. “Can I ask what your plans for dinner are?”
Ellie was taken aback by the question, but she tried not to show her surprise. “I just thought I’d try the local pub in the village. The Black Goose?”
Jude opened her eyes wide. “Well, if you like to pay extortionate prices for inferior food, go right ahead. It’s diabolical the way they rip off the tourists.” She gave a thunderous look.
“Okay, then. Could you recommend somewhere closer? I’m going to have to eat out every evening because I’m in a B&B, so it may as well be somewhere with good food and not expensive. I don’t have expenses paid.” Ellie took a long drink of her tea, closing her eyes in appreciation. She liked coffee, but she also felt as though she’d overloaded today.
Jude narrowed her eyes and took a drink. “Tell you what. Why don’t you have your dinner here? You can chip in towards the food. I don’t mind cooking because I’m doing it anyway. One more won’t make a difference.”
Once more, in the last hour, Jude surprised her. Jude’s offer would certainly get her out of a hole. “Okay then, but I do insist on cooking occasionally. I need to keep my hand in.”
Jude face brightened. “Great!” she said. “You make a list of things you need, and I’ll do the shopping.”
Ellie held up her hand. “No, if we’re doing this, it’s fifty-fifty. You get the shopping, and I’ll pay half the bill. Then we’re covered for milk, bread, tea…”
“Fair enough. We won’t need bread though. I make my own.”
Ellie lifted her eyebrows. “Wow! That’s great. I love homemade bread.”
Jude finished off her tea. “Right. We may as well start as we mean to go on. Tonight’s offer is Hawaiian chicken served with crusty bread rolls. Will that do?”
“I have no idea what it is, but it sounds lovely. Thank you for being so sociable and sorting out my dinner predicament.”
Jude smiled with her eyes. “You’re very welcome. Now, why don’t you go into the parlour and watch a little TV while I finish the mower? Or at least, do what I can.”
Ellie nodded. “That’s a great idea. Give me a shout, and I’ll help you dish up.”
Jude nodded. “Okay, then. Follow me, and I’ll show you how to use the TV.”
Half an hour later, Ellie watched the game show. It was one she used to watch when she was in the throes of her grieving. Mindless rubbish, but it served its purpose. Now it just made her sleepy, and she fought desperately to keep her eyes open.
She lost.
29
Ellie pushed away her plate and sighed contentedly. “Jude, what a wonderful meal. Thank you.” She lifted her nearly empty glass of orange squash and saluted her hostess.
“I must admit. I’m well practised. It’s one of my favourites, so I have it often.” Jude lifted the beer bottle to her mouth and then ate her last small piece of bread and butter. “So, Ellie, tell me—have you any idea who the owner of the property is? I’ve been racking my brains, but I can’t come up with a name. My employment has been organised by an agent. Not even a name on a contract.” Jude furrowed her brow above a puzzled-looking face.
Ellie shook her head as she shuffled
to slouch in her chair. “Same here. I thought Amelia was the owner until the first time I met her in person. Whoever it is isn’t short a few bob. Nothing costs too much if it’s what you need for the job.”
“Good,” said Jude, “because tomorrow I’m asking for a new mower. The one outside is unsuitable, even if I can repair it, which is doubtful. It looks as though the motor on it is shot.” Her eyes looked skyward. “I’ll need it fairly soon, as well. Another couple of degrees on the temperature and you’ll be able to see the grass growing before your very eyes. With any luck, the owner will be a Saudi Arabian prince who owns half the Premiership sides, then I’ll be able to have my mower the day after tomorrow, delivered from Harrods.” Both women tittered as they finished their drinks.
Ellie pushed up the sleeve of her long-sleeved T-shirt and looked at her watch. Through widened eyes, she apologised to Jude. “I’m really sorry, but I’m going to have to cut and run. The landlady will think I’ve dropped off the face of the earth. Plus, it’s been a really long day.” As if to show her body agreed, she stifled a yawn with the back of her hand. She would be genuinely sorry to go. She enjoyed Jude’s good humour and quick-witted banter.
Jude stood up and pushed her chair across the tiled floor with a slight scrape. “Oh, don’t worry about the washing-up. I’ll leave it until the morning then do the whole lot together—unless the other occupants of the house would like to do it for me.” She glanced at the door then around the room, a slight smile playing on her face.
Ellie lifted one eyebrow in surprise. “Oh, you mean…”
Jude nodded slowly. “Not as bad as some places I’ve been. Just a few knocks and small items being moved. A child having a bit of a laugh at my expense, I expect. I thought I was going crazy at first.”
At the mention of a child, Ellie thought immediately of Alex. He came as a robin. Could he do other things too? She felt herself pale.
Jude brought her back to earth. “Are you okay, Ellie? You look as though you’ve seen a ghost. You haven’t, have you? If you don’t want me talking about it, just say. It doesn’t have to be a topic of any conversations we have.” Jude tilted her head in a concerned manner.
Ellie waved away any concerns. “No, I’m fine with things like that. It’s the living you should be afraid of, not the dead. I think it’s just my blood sugar rising a bit too quick. I’ve been living off junk food for too long.” Ellie was suddenly overcome with great tiredness.
“Do you want me to follow you to the B&B, to give you a hand with your luggage? If it’s an old dear at the other end, you aren’t going to get much help.”
Ellie shook her head. “Thanks for the offer, but I’ll be fine. I’ll be even better after a breath of fresh air.”
Jude saw Ellie to her car, and before saying their goodbyes and mutual thanks for the company, they arranged to meet at lunchtime the following day for a chat. Ellie could pass on her shopping list then. She returned Jude’s wave and set off in search of the B&B.
The Darling B&B was a small farmhouse where the outbuildings, stripped of their former use, were now comfortable guest rooms with en-suite facilities. Brenda Darling dragged Ellie’s large wheeled suitcase from the car without showing any sign of being out of breath. The tall, muscular frame had a pretty face with chestnut-coloured hair above it. The tan gave a hint of spending much of her time outdoors and didn’t look as though it had faded much during the winter. Ellie guessed at her age to be late forties, but she couldn’t be sure. One thing she did know, as the woman lifted the suitcase on the bed, she had muscles in her spit!
“So, do you think this will suit your needs? We don’t have many people staying over a week. I like guests to feel comfortable while they’re here. If you think of something you need, just let me know. I’m sure Davey or I will be able to find whatever it is.” She spoke quietly talking down to Ellie from her height advantage. Her hair shaped around her face, framing it nicely, her hazel eyes sparkled, and Ellie could tell by her demeanour how much Brenda Darling loved her life. Her smile came readily and often.
Ellie glanced around the room and nodded in appreciation. “I’m sure it will be fine. I’ll be out most of the time until after dinner and away some weekends.”
Brenda walked over to a small table under the window, in front of heavy, drawn curtains. She pointed down to the table. “You have your own router and broadband, and this is the password.” She jiggled a small piece of paper before dropping it on top of the router. “The reception is not always brilliant, but I’ve never known it to fail completely. We only have broadband in three rooms. We find most of our visitors prefer peace and quiet, escaping the real world for a while.”
“Thanks,” said Ellie. “It’s the one thing I will need for work.”
“How does breakfast at half past seven suit you? I could make it a little later if you prefer.”
Ellie’s face beamed. “Absolutely perfect,” she said excitedly. “I thought I might have to beg for an early breakfast. Holiday-makers usually like a lie in.”
“Not normally the ones I get. Hikers and bikers. Up and out early, dinner at the pub, and in bed by eight.” She let out a small laugh. “Now you have your own key, you can come and go as you please. Okay, I’ll leave you to it.”
“Thanks for the extra help, Mrs Darling,” Ellie said, as she followed her to the door.
“Don’t mention it,” she replied, “and please, call me Brenda. Mrs Darling reminds me of my mother-in-law.” With a roll of her eyes, she made her way to the farmhouse.
“Oh, for goodness’ sake, Ellie! Gold not white! Concentrate on what you’re doing!”
Ellie threw down the paintbrush into the tray in her fit of pique, with a little more energy than was necessary. For her efforts, she rewarded with a splodge of white paint on her dark blue T-shirt. She grabbed for the rag on the top of the ladders, firstly wiping off the white paint from the stripwork, then off her T-shirt. The mark was now three-times the size it was.
“Oh, for—” A noise from behind spooked Ellie.
A laugh echoed through the room as Ellie grabbed for the trays swaying precariously on top of the ladder. “What the hell, Jude! I nearly went base over apex.”
Jude’s eyes sparkled as her laughing decreased. “Yeah, Ellie. Ain’t karma a bitch?”
Ellie began to chuckle. “Yes, I suppose it is,” she said as she made her way down the ladders.
Jude stepped forward and held onto the frame. “And by the way, talking to yourself is the first sign of madness.” She giggled loudly.
“Yes, and the second is answering yourself, and I’m not there yet, thankfully.”
“Only because I interrupted you.” Jude’s eyes danced with devilment.
Ellie tapped Jude’s arm, playfully. “You can go off people, you know.”
“You don’t know me well enough to go off me, yet. Come on—sandwiches in the kitchen,” she answered, beckoning to Ellie to follow her as she headed towards the kitchen.
As they ate their way through healthy salad sandwiches and pots of tea, their conversation flowed freely. Ellie thought how strange it was that she’d met another woman, whom she could have known a lifetime. She was also thankful for being fed. She would keep her energy bar for another day.
“When we spoke yesterday, you said you’d escaped the big city and its temptations. What did you mean? I’m only asking because I’m a small town girl. Hell, it’s not even big enough to have its own regular cinema.” A longing smile crossed Ellie’s face as she thought about Holly, and Michael Devlin’s contribution.
It was a while before Jude replied. Even then, it was measured. She blinked several times. “I’m not really sure what I mean, except my answer would no doubt be coloured by my personal preferences. Each person I met that I was interested in would become clingy. Not my thing at all. It stifles me. At first, I thought it was just Newcastle, so I moved to Leeds, then finally to London, where I spent ten years at Kew. London is big enough to hide in, from those you don�
��t want to see, but I could never understand why I should have to.” Jude’s eyes narrowed as though trying to focus on the problem.
Ellie did some arithmetic and worked out that Jude was probably a couple of years older than herself, even though she looked younger, in Ellie’s opinion.
“What’s your story?” Jude asked Ellie quizzically.
“Not a big city lover, myself,” said Ellie, brushing stray crumbs from her T-shirt. “They seem so anonymous. Everything moves so fast and have you noticed, people don’t often look you in the eye? I went to Bristol Uni and then worked in the city for an interior design company for four years. They were finally taken over by a brother and sister, so I left. I think a clash of personality is a good description in this case. I think they just wanted to be rid of all the old staff to make use of their own family and decided subtle bullying would work. What it did to me was take all the joy away. My biological clock was ticking very loudly by then, so I made the decision to take a year off to have a child and set up my own online business. I moved home at the same time. My mum and dad were very supportive and have been ever since.”
Jude finished off a bite of her sandwich. “How’s it working out for you?”
“It’s doing really well. Much better than my business forecast predicted. Word of mouth, good website, and strategic advertising have done well for me. I’m rarely out of work, thank goodness.”
Jude smiled at her. It looked as though she had words on her tongue and then changed her mind. “Did you bring your shopping list?”
Ellie fished in her jogging bottom and produced a note. I’ve planned on three meals this week. Starting tonight.”
“Wow, a night off. I can’t wait. It’s supposed to rain later, so I’ll pop to the supermarket then. I’ll be back by half past four, so come when you’re ready.” Jude grinned widely.
The Harbinger Page 25