Clover Cottage: A feel good cosy read perfect for your summer holiday reading (Love Heart Lane Series, Book 3)

by Christie Barlow

  ‘Absolutely,’ they chorused, holding their beer cans in the air.

  ‘I actually don’t want to go home. This place has captured my heart and I’m quite jealous you have all these wonderful friendships. Look at you all, throwing Rory’s life on a bonfire and swigging beer, all together … yes, jealous indeed,’ he admitted.

  ‘I happen to agree with all that,’ chipped in Fergus, raising his can. ‘I couldn’t imagine or want to be anywhere else. Here’s to good friends.’

  ‘Here’s to good friends,’ everyone joined in.

  ‘You must have some good friends though, Zach,’ probed Allie. ‘I mean, you are Zach Hudson.’

  ‘And that’s exactly where the problem lies.’

  All eyes were on Zach.

  ‘You can’t stop there,’ urged Isla. ‘Come on.’ She looked towards him for an explanation.

  Zach took a deep breath. His stare unblinking, he revealed how he’d grown up in a small town feeling different from his friends at school, who didn’t have the same interests. Going to drama school had made him feel happy at first. He’d thought he’d made friends there and had spent four years perfecting his craft before landing his very first job on TV. But that was when it all changed. People had stabbed him in the back, turned away from him, all because he had landed the part. They weren’t his real friends, not people you could rely on in a crisis or sit round a bonfire with.

  ‘And then when people do recognise who you are, they immediately want to be your new best friend.’

  ‘It sounds like it must be quite a lonely life,’ mused Allie.

  ‘Sometimes it can be. But then I arrived in Heartcross.’ His face lit up. ‘Honestly, guys, apart from the invasion of fans at the summer fair and those who camped outside the surgery, I actually feel this place …’ Zach looked beyond the burning fire towards Heartcross Mountain, then towards the alpacas grazing in the field. ‘I actually feel at home. Moving around from place to place, hotel to hotel – it’s okay to begin with but believe me it gets tiresome.’ He took a breath. ‘I could only dream of having this. This is what you call proper friendship, friendship that has built up over the years. In my industry, you certainly find out who your real friends are. There, speech over!’

  ‘I feel the need to applaud,’ joked Isla. ‘But you know what, slushy moment alert …’

  Everyone groaned.

  Isla rolled her eyes, ignored them and continued, ‘I couldn’t ask for a better group of friends and I agree we are a very lucky bunch of humans.’

  ‘Hear, hear,’ agreed Drew, snapping back the ring pull on a can of beer and handing it to Zach.

  ‘Maybe we could commission a show about friends,’ said Felicity with a grin.

  Isla let out a laugh. ‘I think someone might have already beaten you to that idea!’

  ‘Oh, yeah,’ said Felicity, and giggled.

  Allie felt sad listening to Zach. She could relate what he was saying to her own childhood. She’d felt lonely at times and had found it difficult to make friends. Living your life as an international superstar was clearly not what it was cracked up to be and she wholeheartedly agreed with him as her thoughts turned back towards the job interview for the Glasgow newspaper. She couldn’t imagine being so far away from her friends. Zach was right: good friends were hard to come by, and these were people Allie knew she could rely on, if her life depended on it. She couldn’t imagine not having her support network so close to her, and felt sad that others didn’t have that in their life.

  Hearing the crackle of the baby monitor by Isla’s feet, Allie gave a chuckle. ‘At least I’m not broadcasting on the other end of it this time.’ She squeezed Rory’s leg.

  ‘Thank God,’ he replied with a lopsided grin.

  Over the airwaves they could hear Angus stretching in his cot and beginning to murmur.

  ‘Martha’s there, she’ll see to him,’ whispered Isla, holding the monitor in her hand. ‘And why am I whispering? It’s not as though he can hear me.’

  They all listened in silence to Angus gurgling, then they heard him chuckle.

  Allie brought her hand up to her chest. ‘So adorable.’

  Isla put her finger to her lips as they heard faint singing in the background. ‘Listen.’

  Martha began to sing an ancient Scottish lullaby. Her voice was angelic and everyone listening was transfixed.

  I left my baby lying here,

  Lying here, lying here,

  I left my baby lying here,

  To go and gather blaeberries.

  Hovan, Hovan Gorry og O

  I’ve lost my darling baby, O!

  ‘Are you smiling at me? Are you?’ Martha’s lovable voice filtered through the monitor. ‘Let’s get you changed and give you a quick feed,’ she said.

  They heard Martha scooping Angus up and leaving the bedroom.

  ‘I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, she’s worth her weight in gold, that one.’

  Drew nodded in agreement.

  ‘I just want to stay for ever,’ sighed Zach. ‘How much for a long-term rental of a van?’

  ‘This one never went home.’ Felicity nodded towards Alfie and Polly, who were strolling down the long drive of Foxglove Farm hand in hand, swinging a carrier bag and laughing. ‘Look at them. Young love.’

  The pair of them were ambling along without a care in the world, their eyes locked on each other, sharing kisses as they walked.

  ‘Over here,’ shouted Drew, and Alfie held up the bag. ‘We’ve brought supplies!’

  Slung across their backs were their camping chairs. They unpacked them and sat down with everyone.

  ‘So what’s the fire in aid of?’ asked Alfie, noticing the pieces of handwritten paper floating in the air like confetti.

  ‘My life … university papers, all the useless stuff I’ve been hoarding,’ said Rory.

  ‘It’s your last night in Love Heart Lane, isn’t it?’ Alfie passed a gin in a tin over to Polly.

  Rory shook his head. ‘Should have been tonight but it was actually last night. I’m officially living back with the parents – well, for now anyway.’

  ‘Have you met the guy who’s rented it out?’

  Allie and Rory gave each a look.

  ‘We will leave you to make your own mind up. Never judge someone on someone else’s opinion,’ Allie announced in a serious tone, taking everyone by surprise.

  ‘Whoa, whoa, whoa, stop right there!’ Felicity held up her hand like an overzealous traffic warden and looked towards Allie. ‘There’s definitely a story there. We know that look. What’s he done to upset you?’

  ‘Nothing, just call it a woman’s intuition.’

  ‘The poor guy has done absolutely nothing. He’s okay,’ added Rory.

  ‘Maybe he’s a politician as well as a property developer, as he avoided questions at all costs. We found out zilch about him.’

  ‘Maybe he’s just a private person and feels he doesn’t need to share his life history with someone he’s only just met,’ responded Rory.

  ‘Guarded is what he is.’ Allie was convinced that Flynn Carter was going to be a force to be reckoned with.

  They continued to throw Rory’s belongings into the fire as they sat around chatting about anything and everything. Zach was amazed to hear about the collapse of the bridge last year, cutting Heartcross off from civilisation until they raised enough money to help fund a temporary bridge.

  ‘What’s it like where you live, Zach?’ asked Fergus, imagining he lived in a mansion with a swimming pool and its own gym.

  ‘It’s just a flat. Extortionate rent due to location, not enough room to swing a cat and I’ve no idea who any of my neighbours are.’

  ‘I couldn’t imagine walking down the street and not knowing someone. We all know everyone. As kids we moved from house to house raiding everyone’s biscuit tin.’ Isla chuckled, thinking about the days when life was simple.

  ‘Scrumping in Hamish’s orchard,’ chipped in Fergus.


  ‘We used to throw the apples down the line and chuck them in the old wicker basket and eat them in the hideout up the mountain pass.’

  ‘I feel like I’m in the middle of a Famous Five book,’ said Zach with a laugh. ‘You’ll be telling me there were lashings of ginger beer next.’

  ‘Africa next for you then, mate, wrestling lions,’ said Drew, looking towards Zach, who nodded.

  As Zach began to talk about his upcoming documentary and his trip to Africa, Allie noticed that Rory looked a tad upset, which was not surprising. One minute he was going, the next he wasn’t. She squeezed his knee and he attempted to hitch a smile on his face, but he couldn’t hide his disappointment. Allie had to admit that sitting there listening to Zach she too was deeply disappointed for Rory.

  ‘You’re going too, aren’t you, mate?’ asked Alfie, unaware that Rory had changed his plans.

  Rory reluctantly shook his head. ‘With Mum’s diagnosis I’m not sure how quickly things are going to change. Being away for twelve months was too long to leave Dad coping with the surgery and Mum,’ he said, unable to hide the disappointment in his voice. ‘But mark my words, I’ll become just like one of Zach’s superfans, stalking him on Instagram every day.’

  ‘When are you leaving, Zach?’ asked Allie.

  ‘Early next week, but in the meantime I’m just enjoying chilling in the van with this one’ – he ruffled Sydney’s head – ‘before I have to venture out into the real world. The lack of phone signal is absolutely bliss, I have to say.’

  ‘You wouldn’t think that if you lived here,’ chorused everyone. The lack of phone signal drove them all insane daily.

  ‘Who’s this coming up the drive now?’ asked Isla, narrowing her eyes to take a better look.

  Everyone looked over.

  Rona and Aggie, dressed in hiking gear, swayed up the gravel. Their arms were linked, their faces flushed, and they were singing at the tops of their voices.

  Just got in from the Isle of Skye,

  I’m not very big and I’m awfully shy,

  The ladies shout as I go by,

  Donald, where’s your troosers?

  Let the winds blow high, Let the winds blow low,

  Down the street in my kilt I go,

  And all the ladies say hello,

  Donald, where’s your troosers?

  ‘This is so embarrassing,’ said Felicity, watching her mum and Aggie dance around each other. ‘It’s their new keep fit regime, let’s start walking to lose a bit of flab, they said, but to me it looks like they’ve been in the pub, all the gear and no idea.’

  Zach couldn’t take his eyes off the two women as they carried on like they didn’t have a care in the world. They danced and twirled, jigged their knees up and down with less rhythm than a spider on a trampoline, limbs all over the place, but they were exhilarated, giddy and, by the looks of things, a little tipsy. It was infectious to watch.

  Suddenly, Zach launched himself off his feet, and pulled Isla to hers. ‘What are you doing, you loon?’ she said, laughing, and they all joined in singing the Scottish song. Allie and Rory followed suit and before they knew it everyone was dancing around the dying flames of the bonfire.

  ‘This is contagious,’ bellowed Zach over the singing, He was enjoying every second. Sydney opened one eye and immediately closed it again; she wasn’t for moving. ‘This place just captures magic.’

  Within seconds Aggie and Rona had spotted them and hurried over to join the circle. ‘That’s it, I’m done,’ said Felicity, laughing and flapping a hand in front of her face, and she sat down again.

  ‘Call yourself youngsters? Look at you, all out of breath.’ Aggie put her hands on her hips and danced a short sharp burst of some kind of jig. They all watched with amusement. She stopped when she set eyes on Zach. ‘You do look much more handsome in real life,’ she said with a glint in her eye.

  ‘Mum, don’t embarrass the poor man,’ said Fergus, rolling his eyes in jest. ‘And anyway, I thought you were going for a walk, not’ – he leant forward and wrinkled his nose – ‘going to the pub.’

  ‘For your information we have been for a walk and to the pub and now we’ve come to keep Martha company while you lot are putting the world to rights.’

  ‘Oh, and we think the idea behind your mum’s birthday is an excellent one, Rory. We have so many photographs and lots of memories to put in the jar,’ said Rona, looking straight at Rory.

  ‘What’s this about a jar?’ asked Fergus.

  ‘Mum’s birthday,’ said Rory. ‘We were thinking of doing a slideshow full of old photographs and putting a memory jar together with things that we can read out to embarrass her. Something low-key but meaningful for us all. So we all have memories of memories. How do you know about it already?’

  ‘We just bumped into your dad on our walk,’ answered Aggie, pinching a peanut from the bag Drew had just opened. ‘We’ve been everywhere.’ Aggie rattled on with the details of their route, along the river to the old boathouse, then left over the hillside until they reached the green. They’d taken the path at the back of the green through the woodlands and the grounds of Starcross Manor, over the fields, past Clover Cottage and back along the river.

  Aggie fiddled with the new-fangled watch she was wearing. ‘Over 10,000 steps – today’s target is met,’ she stated triumphantly. ‘And your dad was with a very dashing young man. We’ve not seen him around these parts before, have we, Rona?’ She looked at Rona and carried on fiddling with her watch.

  ‘Dark and brooding he was,’ said Rona. ‘Man of few words,’ she added.

  ‘Flynn Carter.’ Allie filled in the name.

  Rona pointed at her. ‘That’s it, Flynn Carter. His suit wouldn’t look out of place on Savile Row and that aftershave, mark my words, was not your average Aramis.’

  Rory was far from interested in Flynn Carter’s dress sense or what aftershave he was wearing. ‘Flynn Carter was with my dad?’

  ‘Yes, up at Clover Cottage. There was some sort of heated discussion going on. Have to say Stuart looked a little rattled,’ admitted Aggie.

  Rory looked towards Allie. ‘I told you there was something about him.’

  Allie didn’t have a good feeling about this at all and by the look on Rory’s face he was thinking exactly the same.

  Why the hell was Flynn Carter up at Clover Cottage?

  Chapter 19

  With a thumping heart Allie followed Rory back to his parents’ cottage.

  ‘Rory, slow down,’ cried Allie. ‘We don’t know why they were up at Clover Cottage.’ But Rory carried on striding. He knew his parents usually went to bed around this time but was hoping to catch his dad.

  He sighed as he approached the cottage. ‘Damn.’ The whole house was in darkness. He’d have to wait until tomorrow to investigate why his dad had been with Flynn Carter, even though he could probably make an accurate guess.

  ‘Just don’t go waking anyone up or crashing around inside,’ insisted Allie, following Rory quietly into the hallway, but both stopped dead when they heard the clunk of a glass being placed on a table. Rory looked towards Allie. ‘Come on, someone is up. Dad, is that you?’ he asked, pushing open the living-room door. ‘Why are you sitting in the dark?’

  His dad didn’t answer but picked up his glass and swirled the amber liquid before draining it.

  ‘Shall I go?’ whispered Allie, not wanting to intrude.

  ‘No, Allie, stay, you’re family,’ insisted Stuart.

  Switching on the table lamp Rory couldn’t help noticing that his dad looked exhausted. His eyes were heavy and bloodshot and he’d been crying.

  Rory didn’t know what to think except the worst-case scenario. ‘What’s happened? Is it Mum?’ he asked, sliding on to the sofa next to his dad. Allie perched on the wingback leather chair next to the fire.

  Stuart shook his head and patted Rory’s knee like he was a small child. ‘No, your mum is sleeping. Ignore me. I’m just being a silly old fool.’

 
Rory felt a churning in his stomach. ‘Dad, you’re sitting in the dark drinking whisky. Has this got something to do with Flynn Carter and the reason why you were up at Clover Cottage tonight?’

  Stuart exhaled, and topped up the whisky in his glass then locked eyes with Rory.

  ‘Dad, what is it?’ asked Rory, feeling his heartbeat quicken, ‘You are beginning to worry me now.’

  Stuart turned and stared into his glass. ‘The past has a way of catching up with you when you least expect it.’

  Rory noticed his dad bite his lip to stop it trembling. Stuart pointed to two envelopes lying on the table, which Rory hadn’t noticed. Leaning forward, he picked up the envelope nearest to Rory and handed it to him. Taking it, Rory looked towards Allie, who simply shrugged. He didn’t have a clue what was inside. With an uneasy feeling swirling in the pit of his stomach, he opened the envelope and took out the contents: a letter and an old black-and-white photograph of two small boys sitting on the steps of a huge stone building. He showed them to Allie.

  ‘I don’t get it. Who are the boys in the photograph?’ asked Rory, looking at his dad.

  ‘That is me, five years old.’ Stuart pointed to the boy on the left.

  ‘And where are you? It looks like some sort of castle.’

  Stuart swallowed. ‘Far from a castle,’ he said, and took a second to compose himself. ‘That place, Rory, is Birkhill Care Home for Boys – my home for two years.’

  Rory felt like he’d been hit by a high-speed train. He was dumbfounded. He saw shock on Allie’s face too. This was the first he’d ever heard of his dad being in care.

  ‘I don’t understand. Why would you be in a care home? Granny and Grandad thought the world of you,’ he asked softly, treading carefully. Rory could see the distress this conversation was causing his dad.