The Beekeeper’s Cottage: An absolutely unputdownable feel-good summer read

by Emma Davies

  He got slowly to his feet, towering over Grace. ‘Well now, that’s where you’re wrong. I recognised Amos the minute I saw him, although it took me a while to figure out where from. It wasn’t until I saw him changing the tyre that it jogged my memory; that ever so humble “who me” look he’s perfected. That hasn’t changed over the years, I can tell you.’

  Unwillingly, Grace could feel herself being drawn in by his words.

  ‘Because of course a few years ago, maybe five or six, I was still on the news desk and—’

  ‘I don’t care about that, Paul, just tell me where he’s gone, where he came from, I know it’s on the Worcestershire border somewhere.’

  He baulked at her response. ‘No, I think you’ll want to know the whole story, Grace, just what you’re letting yourself in for… After all, that is what this is all about, isn’t it? An affair of the heart…? Well, how lovely, but I’m not so sure you’ll think the same way once you know the truth.’

  ‘Oh, this is ridiculous.’ She drew herself up. ‘Are you going to tell me where he’s gone or not?’

  His expression was snide. ‘Well, I’m not sure I can remember, it was a long time ago…’

  Her nostrils flared as she stared at him, wondering how on earth she could ever have thought she was in love with him. And then she spotted her handbag hanging on the back of the kitchen door. She marched across the room to retrieve it, checking she still had her phone tucked in her back pocket at the same time. It was time to go.

  Returning to the table, she dumped her bag on it momentarily, fishing within it for her car keys.

  ‘Where do you think you’re going?’

  ‘Out,’ she replied. ‘Following my heart.’

  He stared at her, his mouth working. ‘But what about brunch?’ he asked, light dawning.

  She took off her apron and threw it at him. ‘Cook it your bloody self,’ she said, backing away.

  ‘Don’t you dare!’ he retorted, voice rising. ‘Have you forgotten what this weekend is all about, Grace? What’s in it for you?’ He swallowed, taking a deep breath, visibly trying to calm down. ‘Look, Grace, I’m sorry. And you’re right, I was winding you up, I’m just a bit tense, you know how it is. We’re so close to bagging this deal, Grace, so don’t do this, please. I need you. You’re the only one who can do this, you always have been. Just a few more hours.’

  She held his look, taking in his softer expression, the way he thought he could just turn on the charm.

  ‘Nope, sorry.’ She smiled sweetly. ‘There’s somewhere else I need to be.’

  His voice echoed across the room, laden with bile. ‘Leave now and you can forget any thoughts you have about hanging onto this place. I’ll sell it out from under you before you can say sold subject to contract.’

  A throat cleared from behind him as Zac came into the room. ‘Morning, Grace,’ he said. ‘Off out somewhere?’

  She started, completely unaware that Zac had been standing there, and, worse, with no idea for how long. But then he gave her a thoughtful look and nodded at her in complete understanding.

  ‘Don’t let us keep you,’ he added. ‘Paul and I can take it from here, can’t we, Paul?’

  A smile lit up Zac’s face as he met her astonished gaze. ‘You go and enjoy yourself, Grace, and thank you, it’s been a wonderful weekend.’ He looked directly at Paul. ‘Most enlightening.’

  She dipped her head, and looked at her husband, no longer the cocky playboy or the threatening bully, but instead like a balloon that someone had let the air out of.

  ‘Thank you,’ she said. ‘It’s been a pleasure meeting you, Zac. You and Riley, Scott too, of course. Please would you say goodbye for me?’

  ‘Of course.’ He smiled. ‘Goodbye, Grace. I hope you find what you’re looking for.’

  She reached the patio door just as Zac’s voice floated past her. ‘Sit down a minute, Paul. We need to have a little chat.’

  21

  Grace gunned the engine slightly as her car shot around Hope Corner and moments later she turned onto the track that led up to the farm. Her head was awash with thoughts that were scattering her in all different directions, but mostly she was surprised at the complete about-turn her life had just seemed to have taken. She could even smile at the look on Paul’s face as he realised that his sure-fire new contract had just gone up in smoke. While she wasn’t a vindictive person, there was a rather pleasing justice to it all.

  Mostly, though, her thoughts were centred on Amos and the absolute and overwhelming need to find him. She didn’t doubt that there was something in his past that he wasn’t proud of, but how many people had led truly blameless lives? What was important was that the man who had appeared out of the blue at the farm one day had made her feel like the Grace she knew of old, the woman who could be anything she wanted, and be any way she wanted. And she now knew that if she were very lucky it would include a life with Amos in it.

  It would have been easy to ask Paul what he knew of Amos’s circumstances and, no doubt, he would have delighted in telling her. But that wouldn’t have been fair to Amos at all. If it was something he wanted to share with her, then he would, in time perhaps, but she needed to let him know he was among friends; there was no need for him to have run.

  After parking up, she pushed open the gate into the yard, where she saw Ned walking up towards the house. She called out, waving her arm to attract his attention. He hurried over.

  ‘Have you seen him?’ he asked. ‘I was just about to go out and look.’

  Grace shook her head. ‘No,’ she replied. ‘But I know why he left… well, not actually, but… Look, I’ll explain. Where’s Flora?’

  ‘In the house.’ Ned took hold of her arm. ‘Come on.’

  Flora was sitting morosely at the table with Hannah and Fraser. The teapot occupied the centre space but the mug of tea in front of Flora looked cold and untouched, a skin formed on its tepid surface. She got to her feet the minute she saw Grace.

  ‘I can’t even think straight,’ she said. ‘Goodness only knows what you’re going through. There’s a million and one things to be doing, and I can’t bring myself to do any of them.’

  ‘I know,’ replied Grace. ‘I’m afraid I’ve just taken off my apron and thrown it at Paul, telling him he could cook breakfast. That man has never cooked anything in his life before, but I don’t care. There are more important things.’

  Flora looked instantly horrified. ‘Oh, God… but the TV thing! No, Grace, you can’t, you can’t let this opportunity go by. You’ll lose the house.’ She looked helplessly at Ned. ‘There must be something we can do… Oh, this is the most horrible timing. Grace, you need to get back home, but we can’t let Amos go, you can’t… you need…’ She trailed off, frustration jumbling her words.

  But Grace shook her head. ‘No,’ she said. ‘I don’t. They don’t need me there any more.’ She smiled at the memory of Zac’s words. ‘In fact, even the bigwig from America turned out to be a really nice man; he gave me his blessing to leave actually. He said he hoped I find what I’m looking for. So, all things considered, I think that’s what I should do.’

  ‘I don’t understand,’ said Ned, frowning. ‘It’s all in the bag already, is it? Paul’s got the contract?’

  ‘On the contrary. I think right around now Paul is getting the shock of his life and finally having the arrogant grin wiped off his face.’

  She quickly explained the events of the morning. ‘So, you see, there really was no point in me staying.’

  ‘But that’s terrible!’ said Flora. ‘Grace, you’ll lose the house…’

  She nodded. ‘Yes, I know… But it really is the most curious thing. I find I don’t mind half as much as I thought I would.’

  Flora sank back in her chair. ‘But it’s Paul’s fault. From what you said he’s the one who made Amos leave.’

  ‘Yes, but in doing so, he also showed his true character, so he gained nothing either. Contrary to his belief, this weekend was not about pu
tting the icing on the cake of the deal, but more about giving Paul a chance to prove that he was made of better things than they suspected. By trying to rubbish Amos all he did was prove them right, so he failed miserably.’

  ‘Hah!’ The triumphant exclamation came from the end of the table, and Fraser immediately apologised. ‘I’m sorry, Grace, but we’ve been friends for a very long time, and I’ve watched you all these years, praying that one day someone would come along and give Paul his comeuppance. I can’t pretend I’m not glad that someone has.’ He pointed a finger at her. ‘And now it’s time for you to get your reward for putting up with him for all these years. Don’t you dare look back.’

  Hannah looked at him sideways. ‘Fraser Jamieson, I couldn’t have put that better myself.’ She smiled at her husband. ‘But what about Amos?’ she added. ‘Do you think that what Paul said was true? That he recognised Amos and knows that there’s some secret from his past he’s kept hidden?’

  ‘I’m pretty certain of it, yes,’ Grace replied. ‘Paul was trying to goad me about Amos all weekend but I don’t think there’s any doubt that he did remember him from somewhere. Once he figured out where, he was desperate for me to ask him what he knew, but that in itself means it must have been related to a news story. He mentioned it was five or six years ago, which would have been when Paul was news anchor, so it makes sense.’

  ‘But it doesn’t necessarily mean it was anything bad,’ said Flora. ‘People are in the news for all sorts of reasons.’

  ‘Yes, but I can’t see Paul being quite so manipulative if all Amos had done was win first prize in a national lemon-curd-making competition.’

  ‘Hmmm.’ Flora frowned. ‘I know that makes sense, but I don’t want to think badly of Amos, in fact, I don’t think I can…’

  ‘Me neither,’ agreed Grace. ‘And I absolutely refuse to believe the worst. Amos deserves better than that. So I will wait to hear whatever it is from his lips, or not at all.’

  ‘He may not wish to tell you though,’ countered Hannah. ‘You have to think about that, Grace, hard as it may be. I think we all know how fond of you Amos has become, which is the very reason why he left in the first place – he obviously wanted to protect you from upset, and in my book that can only mean one thing. I think you need to prepare yourself for the fact that you might not like what you hear, however hard we find that to believe.’

  Grace shook her head. ‘I don’t care,’ she said. ‘Amos has made me feel better about things than I have in a long while. Better about myself too. Apart from anything else, I owe him a huge debt of gratitude and, whatever else happens, I just want the opportunity to tell him that. And I’m a mature and supposedly responsible adult, not some lovesick teenager about to do something stupid.’

  But then she stopped because that’s exactly what she did feel like. Grace felt like doing something very silly indeed. And in that moment the perfect idea came to her.

  She stared at everyone, catching Flora’s eye, whose face split wide into a grin.

  ‘Well, then,’ Flora said. ‘What are we waiting for? Come on, we’ve got to work out how to find Amos. What do we know about where he might have gone? Somewhere he might have mentioned before, or someone he might go to…’ She looked straight at Grace, light dawning in the exact same moment.

  ‘Maria!’ they both chorused.

  ‘It’s where Amos was planning on going after he left here,’ said Grace.

  ‘And she rang here one time,’ added Flora, thinking. ‘Wait a minute…’ Her face lit up with excitement. ‘Amos wasn’t around, so she left a message… with her number for Amos to call her back…’

  ‘Yes, I took the message,’ said Hannah. ‘I wrote it on the notepad… What if—?’

  But Flora had already got to her feet, rushing to fetch the pad of paper that was always kept on hand for messages. She brought it back to the table, leafing through previous pages, turning it this way and that as she tried to decipher the various entries. There wasn’t a sound in the room as all eyes were trained on her every move.

  Suddenly she gave a triumphant shout. ‘Look!’ she stabbed a finger on the page. ‘There it is… Maria Holloway… and the number.’ She slid it across the table towards Grace. ‘Go and phone her.’

  Grace’s hand shook as she touched the paper. ‘Oh, God… what do I say?’

  Fraser leaned forward. ‘You just say your name, Grace. I don’t think you’ll need to say any more.’

  ‘What do you mean?’

  He chuckled. ‘Because I was here the day Amos called Maria back. I was in the dining room so as he passed into the hallway he didn’t see me. I wasn’t eavesdropping on his phone call as such, but it struck me that the way he was chatting with her was quite lovely… But then he said something a little odd which made my ears prick up. He said that the thing Maria had told him would happen to him one day – something that would change his life – had happened, and then he mentioned your name, Grace. Now I couldn’t hear what Maria had said before Amos made that comment, but I’m sure he said it in response to a question from her, and it was the way he said it…’ His eyes twinkled as he looked at her. ‘So I’m sure Maria will know exactly who you are, Grace, and, more importantly, why you might be looking for Amos.’

  Grace could feel herself blushing. ‘Oh, I see…’ She picked up the notepad, looking at the scribbled number, and took a deep breath. Then she grinned. ‘Excuse me for just a minute, won’t you?’ she said. ‘I need to pop outside and make a phone call.’

  The phone was answered on the third ring.

  ‘Hello?’ The voice sounded a little breathless.

  Grace opened her mouth to speak… and nothing came out. What on earth did she say to this woman, a complete stranger? She would sound a total idiot, or worse… She should have thought about what she was going to say, tried something out in her head, but now all the words she started to form dried in her throat, sounding stupid.

  ‘Hello?’ The voice came again. ‘Is anyone there?… Amos?’

  His name caught in Grace’s throat. ‘No,’ she managed. ‘It’s not Amos, but—’

  ‘Grace?’ There was a noise that sounded a bit like a sigh. ‘Oh, Grace… is this you?’

  And despite herself Grace laughed. There was such hope in that voice, such longing.

  ‘Yes,’ she said. ‘Yes, it’s me.’ She laughed again at the absurdity of the situation and was relieved to hear Maria laughing too.

  ‘It’s me, Maria,’ she said. ‘Amos’s friend. Oh, how silly, you know that, you’re ringing me… Oh, but it’s so lovely to hear your voice. I wondered what you would sound like…’ But then she broke off and Grace could hear the quick intake of breath. ‘Is everything all right? Is Amos…?’

  ‘He’s fine,’ reassured Grace. ‘At least I think he is… It’s so lovely to talk to you, I didn’t know what to do… but we found your number and I…’

  And from nowhere a rising tide of emotion threatened to engulf her. She swallowed, trying to gather herself.

  ‘Maria, Amos has gone… he just upped and left and… I’m sorry,’ she paused to wipe away a tear that had suddenly spilled down her cheek. ‘I need to find him… I was hoping he was with you.’

  ‘No, but oh, Grace, you don’t know how happy that makes me, hearing that. I’ve wanted someone to find Amos for such a long time…’ There was real emotion in Maria’s voice too. ‘And he’s spent so long trying to avoid being found he hasn’t realised yet that it’s the one thing he wants… more than anything.’ She paused to think. ‘Where are you?’

  ‘I’m at home,’ Grace replied. ‘Well, at the farm where Amos was staying, but we don’t know when he left exactly, or which direction he went in. All I know is that when he had finished working here he said he would make his way back to you.’

  ‘Yes, he told me that too. It was the day he rang me to tell me about you. And I’ve been wondering about it ever since, hoping… Well, if he is on his way, he’s not here yet, so… But I’d love to mee
t you. Can you come here, Grace? Come and stay with me and we can wait together.’

  Grace could feel the warmth of Maria’s words wrapping itself around her and she couldn’t think of anything she would rather do. ‘I can come straight away… Would that be all right?’

  ‘Perfect, let me tell you how to get here…’

  The call ended a few minutes later and Grace hugged her phone to her chest. She had no idea what was going to happen next but, for once in her life, not knowing where she was going or what she was doing felt completely and utterly wonderful.

  Her head was awhirl with things she needed to think about, but most of them could wait. There was just one other thing she needed to do now.

  She found the contacts list in her phone and dialled another number.

  ‘Hello, Grace…’ Bill’s voice was hesitant with worry. ‘Is everything okay?’

  ‘Yes, I’m fine, and I’m so sorry to call you on a Sunday, Bill, but something rather important has come up. I’m really sorry but I won’t be able to come into the shop tomorrow. It’s hideously short notice, I know, but…’

  ‘No, no, don’t worry… but you sound a little… I don’t know, anxious? Are you sure you’re all right?’

  ‘Bill, I’m honestly fine, I’m sorry to have to ask.’ She smiled to herself at the thoughts in her head, wondering what to say next. ‘And the thing is, well, I’m going to visit someone, only I’m not sure how long I’m going to be away…’

  ‘Grace, you never take any holiday, I’ll manage. Take a week, two even if it helps, and—’

  ‘Bill, you’re a darling, thank you so much.’ She could almost see his cheeks colouring down the phone. ‘Erm, there is just one more thing… You know how you’ve always said you’d do anything for me, I only had to ask?’

  ‘Yes?’

  ‘Well, I wondered if I might ask a massive favour…’

  Maria’s directions were wonderfully precise and not quite two hours after they had spoken on the phone, Grace pulled up outside her house. Her head had swivelled from left to right as she drove, scouring the lanes and the countryside for any sign of Amos, but there was none. Once or twice her heart had quickened at the sight of someone walking but, within seconds, she’d see that the person’s gait was different, that they were the wrong height, or with a dog, but it still didn’t stop a rush of excitement from churning her stomach.