by N/A
“Excuse me for a minute.” Zach squeezed her arm and made his way across the room to help a ginger-haired teenager change the huge beer barrel that had started to spill its precious contents on the floor.
“Gorgeous, isn’t he?” murmured Blake, nudging her in the ribs as he sipped from the rim of his Pina Colada, his eyes fixed firmly on Zach’s taut buttocks currently raised high in the air as he struggled to attach the nozzle. “I think I’ll miss him the most, you know.”
“What do you mean?” Millie shot a look at Blake, hopeful that at last she was about to be informed about what was going on.
“Well, I don’t think vacancies for estate managers are two-a-penny around here, do you? When I saw Zach’s mother at the café yesterday she mentioned something about him relocating permanently to the Caribbean. I suppose it’s better than the heather-strewn glens of Scotland! Who in their right mind would want to live there?” grimaced Blake, his cute ski-slope nose wrinkling as if Scotland was in Outer Space. “I mean, do they even have Waitrose? And don’t even get me started on the quality of the wifi!”
Blake performed a theatrical shiver that caused Millie to giggle despite the cauldron of emotions his disclosures had whipped up inside her. Zach was moving back to St Lucia? Why hadn’t he told her?
“I’m sure Scotland has entered the twenty-first century with the rest of us.”
“Maybe, darling, but you can count me out for regular weekend visits - although it might be worth a jaunt just to check out those fabulous kilts the men insist on wearing. And whilst a trip to the Caribbean would be a totally different scenario - I have absolutely no problem with a splash of Rum and Relaxation - the airfare is sadly beyond my meagre means.”
Blake wandered off to replenish his drink with a generous dose of neat Bacardi, leaving Millie to absorb what his revelations about Zach’s future meant. Like Blake, there was no way she could afford a flight to St Lucia unless Claudia booked her services to present another one of the Paradise Cookery School courses - which in effect meant that once he’d left she would probably never see Zach again.
The thought caused a burst of panic to explode in her chest, followed swiftly by an intense desire to seek him out and demand that he explain what was going on. Why hadn’t he said anything to her? Was this the reason for the change in the tone of his texts before she left London and why he’d said they had ‘a lot to talk about’? Obviously, he was going to tell her that there could be no future for them if they lived in different countries, and her reaction to this made her realise that her feelings for Zach had morphed beyond friendship into something entirely different and much more worrying. After what had happened with Luke, she had no desire to revisit the heartache that losing someone close caused, and the only way to do that was to surround herself with a sturdy armour of detachment.
But could she do that? She wasn’t sure she was capable of controlling the way she felt when Zach was at her side. Why did her relationships always have to be so complicated?
Millie drained her glass, running her tongue around her lips to collect the last taste of cinnamon, and she suddenly realised that the village hall had almost emptied. As it was a school day the next morning, everyone with children had ushered them from the party with promises of hot chocolate and marshmallows when they got home, and Tim and Claudia were waved off like newlyweds to a fanfare of thanks and farewells and with numerous beautifully wrapped gifts under their arms.
She sighed and made her way to the kitchen, having agreed to stay behind to help with the tidying up, but her offer hadn’t been entirely altruistic – whatever was going on at Stonelea Manor, she wanted to get to the bottom of it. Yes, Tim had told her that this year’s Festive Feast course would be the last one, but why did the scaling back, or even the closure, of the cookery school business affect Zach’s position as the estate manager?
The only way to find out was to ask him directly and brace herself for the answer she didn’t want him to give – that Blake had spoken the truth. Zach was leaving the UK for a new life in St Lucia and she was devastated.
Chapter Six
Zach drove his car through the stone pillars and onto the driveway that led to Stonelea Manor. A whoosh of relief flashed through Millie’s body when she saw that the tarmac was clear. Although it was still cold, it was the middle of December after all, the temperature had lifted and the only snow that remained was the undisturbed blanket of white spread across the front lawns.
When they arrived in the gravelled car park at the back of the house, Zach cut the engine and twisted round to face her. It was eleven thirty and she was bone-tired from a hectic day she had spent baking up a storm with Claudia, then scrubbing the kitchen in the village hall, not to mention the soporific effect of the three glasses of punch she had devoured, each successive glass tasting better than the last for some reason. Her head felt heavy and all she really wanted to do was dash into the boot room, peel off the padded green jacket she had borrowed and shoot up those magnificent stairs to bed because she had an early start the next morning and she needed to feel fresh and raring to go for the first day of the course.
However, she had resolved to find out what was going on. She didn’t feel she could ask Claudia who’d had ample opportunity to share her problems with Millie, and had chosen not to, and anyway, she doubted there would be a single moment of privacy to discuss such delicate matters, even if their numbers were depleted. She had no idea when she would be seeing Zach next and she could see that the kitchen was suffused in darkness which meant Claudia and Tim and their guests had retired for the night and they would have the place to themselves.
“Come and have a night cap. There’s Blue Mountain coffee, or we could indulge in a tot of Tim’s single malt, if you prefer?”
“Millie, I…”
“Please Zach.”
Before she was waylaid by arguments to the contrary, she shot from the car and into the house. She could envisage Zach’s reaction to a tee – the eye roll, the sigh, the twist of his lips into a resigned smirk, but he followed her into the kitchen nonetheless.
Millie set the kettle to boil and lit a couple of cathedral candles, only subsequently realising that Zach might have thought she had more romantic intentions in mind. The kitchen filled with flickering golden light and once again Millie was surprised at the lack of Christmas decorations in the room where it was intended that their guests would spend the majority of their time. It was another mystery she would just have to add to the lengthening list because her brain felt like it had been stuffed with cotton wool.
She carried the coffee mugs, and a plate of home-made mince pies, to the table next to the French doors and sat down facing Zach, determined to excavate the details as to the cause of Claudia’s distress, Tim’s anger, and Blake’s despondency at Zach’s imminent flight.
“Okay, what’s going on with the cookery school?”
“I don’t know what…”
“Don’t fob me off. I know it’s none of my business, but I care about Claudia. I know how much she loves the cookery school and I can see how upset she is that this year’s Christmas tutorials are going to be the last. She’s trying to hide it, but it’s not working, and Tim spends all his time hiding out in his workshop, bashing away his resentment on those inventions of his. Whatever it is, it’s more than just the Festive Feast course, though, because even Blake is miserable and that isn’t a character trait I would associate with him. Please, Zach, tell me what’s going on.”
Zach sighed, a muscle in his jaw working overtime as he took a couple of beats to master his emotions. He swallowed a long draught of his black coffee to inject a little courage into his veins, inhaled a deep breath, and met Millie’s eyes.
“It’s true. The Claudia Croft Cookery School is closing its doors at the end of the week.”
“But why? Every course is sold out as soon as it goes online.”
“It’s amazingly successful! That’s why Claudia and Tim decided to set up The Paradise Cooke
ry School at their villa in St Lucia.”
“Then I don’t understand. Is Claudia closing that too?”
Millie’s heart pounded out a symphony of sadness as she contemplated all the hard work she and Ella had put into finalising the school. Claudia had confided in her that it was a long-held dream to upgrade the plantation house into a luxury boutique hotel so that their guests could stay on site whilst learning the secrets of gastronomic excellence Caribbean-style.
“No. The Paradise Cookery School is safe. Claudia and Tim will probably relocate there.”
“So, what will happen to Stonelea Manor?”
Ah, there it was, thought Millie, she had hit the jackpot with that question.
“It’ll probably be sold.”
“Sold! Are you serious? The estate has been in Claudia’s family for three generations.”
“True.”
Zach took another sip of his coffee, then ran his fingers through his hair causing it stand up in those attractive tufts Millie thought were so cute. However, the serious expression on his face upset her tremendously as she put two-and-two together after her conversation with Blake and realised what the sale of the manor to a new owner would mean for Zach’s future livelihood.
“I can’t believe Claudia and Tim want to sell.”
“They don’t.”
“Then why?”
“It’s complicated.”
“I’m listening.”
Now that she had Zach sitting in front of her, she wasn’t going to be fobbed off until she had heard the full story, no matter how long it took or how hard her exhaustion pulled at her bones. She comforted herself with the contention that it wasn’t as though she was sticking her nose into Claudia and Tim’s private business because Blake knew what was going on, and so it seemed did most of the residents of Berryford after the way they had made such a fuss over them that evening – they were leaving the village!
She could feel the pessimistic vibes emanating from Zach which shocked her to the core. He had never been anything other than upbeat and positive, continually cheering her on from the side-lines as she emerged from her self-imposed sojourn of gloom after the debacle with Luke. Now the tables had been turned and it was her turn to come to his rescue, but she had no idea how – she didn’t own a country estate that required his unique services. However, she was beginning to understand why the last text message she’d received in London had changed tone.
“Zach?” she pressed.
“Okay, okay. I think Claudia has already told you that Stonelea Manor was purchased by her grandfather who preferred to live the life of a country gentleman rather than a City wheeler-and-dealer on the stock market where he made his money. When he died, he left the house to his two sons, Claudia’s father, Charles, and her uncle, David. David wasn’t interested in the estate and when his son Dexter was twelve, they emigrated to Australia.
“When Charles passed away, Claudia inherited his half share of the Stonelea estate, and similarly when her uncle David died, his share passed to Dexter so they ended up owning the Manor equally. Like his father, Dexter had no interest in a crumbling old building on the other side of the world, so when Claudia decided to set up her cookery school ten years ago, he raised no objections, and was content to be a silent partner in return for a proportion of the profits as rent.”
Millie remembered Claudia talking about her cousin, reminiscing about their escapades in the grounds and the incident when he had carelessly raced down the banister and broken his wrists. She suspected there was more than just bones that Dexter had broken recently.
“In July, Dexter contacted Claudia and Tim to ask if they would buy his share of the house. Tim told me that Dexter has always been a bit cavalier when it came to investing his father’s money and this time he’d chosen a start-up mining company that promised fabulous returns but, of course, didn’t deliver. Anyway, his creditors are screaming for their cash and the only asset he has left to sell is his half share of Stonelea Manor.”
Zach replaced his coffee mug on the silver tray and arranged the teaspoons into neat lines. Millie said nothing, not wanting to interrupt his monologue.
“Of course, Claudia and Tim had bought the villa in St Lucia and all their cash was tied up in the renovations which didn’t come cheap. They tried to raise funds using the manor as security, but another blow fell when the bank’s surveyor advised them that they would probably need to replace the roof in the next two years – so no chance of a mortgage and the only option left is to sell. Claudia’s devastated, of course, but has tried to look at the situation from Dexter’s point of view, insisting he has every right to liquidate his share. I know it’s not my place to say this, but I think all this worry is the cause of her recent tiredness.”
“What does Tim think of Dexter’s ultimatum?”
“Tim is livid with Dexter for springing this on them, but he’s the most sensible, pragmatic guy I know. He’s managed to spin the whole nightmare into a positive and has almost persuaded Claudia that they will be much happier living in St Lucia where she’ll be able to concentrate on building up the Paradise Cookery School, put the finishing touches to the hotel, and producing the high-grade cocoa from the trees she’s been cultivating. What’s really upsetting Claudia is how the sale will affect the wider community. Stonelea Manor has been at the centre of many of the villagers’ lives for decades, and she treats everyone as part of the family - and you’ve seen tonight how her friendship is reciprocated.”
Millie’s heart squeezed painfully when she saw the ragged despair on Zach’s face. Claudia and Tim already had an estate manager in St Lucia, would they really need two? But there was something else lingering in Zach’s eyes and she knew he hadn’t yet finished his explanation.
“And?”
Zach met her eyes and Millie held her breath as he prepared to divulge the sting in the story’s tail.
“Last week, Dexter informed Tim that he’s bringing a potential purchaser to have a look round the estate on Thursday and suddenly it all seems much more urgent and real.”
Millie allowed this last nugget of information to sink into her brain, joining up the dots until she understood what Blake had meant when he had asked Zach if he had any news. If the buyer was interested, Zach was going to be out of a job sooner rather than later. But surely the new owner would need someone to look after the grounds?
“I’m devastated for Claudia and Tim,” said Millie, indignation at their position fizzing in the pit of her stomach. “How will all this affect your position as estate manager?”
“The guy Dexter is bringing is apparently a wealthy Swedish internet entrepreneur who’s publicity-phobic and wants to turn the manor into a fortress-like retreat, somewhere he can live in peace away from the media mayhem that surrounds him back home. Dexter has already sent photographs of the property and copies of the title deeds to Sven Andersen’s lawyers and it sounds like it’s a done deal. Thursday is just about the final recce. Tim was furious when Dexter told him that Sven plans to plant a twelve-foot-high leylandii hedge around the perimeter to prevent prying eyes and long lenses, but he was apoplectic when it was confirmed that he would not be retaining any of the staff.”
“I’m sorry, Zach.”
Millie’s heart sunk to her toes as she watched Zach struggle to keep his emotions in check. This was a different side of Zach to the one she had encountered in St Lucia, the playful, good-humoured optimist who had filled her life with sparkle and her heart and soul with the confidence that she could do anything she put her mind to. Now it was her turn to step up and usher him down the positivity path, even if it meant she would lose him from her life.
“What are your options?”
“Tim’s offered me a job in St Lucia if I want it. But Jake’s happy there, for the moment at least, and I’m not sure they really need my services or whether they are just being kind.”
“That’s not the case at all! Once the hotel is up and running, you said yourself that Claudia inten
ds to offer tours around the cocoa plantation – you know, ‘From cocoa bean to chocolate chip dream’. You would make an amazing tour guide, Zach, and weren’t you talking about organising quad bike safaris and archery shoots for the guests too? Not all the guests will want to spend the whole day cooking in the kitchen.”
“Maybe…”
“So there’ll be more than enough work to keep you and Jake busy.”
The grandfather clock in the hallway struck midnight and Zach pushed back his chair to leave.
“Thanks for listening, Millie. You know, I really feel like I’m about to lose a treasured member of my family – an old maiden aunt who’s being shipped off to a care home against her will, so heaven knows how Claudia is coping.”
“You could look on it as an opportunity to start something new?” Millie suggested as she tossed the empty mugs into the sink and left them there for the morning.
She saw Zach’s eyes linger briefly on the clutter; the fact that he chose not to comment, not even a chastisement, never mind a sarcastic response, worried her more than anything she had heard that night. She wanted to reassure him that everything would turn out fine, but she didn’t see how that could happen and her hesitation gave Zach the signal to leave.
“Maybe. Look, I’d better go. We’ve both got an early start in the morning. Goodnight, Millie.”
Zach paused at the boot room door for a few seconds, his mouth inches from hers. Goosebumps shot over her forearms at the sharp intensity of his gaze. All she wanted to do was fall into his arms and rekindle the closeness they had experienced during her sojourn at Claudia and Tim’s spectacular villa high on the hill overlooking the bay of Soufrière, and when she scoured his eyes she saw that Zach felt the same.
However, just as Millie thought their lips were about to meet, Zach turned on his heels and left. Disappointment and confusion flooded her veins, but her overwhelming emotion was that of concern for what the director of Zach’s destiny had in store for him. As she locked the door behind him and climbed the magnificent staircase to bed, her brain continued to churn over the details of their conversation until she was even more perplexed.