The House in the Clouds

by Connelly, Victoria

  ‘What about work?’

  ‘I’ll be working.’

  ‘Where?’

  Abi sighed. Ellen still believed that, in order to work, one should actually leave one’s home.

  ‘I’ll work from home.’

  Ellen frowned, not looking convinced.

  ‘There’s plenty of room. I’m going to set up a studio. Actually, I’ve seen a press I want.’

  ‘A press?’

  ‘To make my prints.’

  Ellen shook her head. ‘Honestly, Abi, you do baffle me.’

  Abi laughed. ‘Why?’

  ‘Because you do all these things that other people just don’t do.’

  ‘And that’s bad?’

  Ellen seemed to think about this for a moment. ‘I suppose not. Not if it makes you happy.’

  ‘It does.’

  ‘And if it makes you money.’

  Abi smiled. That was the crux of the matter with Ellen and probably the real reason she was worrying about her now.

  ‘Everything is going to be fine. More than fine,’ Abi assured her. ‘It’s going to be wonderful!’

  The chalk path looked dull today under the grey sky. Abi remembered back to the autumn when it had gleamed so brightly under the sun. How she was looking forward to getting to know this place and seeing the changes that each season brought.

  The girls took off ahead of them. Rosie – as ever – leading the way.

  ‘Don’t go too far ahead, Rosie!’ Ellen shouted after her.

  ‘Wait until you see it,’ Abi said, excited herself by the prospect for it felt too long since she’d last seen the place.

  They climbed the hill, leaving the village far below them and then taking a turn onto a footpath which skirted the flank of a down and that’s when they saw it.

  ‘Welcome to Winfield Hall,’ Abi said, gesturing grandly with an arm flung out towards it.

  ‘That’s what you’re buying?’ Ellen looked astounded.

  ‘Well, half of it,’ Abi reminded her.

  ‘Goodness, Abi!’

  ‘Is it a palace?’ Rosie asked.

  ‘Of course not, silly!’ Bethanne said.

  ‘Actually, Rosie, some people call it the “Palace of the Downs”.’ Abi saw Rosie stick a gleeful tongue out at her sister. ‘It’s also known as the House in the Clouds because it’s so high up. Isn’t that lovely?’

  ‘Does that mean it’s cold?’ Bethanne asked.

  Abi laughed. Bethanne did sometimes sound like a born scientist. Perhaps Ellen had a point in nudging her in that direction.

  ‘So, which half is yours?’ Ellen asked.

  ‘The right-hand side. Come on, we can get closer to it along this path.’

  They set off again, gazing down into the grounds of Winfield.

  ‘Is that your garden?’ Rosie cried.

  ‘Yes!’

  ‘It’s enormous!’

  Abi laughed. ‘Yes, you might have to come and help me with it.’

  ‘You sure you haven’t taken on too much with this place?’ Ellen asked.

  ‘Not at all. I’m up for the challenge.’

  They walked on a little, the path dipping slightly towards the hall.

  ‘There’s a man staring at us,’ Rosie suddenly said. ‘Look!’

  Abi turned around and gasped. It was Edward out in his part of the garden that was visible from the public footpath, and Rosie was right – he was, indeed, staring right up at them.

  ‘Oh, no!’ she cried, wishing that the chalk path would swallow her whole.

  ‘Abigail?’ he called up to them. ‘Is that you?’

  ‘Keep walking,’ Abi whispered to her family.

  ‘Abi – he’s seen us!’ Ellen protested.

  ‘No, no! Just keep walking.’

  ‘But we’ve got to say hello. Come on!’ Ellen grabbed Abi by the arm and the four of them slowly descended the hill towards Edward who was beaming a smile at them as he left the walled garden and walked out onto the driveway. Abi had never felt so embarrassed.

  ‘It is you!’ Edward said. ‘I didn’t know you were coming down today.’

  ‘No, it wasn’t exactly planned,’ Abi said.

  ‘You should have called me. Let me known that you were here.’

  ‘Edward – can I introduce you to my sister, Ellen? And her two daughters, Bethanne and Rosie.’

  ‘Pleased to meet you,’ Edward said, shaking Ellen’s hand.

  ‘Very pleased to meet you!’ Rosie said, coming forward to shake hands too. ‘Can we see inside?’ she asked, her cheeks flaming in excitement.

  ‘Rosie!’ Ellen admonished. ‘I’m so sorry. We didn’t mean to intrude.’

  ‘No,’ Abi said. ‘Honestly, I just wanted to show them the village. We didn’t want to disturb you.’

  ‘You’re not. I’m doing absolutely nothing. Even switched my phone off.’

  ‘Are the builders here?’

  ‘Just one doing something with the floorboards upstairs so it’s quite safe to come inside if your family want to take a look around.’

  ‘Oh, please!’ Rosie said, grabbing Abi’s arm and tugging it.

  Abi grinned. ‘If you’re sure it’s no bother.’

  ‘No bother at all.’

  Abi glanced at Ellen who gave a little nod.

  They followed him across the driveway towards the front door which he opened, ushering them inside.

  ‘Wow!’ Rosie cried. Abi glanced at her nieces. Bethanne’s mouth had dropped open and her eyes were filled with wonder.

  ‘It’s like a film set!’ Ellen said.

  ‘That’s exactly what I thought when I first saw it,’ Edward told her. ‘Especially the stairs.’

  ‘Me too!’ Abi chimed in.

  ‘Although it’s a bit chaotic at the moment with all the builders’ things.’

  ‘It’s really, really big!’ Rosie said, her neck craned back as she took in the ceiling high above her.

  ‘It’s certainly bigger than your London place,’ Ellen said.

  ‘Yes,’ Abi said. ‘But this will be split up into apartments.’

  ‘Actually, we’re making a bit of progress there,’ Edward told her. ‘Early days, I know, with all the work that’s to be done, but I’ve got some plans through from the architect and they look pretty good. I’ll send copies over to you.’

  ‘Thank you,’ Abi said, noticing that, as before, Edward was immaculate in a crisp blue shirt and neat trousers. He was wearing a wax jacket today because it was cool outside and she thought that he looked like he’d stepped out of one of those country magazines one finds in waiting rooms. He was just missing a spaniel by his side.

  ‘Can we go up the stairs?’ Rosie cried.

  ‘Is it safe?’ Abi asked Edward.

  ‘Well, the roof issue has been sorted,’ he said.

  ‘Has it?’

  ‘Thank goodness. We can move on to more interesting things now.’

  ‘This must be costing a fortune!’ Ellen said.

  ‘Well, naturally,’ Edward agreed. ‘But worth doing. Worth preserving a place like this.’

  ‘Not preserving,’ Abi said. ‘Not exactly. We’re not holding it in time like an insect caught in amber. It’s more like we’re giving it new life.’

  ‘Can we live here with you, Aunt Abi?’ Rosie asked as they climbed the stairs.

  ‘I’m not sure your mum would like that! But you can visit whenever you want to.’

  Edward led the way, opening a door here and a door there, each leading into sizeable rooms with high ceilings, marvellous views and a heap of issues to sort from crumbling ceilings to cracked walls and the floorboards where the builder was working. In her romantic daydreams about Winfield, Abi had managed to forget just how much there was to do to the place in order to make it habitable. But they’d get there. Step by step.

  ‘We’re now in Abigail’s half,’ Edward said as they crossed the landing.

  ‘How did you choose who’d get which half?’ Ellen asked, always pr
actical.

  ‘It was mutually agreed,’ Edward said.

  ‘And very lucky too,’ Abi confessed. ‘Edward wanted the views towards the downs and I wanted the rooms that overlooked the main part of the walled garden.’

  Bethanne tugged at Abi’s sleeve. ‘Can we see the garden?’

  Abi smiled. Just like her, Bethanne preferred exploring outside, and it was pretty dusty inside. It would be lovely to get back outdoors.

  ‘Listen, Edward – we don’t want to keep you,’ Abi told him as they went back downstairs. ‘We’ll just have a quick look at the garden and then be on our way.’

  ‘Okay,’ he said.

  ‘It’s been good to meet you,’ Ellen said. ‘I didn’t even know this place existed until today.’

  Edward smiled. ‘Been keeping it a secret?’

  Abi could feel herself blushing. ‘Just waiting for the right time to tell everyone.’

  ‘Well, listen, I’ll get those plans over to you. See what you think.’

  ‘I’ll look forward to it.’

  They held one another’s gaze a moment, and Abi could feel Ellen’s eyes upon her.

  ‘Garden!’ Rosie yelled, breaking the spell.

  ‘We’re going,’ Abi promised.

  ‘I’ll see you, Abigail.’

  She nodded and they left the hall.

  ‘Well, you were certainly keeping him a secret!’ Ellen said.

  Abi could feel her cheeks flushing again. They had a horrible habit of doing that. ‘No I wasn’t!’

  ‘So what’s the deal with him?’

  ‘What do you mean?’

  Ellen leaned in closer to whisper so the girls wouldn’t hear. ‘Are you getting half of him with the house?’

  ‘We are merely business partners,’ Abi declared, but Ellen’s raised eyebrows showed that she didn’t wholly believe her.

  Rosie and Bethanne had run across the driveway now and were heading into the walled garden and Abi was glad of the distraction.

  ‘Just look at this space!’ Abi enthused as they joined the girls.

  Ellen looked around. ‘There are brambles everywhere!’

  ‘I know. It’s been horribly neglected.’

  ‘It’ll take weeks of work, Abi. Months!’

  Abi sighed. Ellen always saw problems rather than potential. ‘Well, I’ve got months ahead of me, haven’t I?’

  ‘You’re talking as if you’ve retired.’

  ‘I’ve not retired. I’m just resting a while. Catching my breath.’

  ‘Having a fling.’

  ‘What?’

  Ellen gave a tiny smile. ‘You know, you should have a fling. And this – what’s his name?’

  ‘Edward?’ Abi frowned. Did she mean him?

  ‘Yes – he’s flingable, isn’t he? Is that a word?’ She nodded as if it was.

  ‘Whether he is or he isn’t is irrelevant seeing as that’s the last thing I’m thinking about.’

  ‘The last? Surely not!’ Ellen said. ‘I mean, you have noticed how handsome he is, haven’t you?’

  Abi didn’t reply.

  ‘Come on!’

  It was clear her sister wasn’t going to let this drop.

  ‘He’s easy on the eye,’ Abi said at last, ‘but that’s not what this is about. I came to Winfield to find a home, not a husband.’

  ‘Who said anything about a husband?’ Ellen cried.

  Abi could feel herself blushing again.

  ‘Anyway, I don’t know anything about his situation,’ Abi told her.

  ‘Well, he’s not married, is he?’

  ‘No, but he could very well have a girlfriend. Why are we even talking about this? I wanted to show you the garden!’

  ‘Okay, okay,’ Ellen said. ‘Show me this garden.’

  They ventured further into the walled garden, passing through a small orchard of fruit trees where the girls were playing tag. The grass was overgrown here, and there were nettles and the stalks of dead ragwort that would have to be dealt with.

  ‘God almighty. Will you look at the state of that?’

  Abi followed her sister’s gaze as they passed through the orchard. ‘You mean the greenhouse?’

  ‘You’re going to pull it down, I hope!’

  Abi’s mouth fell open in horror. ‘I’m going to restore it.’

  ‘You’re kidding!’

  ‘It’s an original Victorian lean-to. It’s beautiful.’

  ‘It’s an eyesore.’

  ‘Well, it’s missing some of its glass and is a little battered, but it’s going to be absolutely glorious once it’s all fixed up. Just like the house.’

  Ellen shook her head as if Abi’s plans were a personal affront to her.

  ‘Girls!’ Ellen called. ‘Don’t go near those brambles! Honestly, Abi – it’s a terrible mess.’

  Abi did her best to hold her tongue. Could her sister really not see the beauty in the place?

  After the girls had burned off some of their energy, they returned to the village.

  ‘You do like it, don’t you?’ Abi asked as Ellen got into the cars.

  ‘Of course I do. I’m just surprised, that’s all,’ Ellen said. ‘It’s all so big! I didn’t know that’s what you wanted.’

  ‘I didn’t know either until I saw a photo of it,’ Abi said as she pulled out into the road for the journey back to Brighton. ‘It was like it was speaking to me.’

  ‘Houses don’t speak!’ Bethanne said from the backseat.

  ‘I know! But it seemed to speak to me,’ Abi said with a laugh. ‘I remember looking at the photos of it online and it felt as if a part of me was already living there. I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I knew I had to try and make it mine, but then I didn’t make the winning bid at the auction. The price rose and rose and – well – you met the winner today.’

  ‘So how come he sold half to you?’ Ellen asked.

  Abi told her the story as they headed towards the main road.

  ‘You mean, he’s redundant and you haven’t got a job, and you’re taking on this money pit?’ Ellen sucked in her breath. ‘Forgive me, but this sounds like a disaster waiting to happen.’

  Abi couldn’t help smiling at that because, to her, the word disaster was the very last she’d choose to describe the situation she now found herself in.

  Reaching Ellen’s, they all got out of the car and, once inside, Ellen made tea and put some biscuits on a plate for everyone.

  ‘Listen, Abi,’ Ellen said as the girls grabbed a couple of biscuits each and left the kitchen, ‘I’m really pleased that you’re going to be closer. Heaven only knows I could use your help with the girls every so often, but it’s good what you’re doing.’

  ‘You think so?’

  ‘Yes. It’s good you’re taking some time for yourself. But don’t overlook a bit of romance, will you?’

  ‘Ellen!’

  ‘I mean it! When was the last time you went out on a date? Was it that Italian bloke?’

  Abi quickly finished her tea and got up.

  ‘You’re going?’

  Abi crossed the room and kissed Ellen’s cheek. ‘Better hit the road before rush hour.’

  ‘But it’s Saturday!’ Ellen called after her as she ran into the hallway.

  ‘Even more important,’ Abi said, making her escape through the front door.

  ‘Abi!’

  ‘I’ll call you soon.’ Abi got into her car and waved a hand from behind the safety of a closed window, blowing kisses to her nieces who were waving from the living room window.

  She would have liked to have stayed longer, maybe joining them for tea and spending some more time with Bethanne and Rosie, but it was a relief to get away from her sister’s probing questions. Heaven only knew that Abi didn’t need reminding of her past relationships and she certainly wasn’t going to think about them now. All those awful dates she’d been on over the last few years. All the embarrassing set-ups through work, through mutual friends, and all the dead-end relationships that had started
so well and then just fizzled. Perhaps it was her fault. Perhaps she just wasn’t meant to be with somebody. Not everybody was, were they? And Abi had always been married to her art. That was enough for her. She was fulfilled in herself and she certainly didn’t need a man to make her feel complete.

  So she drove home, back to her London flat where she lived on her own but never felt lonely. Pouring herself a glass of wine, she sat in the armchair which she’d placed by the window overlooking the river. She pulled out the sketchbook that she’d taken to Sussex on the day of the auction and flipped through the pages now, smiling as she gazed at her pencil drawings of Winfield. Then, putting her glass down and picking a pencil up, she drew some more, her pencil gliding over the page quickly and skilfully, almost subconsciously.

  It was only when she looked back at her sketches later that evening that she realised that one of the pictures was of Edward.

  Chapter Seven

  April and May were Abi’s favourite months in London. It was usually mild, sometimes even warm, but it rarely had the same energy-sapping temperatures of summer, when the heat of the pavements and the crowds would make one irritable and fatigued within minutes of leaving home. But Abi barely noticed that magical time this spring. She hardly saw the unfurling of the vivid green plane tree leaves or the diamond-bright morning sparkle on the Thames. Abi was already living somewhere else in her mind.

  All the paperwork was completed by the end of May. Abi had been keeping in touch with Edward and had even had a couple more visits to see the work that was being done. He’d also emailed many photos, keeping her abreast of the progress.

  ‘You know it’s going to be a building site for months to come – maybe even another year,’ he reminded her.

  ‘I know,’ Abi told him. But she hadn’t wanted to postpone her moving in date. After all, he hadn’t, had he?

  Finally, the great day arrived and Abi woke to a London dawn of pearly-grey, promising sunshine and warm weather. The removal men arrived and her flat was slowly emptied, her boxes of books and art materials far outnumbering anything else. She took a second to bid the place farewell, thinking of all the special moments she’d had there – all the sketches and plans she’d made for her business, all the dreams she’d dreamed, and all the heartaches she’d nursed too – both business and personal. There was so much of her tied up in this place’s four walls, but she knew it was time to let it all go and that she couldn’t start her new life until she’d left her old one. So she took one last look around the empty rooms, knowing in her heart that she’d never spend another day or night there even though she’d go on renting the place. And then she whispered goodbye, locked the door for the last time and left.