by R. M. Walker
“We got half and half,” came a cheerful voice, breaking her from her thoughts. Matt and Nate were still outside the Land Rover, and she could see they were talking intently. Josh and Jake got into the Land Rover, the smell of pizza made her stomach rumble loudly and her mouth fill with saliva.
“Was that thunder?”
Lily blushed and rubbed her hand over her stomach. “Well, it wasn’t me, so it must have been the roll of distant thunder,” she said, making them laugh. Matt got into the front, and she heard Nate get into the back, slamming his door shut.
“We’ve got half Hawaiian, half Meat Feast on one.” Josh spoke as soon as the door was shut.
“Three Cheeses and Veggie on the other.”
“Meat feast, please,” Matt said. “Six is still ages away, and they won’t actually eat till closer to six thirty, Lily. Have a slice.”
“Keep the thunder at bay,” Josh sniggered and handed Matt a slice of pizza.
“Veggie, please,” she said and turned to take the slice from Jake. It went silent as they ate the pizza. Lily picked off a piece of feta and popped it into her mouth, it was delicious.
“Lily, it’s none of our business, but don’t take that rain check,” Nate suddenly spoke up. It took Lily a second to work out what he was referring to.
“Well, that’s a contradiction, Nate,” Josh snorted. “And what are we talking about anyway?”
Lily kept quiet, using the pizza as an excuse not to speak. She wanted to know what they would say to the twins if she didn’t say anything.
“Lily bumped into someone leaving the optician’s,” Matt spoke up. “I think it was the guy in the BMW this morning. He asked her to go for a coffee with him.”
“What? Out of the blue?” Josh demanded.
“I expect he was just being nice about me trying to mow him over,” Lily finally said, and took another bite.
“He was creepy,” Nate corrected her. “Lily, he tried to guilt you into going with him. Plus, you have your college uniform on, and he looked to be in his thirties at least.”
Lily frowned, not quite getting what he was saying. She swallowed quickly. “What do you mean?” she asked.
“You could be jail bait, Lily,” Jake explained, obviously knowing immediately what Nate meant.
“What? But I’m nearly eighteen.”
“He wouldn’t know that. College uniform should have made him think twice. You could be fifteen and just look older for all he knew,” Josh pointed out. “I didn’t see the man, not this morning or now, but if he’s that old he shouldn’t even look twice at you.”
“It was coffee, not a suggestion to sleep with him,” she rebutted, flummoxed by their reasoning. She knew they a point about her uniform and age, but he hadn’t propositioned her, just been friendly.
“Lily, take it from another male, it’s usually the same thing,” Jake snorted.
“Lily, he was hitting on you,” Matt said quietly. “If you’re interested in him, then fair enough, but—”
“No.” Nate cut him off sharply. “Matt! Don’t tell her that! We don’t know him from Adam. Why would a man that old be interested in a schoolgirl, Matt? That’s just wrong on lots of levels.”
“She’s fucking beautiful.” Jake spoke through a mouthful of pizza. “He’d have to be dead not to be interested in her.”
Lily felt her face flush at the compliment he paid her.
“Well, yes, of course she’s beautiful,” Nate said, getting riled up. “But she still can’t go off with a complete fucking stranger for coffee and whatever the hell else he wants from her!”
“He said he’s renting the cottage opposite Lil’s,” Matt spoke up. “Must be the one Mrs Johnston owns, the holiday home.”
“I don’t like him, Lily May!” Nate said firmly. She heard him muttering something else under his breath. He was worried, that much was clear, and she didn’t want him to worry about her.
“It’s okay,” she spoke up and turned around completely in her seat so she could see him. “I won’t go for coffee with him. I don’t know him, and he doesn’t interest me.”
“He doesn’t interest you at all?” Josh asked, and again she got the impression her answer was important to them.
“No. He was good looking, yes, but his eyes were wrong.”
She heard Nate grunt, but Matt spoke up. “What do you mean wrong?”
“They looked blank. I mean, almost dead somehow, as if he had… no soul.” She frowned. “And now I’m being stupid.” She shook her head. “He can’t help his eyes, poor man.”
“It’s your gut instinct,” Josh said, pointing his pizza crust at her. “Go with it; it rarely lets you down.”
“I doubt he’d even give me another thought. He was probably just being friendly because he knows we’re neighbours.” Again, she heard Nate snort, but nothing else was said. Matt put his belt on, and she took her cue to turn around and belt up. She finished the last of her slice, licking her fingers clean.
“You still up for tomorrow, Lil?” Josh asked. Lily looked back at him, not sure what he meant.
“The quarry,” Jake reminded her. “Swimming. It really will be one of the last chances we get this year, unless you happen to have a wetsuit?”
“No, I don’t. I’ve never been scuba diving,” she replied.
“We’ve got them because the sea is freezing, no matter what the time of year,” Jake told her.
“We’ve still got our old ones in the attic,” Josh spoke up. “Maybe one of them might fit you.”
“We’ll dig them out and bring one over tomorrow,” Jake finished for him.
“Okay, thank you. I have a swimsuit, though,” she said.
“A wetsuit over it will keep you warmer. Is it a bikini, or a full swimsuit?” Nate asked.
“Full one,” she replied.
“Good, wear it under the wetsuit. You’ll need old shoes that you can jump in with as well, don’t go barefoot there,” Matt spoke up. “We’ll pick you up after lunch, okay?”
“Okay,” she nodded, excited at the thought of going swimming with them. Matt pulled in by her gate, and she got out, dragging her bag with her. “Thanks for the lift.”
“See you tonight,” Matt called out.
“Yes. Bye!” She waved at them and ran up the path to the front door. She opened it, turned and waved again. She watched them wave back and then drive off before shutting her door.
“Lily?”
“Hey, Mum,” she called, dropping her bag by the door and hanging her jacket up.
“Come and have a look, see what you think,” her mother called from the living room.
Her mother was sitting cross legged on the floor, her sketch pad in her lap. “I managed to get a few more sketches done before the rain came down.”
Lily moved forwards and knelt in front of her mother. She took the pad from her and smiled. “Is this Crowder Manor?” she asked. It was a three story, Georgian built house. It wasn’t as large as she’d assumed when she heard manor, but it was beautiful. Vines covered one side of the house and wisteria hung over the entrance porch. Sweeping lawns hugged the gravel driveway. In the centre of the driveway was a round pond with an elegant fountain in the middle.
“Yes, locals still call it the vicarage; but Mr Crowder, Harold, doesn’t like that. If you refer to it, call it a manor or Crowder Manor.”
“What’s he like?”
“He’s a politician,” her mother replied with a laugh. “No, that’s mean. He’s nice, quite polite, but formal. His wife June is lovely. Really friendly. You’ll like her.”
“It’s brilliant, Mum.” Lily handed the pad back to her.
“Thank you, darling. Did you have a good day?” she asked. “Did your friend get his glasses fixed?”
“He’s picking them up Monday after school.” She got to her feet. “Tomorrow we’re going swimming at the quarry. Matt’s picking me up after lunch.”
“I need
to go back to the manor, so that works well. Do they know about you?”
“Mum, it was Matt and Nate that were there when I had the seizure,” she reminded her mother. “Besides, I’m sure it was just the stress from moving. I’m fine now.”
“Take your phone with you just in case you need me.”
“I will. I’m going to get some homework done before we leave.” Lily got to her feet and dropped a kiss on top of her mother’s head. “I’ll wear the green dress, that do?”
“That one looks lovely on you,” her mother replied, her pencil flying over the paper as she spoke.
Lily smiled at her mother’s bent head, she would need to come down and remind her to get ready. When she started drawing or painting, she got lost in her own world, and time meant nothing to her. Lily went out, closing the door quietly.
Crowder Manor
Crowder Manor was exactly as her mother had drawn it. Except for the colour. The lawns were immaculately cut and a brilliant emerald green. Late summer flowers edged the borders of the lawn and around the fountain. The wisteria that draped over the entrance was no longer in bloom, but Lily could imagine how beautiful it would be when it flowered. Lily's mum parked their purple Mini around the side of the building. Her mother picked some of the flowers from their own garden; flowers Lily had no name for, and no interest in finding out. She liked looking at gardens but that was as close to gardening as she got.
The front door opened as they rounded the corner, and Matt came out. He was dressed in black slacks and a white shirt, the top three buttons undone. His hair was brushed and almost tamed, the front section was swept away from his eyes. He made her breath catch in her throat.
"Mrs Adair. Lily." He came over, a smile on his gorgeous face, his eyes on Lily's mum. There was a movement from the entrance and two more people came out. Lily could see where Matt got his looks from. His father was an older version of him. The only difference was the grey in his hair and the lines around his eyes. His smile was as engaging as his son's.
"Lynda, Lily, glad you could make it," he spoke up and came forward with his wife beside him. She was small, dark haired and looked nothing like Matt. But she could see Josh and Jake in her, and it made her smile that she was more like her nephews than her own son.
"Lily." Her hand was shaken by Mr Crowder and then his wife, who insisted she call them June and Harold. June wrapped an arm around her mother's shoulders and led her towards the house with Harold, already talking to her about how excited she was after seeing the sketches.
"You look pretty, Lily," Matt shoved his hands into the pockets of his slacks. She was wearing her nicest dress, a bottle green fit and flare dress that ended just above her knees. It had a sweetheart neckline, three quarter length sleeves, and a black belt that encircled her waist. Black kitten heels completed the look.
"Let's just hope it doesn't rain." She coloured up at his compliment. "I forgot my coat."
He laughed and indicated the front door with his head. "Come on, we've got a couple of minutes before dinner's ready. I'll show you ‘round if you want."
"It's a lovely house, Matt," she said, falling into step with him.
"I like it. I've lived here all my life. After dinner, when your mum is taking her photos, I'll show you the grounds. The others will be up by then, I expect."
She stepped through the front door and sighed happily. It was like stepping into a Jane Austen movie; Georgian in its decorations, and in keeping with the age of the building.
"Is Captain Wentworth around here?" she asked, grinning at him. He laughed and shook his head.
"My mum will be pleased to hear you say that. It's the look she's aiming for."
"Well, you can tell her she's succeeded."
"And would Captain Wentworth make you swoon?" he asked, leaning in close to her, his mouth close to her ear, a wicked smirk tugging at his lips.
"I rather think he might." She laughed, and he aimed a shot to the heart, falling back from her.
"You mean to tell me, you won't swoon for me, but you'll swoon for a fictional character? Lily, I feel cheated."
"Oh, don't worry," she said teasingly. "Everyone knows fictional characters are the best. They won't let you down, and they’re always there when you need them."
"Really?" He slid his arm around her shoulder and led her into a small room to the side. "Well, we're going to have our work cut out for us if we're to change your mind, Lily Flower. This is the office where the vicar wrote all his sermons. It’s exactly as it was, nothing has been changed.”
She looked around the small room in delight. There were paintings and embroidered bible passages on two of the walls, the third held a large painting of baby Jesus with Mary. A desk was situated under the window; a ledger lay on it, opened to a page filled with writing. An open Bible lay beside it. Lily could almost taste the history in the room, and it made her shiver with delight.
"Where is he now?" she asked.
"He died a long time ago. My great-great-grandfather bought the place well over a hundred years ago. His life story is a sordid tale of greed and bribery. I'll tell you one day," he said with a teasing tone. "But only if you behave."
"I always behave," she said with a laugh. He looked down at her, his hair falling into his eyes.
"Yes, I rather think you do. In that case, I'll amend it, I'll tell you if you promise to not behave."
"Matthew, we're going to sit down now, darling. Lynda would like to take her photos before she loses the light."
Matt turned at the sound of his mother's voice, but he didn't move his arm from around Lily's shoulders. Lily blushed, but his mother gave no indication that she noticed her son had his arm around a strange girl. Instead, she sent Lily a warm smile before going back the way she’d come.
"Come on then, Lily Flower. Let's hope that slice of pizza didn't ruin your appetite." He slid his arm from around her, caught her hand, and led her from the room.
***************
Dinner passed quickly and comfortably. She was seated opposite Matt and beside her mother. At first she'd been nervous, but between him and his parents, she soon relaxed. Her mother and June kept up the conversation, mostly about June's gardens and the prospect of painting the grounds in different seasons. Lily enjoyed listening to them. Mr Crowder was mostly quiet as he ate, seemingly content to let his wife do all the talking. Matt occasionally caught her eye over the table and winked at her or pulled a funny face when no one was looking. She had to keep wiping her mouth with her napkin to cover the laughter that kept trying to escape.
After they finished, her mother made her way out into the gardens, and Lily and Matt helped to clear the table for his mother. Once everything was put into the dishwasher in the pristine kitchen, Matt led her through the utility room and out into a boot room.
"What size feet do you have, Lily?" he asked, rummaging around in a giant bin that held all sort of shoes and wellington boots.
"Five," she replied.
"Ah, here you go then. Mum's a five. These should fit you." He turned and held out a pair of green wellingtons that looked well used.
"What about your mum?" she asked, not sure about borrowing them.
"What about her? She won’t want them at the moment,” he said with a chuckle. “She doesn’t tend to wear her wellies around the house. Mud is hell to get out of the carpets apparently.”
Lily rolled her eyes, laughing. “No, silly, I meant will she mind?” Lily asked, as he put them in front of her the right way around.
“No, of course not. I’d lend you my other pair, but they’re an eleven and would fall off you.”
She slid her shoes off, put the boots on, and then took the jacket that he held out to her. It swamped her, but it smelt like him so she wrapped it around herself and smiled at him. “Thanks. Is this one yours?”
He stepped forward, and taking the collars, he tugged them together until his hands were under her chin. “Yeah, and you look cut
e in my jacket,” he murmured.
He bent his head quickly and before she knew what he was doing, he gently kissed her cheek where it dimpled. He let her go just as quickly then turned and opened the back door. Lily was thrown completely by the kiss; she lifted her fingers to her cheek, aware of the tingle where his lips had been. It was just a friendly kiss, but it took her breath away.
He looked back at her and the smile on his face widened slightly. “Come on, the rest of them will wonder where we are.”
His words shook her out of her trance, and she quickly followed him out of the door. “Where are we going?” she asked in an effort to shrug off the way he made her feel.
“You’ll see.” He grinned at her, took a flashlight from his pocket, and handed it to her.
“Caving?” she asked, putting it into a pocket. “Because if so, I think I should add at this point that I’m not great with tight spaces.”
“No, not caving,” he reassured her. “There are caves along the shoreline but not on the grounds.”
“Caves? Is that why the pub is called the Bootlegger?” she asked as they walked across the lawn towards the trees. “Were there smugglers here?”
“This is the Cornish coast, Lil. Most of it was used for smuggling. There are old paths that lead down the cliffs to caves below where contraband was stored. And there are hundreds of stories of wreckers and smugglers. It’s fascinating stuff. I just wished local history was part of our A level course. I’ve been reading about it for years.”
“This is my first time in Cornwall, but I’ve always loved reading stories about smuggling. I was hoping we’d be close to Bodmin Moor and the Jamaica Inn when Mum said we were coming to Cornwall.”
“Stories aren’t always accurate. For example, there are no documented accounts of wreckers.” He stopped to help her climb over a fallen log, taking her hand in his and not letting go. “They didn’t light fires or use lights to lure sailors to wreck; they used to douse them instead. If sailors saw a light that they were unfamiliar with, they tended to keep away from it, not head towards it.”