Escape to Willow Cottage

by Bella Osborne

  ‘Okay but you can’t go back to the cottage, it’s dangerous.’

  ‘Apparently Jack is sorting everything out for me. He’s even found an emergency plumber who will replace the boiler today. He’s been really kind.’

  ‘The woman from the tearoom said he was like a superhero saving your life and risking his own. Seriously, what does this guy have to do to get you to snog him?’

  Beth laughed. ‘He is pretty amazing but I’m afraid I missed my chance there, he’s with Petra now and …’

  ‘The lucky cow!’ said Carly with feeling.

  ‘And my head really is starting to throb …’

  ‘Okay, I can take a hint. Call me when you can. I love you, Beth.’

  ‘I know and I love you too.’

  Beth was smiling when she ended the call. Poor Carly, she must have had a nasty shock. Beth could imagine how dramatic Rhonda would have made the whole episode sound; she was probably the worst person for Carly to have spoken to. Beth closed her eyes and tried to remember what had happened but the last thing she could recall was being at Jack’s and then the next thing she remembered was seeing Petra’s bottom at her bedside – there was nothing in between which was frightening in itself. What she really needed to come to terms with was the fact that she could have been killed. Every time someone mentioned it she was quick to point out that she hadn’t died but the truth was that the only reason she was alive was thanks to Jack.

  Denis and Leo watched from the car as Jack and Petra helped Beth unlock the cottage. Petra was gripping her arm while Jack tried to guide her.

  ‘Stop fussing!’ said Beth but she wasn’t cross, it was quite pleasant to see that they genuinely cared about her. ‘Really I’m fine, thanks to both of you,’ she went on, although she was staring directly at Jack, whose eyebrows did a little hop before he looked away.

  ‘I’ll keep fussing until I’m sure you are all better,’ said Petra with a small frown, ushering Beth inside the cottage.

  ‘I’ll be back to work later,’ said Beth.

  ‘No, you will not!’ Petra put her hands on her hips for emphasis.

  ‘I don’t think that’s wise,’ said Jack, taking the slightly less confrontational stance.

  ‘The hospital said I’m fine. No lasting effects. There’s no reason I can’t do a shift. Well, at least let me come in and see how it goes?’

  Petra snorted. ‘Tomorrow perhaps. Now I make you tea. The British are right about one thing – tea fixes everything.’ And Petra disappeared into the kitchen leaving Beth and Jack looking awkwardly at each other. They exchanged smiles and turned away.

  ‘Thanks again, Jack. It was really brave of you to come in here when you knew the dangers.’

  Jack shrugged. ‘Anyone would have done the same.’

  ‘That’s as maybe but I am truly grateful.’ She leaned forward a little and hesitated before giving him a brief kiss on the cheek. Jack’s face reddened and he took a small step back.

  ‘Right,’ he said, rubbing his chin. ‘I’ll show you how to work the new boiler later on and there are three carbon monoxide alarms: one in the kitchen, one in the hall and one on the landing.’ He pointed above his head and Beth spotted the small white box on the ceiling next to the fire alarm. ‘It makes a loud beeping sound if there’s too much of the gas about. The cottage is clear of the lethal stuff now so you’re quite safe.’ He took a much-needed breath and puffed out his cheeks.

  ‘Great, thanks,’ said Beth, feeling something was amiss but she couldn’t sense what exactly. ‘You need to let me have the bill for the new boiler,’ she added.

  ‘Yeah, I’ll drop it round.’ He slapped his arms on the sides of his legs. ‘Right, I’m off. Call if you need anything.’

  Petra emerged from the kitchen with a large mug of tea, which she handed to Beth. ‘Like he says, call if you need anything.’

  ‘I will,’ said Beth and they both gave her disbelieving looks. ‘I will! Now go,’ she said, shooing them out of the cottage.

  Petra and Jack walked to the end of the garden where the remains of the old gate now lay in a small stack.

  Petra pulled a face. ‘What?’ he said.

  ‘I don’t like that we haven’t told Beth about Leo going missing,’ said Petra.

  ‘I know, but it seems like an extra worry that she doesn’t need right now, especially when we found him safe and well.’

  ‘Still,’ said Petra with a shrug.

  ‘If Leo tells her that’s up to him,’ said Jack.

  ‘And this mystery man that Ernie saw worries me.’

  ‘Me too but we don’t know it was Nick. It could have been a tourist,’ said Jack, looking doubtful. ‘I wish she would listen and stay with me for a while.’ He briefly glanced back at the cottage as he spoke.

  ‘I know, I have offered for her and Leo to stay at the pub but she refuses. She is an independent woman, what can we do?’

  ‘Keep one eye on her and another one looking out for this Nick character.’

  ‘I wish I knew what he looked like but if there’s anyone suspicious I will call you straight away,’ said Petra.

  ‘Here’s the car keys,’ he said, handing them over. ‘You and the boys have a fab afternoon at the wildlife park.’

  ‘Thanks, Jack, we will,’ said Petra with a light squeeze of Jack’s arm. Her eyebrow jolted upwards. ‘You are still working out I see,’ said Petra with a cheeky grin as she gave his bicep a harder squeeze.

  ‘Ger off!’ Jack batted her hand away light-heartedly. ‘Come here,’ he said, giving her a fleeting hug. ‘Thanks for … well, everything.’

  Petra kissed his cheek then rubbed at the lipstick mark she’d left. ‘Always my pleasure.’

  ‘Right, I’m off to work. Have fun,’ he said and they waved to each other and went their separate ways.

  From the shadows of the living room Beth watched them leave, feeling a small pang of jealousy at witnessing their familiar exchange.

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  After a very bubbly bath, to hide the grim avocado tub, and a snooze in her own bed, Beth felt almost human again. She lay on the sofa and made a new list. There was virtually no money left and she still had quite a bit to do before she could put the cottage up for sale. She needed to use her initiative if she was going to get it finished quickly and back on the market. She was puzzling over her lack of options when her mobile rang. The screen showed a number she didn’t recognize, which immediately concerned her. Beth pressed the Answer Call button and listened.

  ‘Hello? Beth, are you there?’

  The sound of the familiar voice sent a wave of relief over her. ‘Hiya, Carls, what’s with the odd phone number?’

  ‘I’ve bought myself a new iPhone and you can stop laughing. I thought it was time I caught up.’

  ‘Well done you, I am impressed. How are things with you?’

  ‘We’re both fine. They’ve moved Fergus to an ordinary ward and they’re very pleased with his progress. But how are you feeling?’

  ‘That’s great news about Fergus. I’m fine now I’m out of hospital.’

  ‘You were going to call me when you were home. Has the boiler leak affected your memory?’ asked Carly with genuine concern in her voice.

  ‘No,’ chuckled Beth. ‘I’ve not been back long. I was about to call you, honest.’

  ‘You’re not in that deathtrap of a cottage are you?’ said Carly, alarmed.

  ‘Yes, I’m in the cottage but it’s no longer a deathtrap as you so delicately put it. The boiler has been replaced and I have carbon monoxide detectors coming out of my ears thanks to Jack. It’s quite safe now, thanks.’

  ‘I wish I was there to take care of you.’

  ‘But I don’t need looking after, really …’

  ‘Perhaps lovely Jack could nurse you back to health. I bet he has an exquisite bedside manner,’ she mused.

  ‘You’re naughty! I’m fine and like I said Jack is out of bounds so stop searching for the fairy tale.’

 
; ‘Okay,’ said Carly, followed by an unhidden sigh. ‘But I do want to come and see you soon, once Fergus is fully recovered.’

  ‘Of course, that would be lovely. You’ll love the village this time of year. I swear there’s a load more crocuses sprung up on the village green in the last twenty-four hours!’

  ‘It is such a pretty village, Beth, it would be a fabulous place for a wedding,’ mused Carly.

  ‘It would, there’s a sweet little church up the hill between Dumbleford and the next village, and I can see why it’s popular for weddings in the summer.’

  ‘Oh, do strangers get married there?’

  ‘Strangers?’ chuckled Beth. ‘I hope not, but if you mean people that don’t live in the village, then yes. Petra was telling me she’s catered a few of them. People seem to get married wherever they like these days.’

  ‘Ooh,’ exhaled Carly, ‘I might suggest that to Fergus, how much fun would that be? A wedding in Dumbleford!’

  Beth was pulling a face and she was glad she was on the phone. ‘It’s a bit of a trek for Fergus’s family and pretty much everyone apart from me!’

  ‘I guess,’ said Carly, her voice losing its exuberance.

  ‘If you’re thinking about venues does this mean you’ve set a date for the wedding?’

  ‘No, not really. We’re both agreed on a summer wedding but Fergus thinks next year would be too much of a rush to organize everything.’

  ‘But you’d have over a year!’

  ‘I know but he doesn’t do anything at speed doesn’t our Fergus.’

  The next morning Beth let out a huge yawn as she opened the front door and Doris trotted in followed by a smiling Jack.

  ‘You’re early,’ said Beth, forgetting her manners.

  ‘Good morning to you too!’ said Jack. ‘I thought I’d walk Leo to school so you can go back to bed or do whatever it is you unicorns like to do to relax.’ He was grinning at her onesie, which clearly never failed to amuse him.

  Beth stifled another mammoth yawn. ‘That is kind of you but we’re fine. I was about to go and get dressed.’

  ‘Ohhhh Mum! Can Jack take me for a change? Please!’ came the plea from the kitchen and a spoon was dropped into an empty cereal bowl.

  Jack pulled a smug face and tilted his head to one side awaiting her response. Leo joined them in the hall and she now had two sets of pleading eyes boring into her.

  ‘Okay, okay, I give in,’ she said, raising her hands in surrender while Jack and Leo high-fived each other.

  ‘Did you have a good time at the wildlife park yesterday?’ Jack asked Leo.

  ‘Yeah, it was awesome! We heard a camel fart!’ said Leo, collapsing into giggles.

  ‘Excellent,’ agreed Jack with a snort. ‘Anything else good or was the camel fart the highlight?’

  ‘We saw zebras doing yoga,’ said Leo with a pout.

  ‘Really?’ asked Beth.

  ‘That’s what Petra said they were doing but I think they were having sex.’

  ‘Okay, time to get ready for school,’ said Beth, keen to end the discussion.

  ‘I need to do my teeth and get dressed,’ yelled Leo, racing upstairs.

  ‘It’s okay, no rush,’ called back Jack before turning his attention to Beth. ‘Sounds like we missed out on a fun afternoon.’ Jack was grinning like an idiot.

  ‘You know, I thought moving to a quaint village like this I’d miss the high culture of London but not at all,’ said Beth and they both started to chuckle. ‘Are you okay to pick up Denis en route, it’s just that I always do.’

  ‘Yep, I’ve got it all covered. You have a relaxing day.’

  ‘Okay, then I will. Thanks,’ said Beth, her eyes darting over his face. They had settled back into an easy friendship and she was truly grateful for it but a part of her was starting to feel that she had missed out on the chance of something very special with Jack.

  Over the next few weeks things started to get back to normal for both Beth and Carly. Beth went back to work at the pub and spent her spare time stripping doors with a borrowed blowtorch. Jack and Petra had been terrifically supportive with Jack even turning up with a load of groceries to save Beth taking the bus to the supermarket.

  Fergus had returned home and despite the loss of a large chunk of hair he had made a full recovery and he and Carly were closer than ever. Tiny balls of fluff had briefly appeared on the pond and had been quickly shooed back under cover by their protective parents but the first ducklings of the year signalled new life in the village and that spring would soon become summer. Everything felt like it had settled back into its rightful place and the normal rhythm of life had been restored.

  Waiting by the school gates Beth laughed at another autocorrect text fail from Carly, who was struggling to get to grips with her new mobile phone. Apparently she had been baking and was keeping muffins in her new underwear – Beth suspected the message was meant to read Tupperware instead of underwear but the thought of the former was too funny.

  She was still giggling to herself when Leo appeared at her side. ‘Ja … Mr Selby wants a word with you,’ he said, taking Doris’s lead before continuing a conversation with Denis about which animals fart the loudest.

  Beth looked up to see a very smartly dressed Jack waving at her while he was simultaneously pointing children in the direction of their respective parents. Beth walked over as the last child skipped down the steps.

  ‘Hi,’ said Beth, feeling strangely coy now she had his full attention. He was totally gorgeous when he was dressed like that. What was it about a man in a good suit? Or perhaps it was just Jack.

  ‘Hi. Haven’t seen you for a few days so I wanted to say … well, hi,’ said Jack, shoving his hands into his pockets.

  ‘Hi,’ repeated Beth, feeling self-conscious. She kept a watchful eye on Leo, Denis and Doris.

  ‘What have you been up to?’

  ‘Oh, you know, working my way through the never-ending list of stuff that needs doing at the cottage.’

  Jack nodded encouragingly while she was speaking. ‘What’re you working on right now?’

  ‘Doors mainly. I’m sure most places don’t have as many as Willow Cottage seems to have.’

  ‘Need a hand?’

  ‘Thanks, Jack, but I know you’re busy.’

  ‘I’m done here,’ he said, nodding over his shoulder at the school. ‘The joy of helping out is that I don’t have all the additional work that comes with full-time teaching. I could be with you within the hour.’

  ‘Great, but you must stay for dinner – my way of saying thank you. It’s only pasta, which is probably not the best thank-you but …’ She realized she was gabbling. ‘Anyway stay for dinner as long as that’s not going to cause any issues.’

  Jack smiled from the corner of his mouth. ‘No issues. That would be perfect. See you in a bit.’

  Beth watched him disappear inside.

  ‘Come on, Mum!’ shouted Leo, who had now decided to sit on the ground next to Doris. Beth hurried over and as they set off she felt a flicker of excitement that Jack was coming over.

  Like he promised Jack appeared about thirty minutes later wearing some paint-splattered joggers and a fitted white T-shirt and set straight to work stripping off the paint from the bathroom door with the blowtorch. Because they only had the one blowtorch, which was Jack’s anyway, Beth was working on getting off the residual bits of paint from her bedroom door that she’d stripped earlier. She found she was glancing over at Jack now and again and watching the taut muscles in his arms as he carefully edged the melted paint away from the door. She may have ogled at him one too many times because Jack suddenly turned towards her and Beth quickly looked away.

  ‘You okay?’ he asked.

  ‘Oh yes, me, I’m fine. Thank you … for asking,’ she said, wondering why she sounded like a 1940s radio presenter all of a sudden.

  ‘Muuuuuum, I can’t do my homework, it’s too hard!’ shouted Leo from the kitchen.

  ‘What subject is it?
’ called back Beth.

  ‘Maaaaaaths,’ called back Leo, managing to convey his despondency in the drawn-out word.

  Beth felt her shoulders sag. Helping Leo with his homework invariably turned into an argument because basically he didn’t want to do it and any minor setback was his cue to give up. Jack was watching her closely.

  ‘I’ll go if you like?’ he said. Beth pulled a face. She would very much have liked Jack to take over but he was already helping her with the doors. As if reading her mind, Jack spoke. ‘I don’t mind. I like maths and I like Leo.’

  Beth couldn’t help but smile. ‘I am really taking advantage of you,’ she said.

  He switched off the blowtorch and handed it to her. ‘Not at all, chance would be a fine thing,’ he said, jogging downstairs. Beth narrowed her eyes after him. Was he flirting with her? Or was he implying that Petra was not taking enough advantage? Or perhaps she was reading far too much into the innocent comment. She decided on the latter and picked up where Jack had left off on the bathroom door to refocus her mind.

  The giggling that came from downstairs warmed her heart. Jack and Leo got on well. It was good for Leo to have a strong male role model around and she knew he would miss Jack when they eventually sold the cottage and moved on. She swallowed hard when she thought about how much she would miss Jack too.

  ‘I’m pregnant!’ shouted Carly from the bathroom. She ran out of the room clutching the white tester stick and rushed into Fergus’s playroom.

  ‘Whoa!’ he said, good-naturedly pausing his game.

  ‘You okay?’ he asked as he watched Carly literally bounce up and down in front of him.

  Carly steadied herself and tried to appear serious. She studied Fergus; apart from the patch where his hair still needed to grow back and his accompanying short haircut you wouldn’t know what had happened to him. He was sitting at his computer in a T-shirt and lounge trousers, the picture of health with a hint of laziness, but she loved him just as he was.

  Carly went to put the stick in her pocket to leave her hands free to sign but remembered that she’d recently peed on it so she carefully put it down behind her on Fergus’s desk.