by Rosie Howard
‘Okay,’ said Maddy thoughtfully. ‘I actually don’t feel scared,’ she admitted, with surprise and relief, ‘but – I mean – do we really think I’ll be better now?’ she held her head on one side.
‘Who can say?’ said Duncan, not at all insulted at Maddy’s scepticism. ‘How do you feel?’
‘Mm. Pretty okay, actually.’
‘So that’s good?’
‘Yep,’ admitted Maddy, yawning. ‘Oops, sorry.’
‘Not at all.’ Duncan laughed. ‘I’d expect you to be relaxed and sleepy after that.’
He glanced at Ben. ‘Tell you what,’ he said to Maddy, as if it had only just occurred to him, ‘why don’t you maybe have a little sleep now and see how you get on? With the nightmares, I mean … I think you could do with a rest. It’s definitely past my bedtime,’ he added, glancing at the clock in the kitchen. It was nearly eleven o’clock.
‘I might just do that,’ she said equably. ‘Although, frankly, I’d be amazed if you’ve done anything to fix me that quickly.’
The room leading off the sitting area was a calm, spacious bedroom with very little in it other than a large double bed and a rag rug on the floor. There were smooth, white sheets and plump feather pillows. The room was cool but there was a cosy-looking grey blanket on top of the duvet. Maddy could think of nothing better than snuggling down into it and closing her eyes.
‘Bathroom through here,’ said Ben, pointing to the door in the corner of the room. ‘Hang on a mo …’
He disappeared briefly into the bathroom and came back with a fluffy white towel and a toothbrush. ‘Here you go. We’re fully equipped for emergency guests.’
‘I’m sure you are,’ teased Maddy. ‘Get many of them, do you?’ As soon as she said it she felt a pang of jealousy.
‘I live in hope,’ joked Ben as he rummaged in drawers. ‘I don’t stretch to guest pyjamas, but you’re welcome to sleep in these. More comfortable than what you’ve got on, anyhow …’ he added, handing her a well-worn T-shirt and a reassuringly new-looking pair of boxers. ‘Help yourself to shower and stuff. Tell you what, I’ll just see Duncan out and then what do you say to a large mug of hot chocolate? Whipped cream and marshmallows?’
‘Absolutely.’
‘Cool.’
‘Thanks, mate,’ said Ben as he showed Duncan out.
‘No worries,’ said Duncan. ‘Pretty satisfying, that was. I reckon we’ve nailed it, don’t you?’
‘Wouldn’t be surprised.’
‘Now we know the facts, the damage for Maddy was in being stuck in that loop of terror. It’s a nameless fear because the thing she was scared of didn’t happen. Kevin didn’t turn up and do anything horrific …’
‘So we implanted a resolution.’
‘Yep,’ agreed Duncan. ‘You represent safety. Now her mind thinks you were there, making her safe, and it stops spinning off into nightmares every time she closes her eyes or sees her nemesis walking down the street. Simple.’
‘Grand job. I can’t thank you enough.’
‘She’s a great girl.’
‘And you are – of course – a towering genius,’ added Ben with a salute.
‘I know,’ agreed Duncan, slapping his friend on the back and then rummaging in his pocket for his car keys as he walked out to the car.
Closing the door, Ben made good on his promise and went to the kitchen to rustle up the biggest and best mug of hot chocolate he had ever made.
Knocking softly on the bedroom door, he heard no reply. Edging around the frame with the near-overflowing mug he smiled to himself. There, in his bed, in his boxers and T-shirt and looking absolutely adorable, was Maddy, her hair wet from the shower and curling around her face as it dried.
She was fast asleep.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
‘Tea?’ said Ben the next morning as Maddy opened her eyes. She rubbed them and sat up, looking around her. She took the mug gratefully, and pushed her hair out of her eyes. It was daylight and the curtains were open, the rays of the low winter sun playing across the lime-washed floorboards and Maddy’s bed.
‘It’s so beautiful here,’ she said, looking out of the window. ‘Wow, we really are right next to the river here, aren’t we?’
‘This side of the room’s basically over it.’
‘Don’t you worry about flooding? At high tide and stuff?’
‘Stilts,’ was Ben’s economical reply. ‘May I?’ he said, gesturing at the bed.
‘Of course,’ she said, shuffling up to make room. The duvet was still millpond smooth, despite her having spent the entire night under it.
‘Goodness, I slept well. That’s amazing.’
‘I know you did. I was right next door with the door open, just in case … I literally don’t think you stirred for eight hours.’
‘Nope.’
‘So,’ said Ben, leaning on an elbow and looking at her intently. ‘Tell me. How do you feel?’
Maddy thought.
‘Safe,’ she said, with an air of surprise. ‘I feel safe.’ She sank back against the pillows and wallowed in the unfamiliar feeling. ‘Was it the hypnosis?’
‘Probably.’
‘Will it wear off?’
‘Nope. But if it does I’m sure Duncan will be standing by.’
‘What did you guys do? I’m not going to suddenly launch into the Funky Chicken dance at inopportune moments, am I?’
‘God, I hope not,’ said Ben in mock horror. ‘I’m not sure I could cope with a girlfriend who did that.’
‘Aha!’ she said in triumph. ‘So, what was it that won you over in the end, eh? My devastating charm? The news that my ex-boyfriend is now officially defunct? The fact that – it would genuinely appear, as of last night – I am no longer mental …’
‘None of the above so shut up,’ said Ben, smiling, then leaning down and giving her lips the gentlest brush with his. He would never tell her Helen’s lie had made him think she might be his sister. What would be the point? That was over now.
Maddy sighed with happiness.
‘Why didn’t you sleep here last night?’ she said. ‘I feel awful for chucking you out of your own bed.’
‘You were fast asleep. I didn’t have your consent.’
‘You have my consent now.’
‘Ah,’ he said teasingly, rolling away, ‘but my college lecturer always told us, “Don’t settle for consent, gentlemen. Hold out for enthusiasm.”’
Maddy reached up and pulled him down on top of her, wrapping her legs around him and pressing her body against his.
‘Is that enthusiastic enough for you?’ she said later, sleepily, as they lay in each other’s arms.
‘I’m persuaded.’
Outside, on the river, a pair of swans drifted serenely by, allowing the current to pull them downriver.
‘Swans mate for life, don’t they?’ she mused, lying with her head on Ben’s chest.
‘So I gather.’
‘Is that something you want?’ she asked, lifting her head and looking at him.
‘It’s definitely an aspiration. With you, that is …’
‘Good.’
They slept again after that. Maddy couldn’t remember the last time she had slept so much and so soundly, but then – after the last few months – she had some catching up to do.
‘Yikes,’ she said, when she woke up to discover Ben lying awake next to her, not moving for fear of disturbing her. ‘This is shocking! It’s nearly one o’clock and we’re still in bed.’
‘What’s shocking,’ said Ben, amused, ‘is that we haven’t even had breakfast yet, let alone lunch. Could you do a bacon sandwich?’
‘Absolutely,’ said Maddy. ‘I’m starving. But, what about the time? Don’t you have to be in college or something?’
‘Holidays,’ said Ben. ‘It’s Christmas in a few days, you do realise …’
‘No! That’s terrible; I haven’t done anything … no Christmas shopping or anything.’
‘We can go Chr
istmas shopping, if you like, but surely the Bespoke Consortium has got something for everyone?’
‘Phew, of course it has,’ she said, relaxing back on the bed and thinking about all the sample boxes stacked up in Serena’s kitchen. ‘Will you settle for a pair of sheepskin slippers?’
‘Sounds great. But I want your presence, not your presents.’
‘That’s appalling,’ she groaned, but thinking of Serena’s kitchen made her think of all sorts of other things, like whether the Liberty order had come through and would it be enough to bale them out, whether Josh was okay, whether Helen and Patrick were still at each other’s throats. Where would they all be by Christmas? Sadly not in the Havenbury Arms, it would seem. Her brow lowered and her fingers picked at the bedcovers, anxiously. She should get up. Do stuff …
‘Hey,’ said Ben, grabbing her hands and holding them in his own. ‘What’s wrong?’
She explained, in a breathless rush, but – after a moment – Ben swept her into a hug and shushed her.
‘I happen to know there is an important – er – gathering, in the pub tonight. The plan is for Jonno and Patrick to have worked things out to their mutual satisfaction by then. They’ll be announcing their conclusions and I think you’ll find there will be a few others there keen to bring you up to date … It’s not till six o’clock, so relax.’
‘Not till six, eh?’ she said, stretching luxuriously. ‘Hurry up with those bacon sandwiches, then. You’ll need to keep your strength up with the plans I’ve got for you until then.’
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
Maddy drove to the Havenbury Arms that night because Ben’s car was still in the exhibition car park in London.
‘My poor little car isn’t going to survive our relationship unless we do something about these potholes,’ she complained as they bumped down the track to the main road.
‘That’s a summer job,’ said Ben complacently. ‘I’ll do it then – and paint the boathouse. You can help.’
The heavy grey sky had darkened with purple-tinged clouds by the time night came. As Maddy joined the main road and started towards Havenbury Magna, frozen rain was lashing the windscreen. She shivered and turned up the heating.
‘I suppose a white Christmas is too much to ask for.’
‘With everything else working out okay, I wouldn’t rule it out,’ said Ben. ‘I think you’ll be surprised at how good life can be down here.’
As she drove into the bottom of town and turned up the steep high street, she examined her state of mind. No wobbles? No sweating palms? No gasping for breath? Nothing. Just a profound sense of calm, safety and a swell of excitement at what the future held.
The pub was already full by the time they got there. Maddy drove past the windows, which were glowing with light, and found a parking space in the street outside.
‘Mads!’ came a familiar voice as they went through the door. Flora galloped towards them with a tray of canapés – which arrived miraculously unspilled – and gave them both a kiss.
‘This is soooo cool,’ she said, indicating the crowd in the bar. ‘And Serena’s dying to talk to you, by the way. Fab news,’ she said, tapping the side of her nose.
‘Quite a party!’ Maddy exclaimed to Patrick as he came towards her for a hug.
‘We’ve got a lot to celebrate.’
She raised her eyebrows enquiringly but he declined to say.
‘Jonno will explain in a moment.’
Maddy was relieved to see that Helen was there, and apparently chatting happily.
Spying Serena, swigging from a glass of champagne and smiling up at Giles, who was leaning up against the bar, she gave Ben’s arm a squeeze and went over to speak to her.
‘Maddy!’
When they eventually unravelled themselves from each other both were wiping tears away.
‘Ben told me about Josh. I was so relieved. How is he now?’
‘Oh, amazing,’ said Serena. ‘They’re planning to chuck him out in time for Christmas. I can’t wait.’ She turned to Giles, her tears gathering pace. ‘It’s just because I’m so happy and relieved,’ she wailed, looking around desperately for a tissue.
‘Come on, old thing,’ said Giles, leaping to the rescue with a Christmas cocktail napkin, ‘we don’t want all that again, do we?’ He pulled her to his side and gave her a squeeze. Serena looked up at him with gratitude and admiration in her eyes.
In a few moments, after another encouraging squeeze from Giles, Serena womanfully pulled herself together and gave Maddy a wobbly smile. ‘The other thing,’ she said, with tears threatening to overwhelm her again, ‘is that I got an email from the Liberty buyer today.’
‘Abby?’ said Maddy, eagerly concerned that – given Serena’s tears – it might not be good news.
Serena nodded, gulping.
Maddy waited.
‘So she placed an order,’ Serena said, ‘and – well – it’s just amazing … They’re being really flexible about delivery dates because we’re new and small but it’s already put our turnover where we expected to be in eighteen months.’
Maddy gasped. It was more than they could possibly have hoped for in a million years.
‘And,’ Serena continued, ‘they’ve taken all Keith’s photos with a view to running a print advertising and PR campaign timed to hit the lifestyle magazines in the early summer. They’re going to do a June launch event in store with all their best customers …’ Serena drew breath, ‘so – basically – it looks like we couldn’t bugger up the Bespoke Consortium now if we tried.’
‘I’ll drink to that,’ said Maddy, although she hadn’t actually managed to get a drink yet.
‘Here you go,’ said Giles, handing her a full champagne glass and then grabbing the bottle to top up Serena’s. ‘We’ve got a lot to drink to tonight, and I couldn’t be more proud of my wife,’ he said, smiling down at her. ‘Now,’ he said, pushing himself away from the bar. ‘Do forgive me, I’d better mingle …’
Serena did a little twirl, and toasted Maddy with her glass.
‘Do you know,’ she said consideringly, ‘I don’t think I could be any happier.’ A cloud crossed her face momentarily. ‘I’ve spent too long …’ she said, pointing at Maddy intently.
She realised that Serena was a little drunk.
‘I’ve spent too long hankering after what might have been,’ she said. ‘The whole Andrew thing, the whole “I could have had another life” thing,’ she went on. ‘It’s a waste, thinking that way, Maddy. No more “sliding doors” stuff. I love my boys, I love my life, I love my work and – more than anything in the whole wide world,’ she said, looking at Maddy to check she was listening, ‘I absolutely, completely and utterly … love my husband. He’s been “second choice” for too long, Maddy. I’ve done him a terrible disservice. He’s been a complete hero over Josh. He’s my one and only,’ she said, jabbing Maddy in the chest. ‘I don’t want anything I can’t have any more,’ she said. ‘It’s done.’
Maddy put down her glass and hugged her friend. ‘I’m so glad, Serena. I just hope my mum and dad can be as sorted as you and Giles are one day …’
There was a tinkling of glasses, calling the party to order and, turning, Maddy saw Jonno, climbing up on one of the tables near the door.
‘Ladies and gentlemen,’ he said quietly, and the noise in the room dropped into hush, instantly, such was his authority.
‘Thank you,’ he said. ‘Now, I’m not going to go into detail tonight. Now’s not the time, but I would like to quell the rumours and announce the good news.’ He paused, and the occupants of the bar waited expectantly. ‘As you are all aware, I put my shirt on the Havenbury Arms earlier this week at the property auction. Currently, I own the pub outright, so it is safely out of the hands of Top Taverns once and for all.’
There was a cheer, which Jonno quelled with a raised hand.
‘Buying the pub has – I’ll be honest – stretched my finances to, let’s say, an “uncomfortable” degree,’ he roll
ed his eyes comically, raising a laugh, ‘so it is with great relief that I can confirm the second part of my necessarily “secret” plan has now come to fruition.’
He wiped his hand theatrically across his brow, raising another laugh, and then indicated for Patrick to join him, which he did, climbing onto the table with the help of several jovial partygoers.
When Patrick was alongside him, he continued: ‘I am relieved and delighted to confirm that Patrick here, and his considerable band of supporters who pledged money to buy the pub for the community, have kindly agreed to my request to buy me out of fifty-one per cent of the value of the pub, leaving me with a forty-nine per cent stake.’ He paused for people to digest the maths. ‘Put simply, as was always my intention, the Havenbury Arms will be run in the future, as a Community Interest Company with me and Patrick as joint directors, and the remaining investors invited to become members with voting rights over all major decisions.’
There was a cheer as this information sank in and Jonno, with no further ado, proposed a toast to the new endeavour.
‘To Patrick and Jonno,’ they all cried, and slapped each other on the back.
Ben, by this time, had worked his way back to Maddy’s side.
‘Relieved?’ he said.
‘You knew!’ said Maddy reprovingly.
‘It might not have worked out,’ said Ben. ‘Touch and go.’
‘Mum!’ shouted Maddy, seeing her within grabbing distance at last. ‘Are you okay?’ she said, searching her mother’s face.
‘I will be,’ said Helen. ‘Wish me luck.’
With that, she walked off towards Patrick, who was holding forth to a couple of local investors. ‘Decent bloke, that Jonno,’ he was saying. ‘Can’t judge a book by its cover, got some good ideas, and has his head screwed on – ’course it helps him that I’ve got the industry experience he lacks …’